RUSH

Many people say that this album is a clone of the early LED ZEPPELIN stuff. I do not like the term "clone". Yes, it sounds like LED ZEPPELIN, but RUSH already have their own sound and style here. It is a brilliant debut, VERY "high inertia" & powerful rhythmic hard rock oriented, not prog at all. Neil Peart is not the drummer here: it is rather John Rutsey, who is later replaced on the next "Fly by Night" album. Rutsey does a great job, and he does not sound as technical as Peart: he is rather slow, very heavy and loud: perfect for the ZEPPELIN style here. Geddy Lee's Rickenbaker bass is very loud and sophisticated: one can notice he really works hard to produce an impeccable sound here. His lead & backing vocals are absolutely hysterical: he screams more than ever here, and it is very entertaining and pleasant to hear. Alex Lifeson's electric guitar sound is absolutely wonderful: razor, VERY heavy, loud and sustained! He only made this particular extreme hard rock sound on this record: very unique. On "Here Again", one can hear one of the HEAVIEST echoed guitar solo ever made in the whole hard rock history!! Imagine: this guitar solo is so heavy that you can hear some lower frequencies through its sound!!! Absolutely unbelievable! Lifeson also uses some outstanding Flanger effects, like on the intro of "Before & After": it is combined with a VERY present & bottom Rickenbacker bass to produce an unforgettable intro; he mostly uses a pronounced echo on the many excellent guitar solos of the album. ALL the tracks are at least excellent, very catchy and addictive! For any LED ZEPPELIN fan who likes straightforward powerful rhythmic hard rock, please, get this record ASAP!

Rating: 4.5/5