Most metal bands put out a new album about every two years or so. Some bands are more prolific and are able to write and record more quickly. Rage is one of those bands. The German veterans have now released 18 albums in their 22 year career. Their latest features a new drummer, Andre Hillgers, who replaced Mike Terrana.
After using an orchestra on most of their last album, Carved In Stone goes back to the basics. The songs are simple and straightforward power metal with crunchy guitars and a lot of melody. It's typical Rage stuff, nothing new or groundbreaking, but rock solid and catchy. The last song on the CD finds the band revisiting some of the orchestral elements of their last album. "Lord Of The Flies" is an epic track with strings, keyboards and female backing vocals. It's a nice change of pace to wrap things up.
(released June 10, 2008 on Locomotive Records)
