Marrying Catchy Melody to Brutal Metal
J. Gordon | The World | 06/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While Rage, the heavy metal band masterminded by Peter "Peavy" Wagner, has recorded many fine albums, "The Missing Link" may well be the band's defining moment. This was to be the final studio album with the band's first power trio lineup of Peavy, Manni and Chris....but what a way to go out! Rage had been steadily progressing in their sound, starting with their initial crude onslaught as "an upscale Slayer", continuing with their evolution into a more melodic and musically competent power trio, which began experimenting with more sophisticated and layered sounds and songs, and culminating with a "cutting of the fat" in "Trapped!", where the songs were kept efficient, heavy, and yet incredibly catchy. With "The Missing Link", Rage unleashed a grinding and tight salvo of heavy metal songs that could be classified vaguely as "power metal", but sounded far different than the Helloween-influenced bands that typify that scene.
For the most part, the songs are very focused on catchy melodies, but are executed without any "sweetening", and with a crushing guitar sound. Songs such as "Refuge" and "Raw Caress" benefit from what could almost be termed an application of pop songwriting techniques to brutally delivered metal. The entire album benefits from a no-nonsense approach to music, as Rage somehow makes the off-kilter melodic lines of the title track irresistably infectious. In stark contrast to the overall aesthetic of the album is the lengthy epic "Lost in the Ice", which further develops Peavy Wagner's own Lovecraftian "soundchaser" metaverse. With "Lost in the Ice", we see Rage's first true attempt to integrate orchestral instruments into their music, but with a much darker sensibility than other power metal bands (think Prokofiev rather than romantic influences, with a circa-1973 King Crimson twist).
The bonus tracks here include an incredibly amusing take on the Troggs' "I Can't Help Myself", and covers of the Police, goth-rockers the Mission, and Black Sabbath. If there was justice in the universe, Rage would be the ones with multiple platinum albums, as opposed to Korn, Linkin Park, or other nu-metal bands which claim to be covering the same "aggressive-melodic" ground as Rage, but are in fact far inferior and much less tuneful. Do yourself a favor, and get this CD if you haven't already."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1
