Rage - The Devil Strikes Again
32-year-old speed metal veterans revamped by new members
With their January EP My Way, Rage made a statement of intent. It used old fan favourites in the form of ‘Black In Mind’ and ‘Sent By the Devil’ to showcase the talent of newcomers Vassilios “lucky” Maniatopoulos on drums and Marcos Rodriguez on guitar, as well as new track ‘My Way’, to show that the German trio were still capable of the brand of power metal that founding member Peter “Peavy” Wagner has built the band’s career upon. The Devil Strikes Again, then, is the fulfilment of that intent, as it marks the first full-length with the new members, and is in this regard a make or break album for the 32-year-old band’s future.
Thankfully for long-time fans of the band, The Devil Strikes Again is an album that attempts to re-establish the sound for which Rage initially found success. The album’s brand of forceful metal is typically quick and muscular, but has changed in several very noticeable ways since albums like 1989’s Secrets In a Weird World.
Wagner’s bass is crisp and clear, whilst his vocals hold a confidence that comes with the sort of experience he has had. However, his vocal range has significantly declined over the years, leaving a raspy cry that has a saving grace in its rugged nature. Having a talented singer has never been a particularly vital aspect of metal music, but as The Devil Strikes Again attempts to replicate the sound of early Rage material, which thrived on Wagner’s falsetto voice, it is noticeably missed here.
Luckily, though, Wagner’s vocals are no longer the focus, as Rodriguez’s inherent knack for impressively abrasive-yet-catchy hooks constantly steals the show throughout. The Soundchaser axeman is a constant source of ferocity and power on The Devil Strikes Again, and shows that he is capable of hard-hitting riffs, vicious shredding and infectious hooks, which together form the most prominent section of the album’s music.
Rodgriguez’s flawlessly executed guitars carry the album through, and ensure that The Devil Strikes Again is a consistent album jam-packed with crushing riffs and powerful tracks. ‘My Way’ is as powerful as ever, packing a mean punch despite its infectious nature and soaring chorus, whilst the title-track opener uses sinister riffs to fuel a thrashy style that makes good use of Wagner’s less diverse but muscular vocals. The mean guitars of ‘Times of Darkness’ are satisfyingly heavy, whilst closer ‘The Dark Side of the Sun’ is a speedy epic that sees Wagner’s still brawny vocals used most effectively.
The Devil Strikes Again is a consistent album fuelled most prominently by newcomer Rodriguez’s awesome guitar-work. Whilst Wagner still confidently and efficiently leads proceedings, his vocals are frequently outshone by the magnificent riffs, and are only truly effective on a handful of tracks. The Devil Strikes Again is very much a Rage album in many regards, but come expecting an album that taps into exactly what made Rage so fun two or three decades ago, and you may be somewhat disappointed. However, come ready to hear the vigorous metal of a band reborn, and there is still much here to devour.
7/10
