RUSH: First 'Snakes & Arrows' Review Posted Online

March 23, 2007

U.K.-based music journalist Dave Ling has posted a review of the new RUSH album, "Snakes & Arrows", on his official web site. It reads as follows:

"Yesterday afternoon [Thursday, March 22] was occupied by a playback of RUSH's new album. Given the paranoia that exists about downloading, this was the U.K. media's only chance to hear 'Snakes & Arrows' before its release date of April 30. I'd been dying to hear it, unlike the representative of [another magazine] that read a book for pretty much the entire 63 minutes, disappeared for a piss halfway through and f**ked off before the last song ended. Okay, I know RUSH's current standing at [said magazine] probably lies somewhere beneath PANIC! AT THE DISCO, JOB FOR A COWBOY or AIDEN — altogether... WHO?! — but I admit, this person's disprespect shocked me, especially as Pegi Cecconi from the RUSH office was in the room at the time.

"Anyway, 'Snakes & Arrows' is a vast improvement upon the Canadian trio's last album. I'll be frank, 2002's 'Vapor Trails' did very little for me. This time the band have gone heavier (very heavy in places!),with guitarist Alex Lifeson being let off the leash. Opening track (and first single) 'Far Cry' is probably the best song, being reminiscent of the band's 'Permanent Waves' album. But generally speaking, it's extremely strong throughout. Hugh Syme's artwork is excellent as ever, visualising a theme that seems to run through some of the songs; the elements. 'Spindrift', for instance, uses pounding instrumental parts to re-create waves crashing in on the western shore. 'The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)', meanwhile, picks up where the 'Hemispheres'-era track 'Circumstances' left off with its couplet of: "Some of us live in a cloud of fear/Some live behind iron gates". In the vaguest possible way, RUSH also pay lip service to the differences between the Middle East and Middle West in 'The Way The Wind Blows', which features the telling line of 'Pray... and pass the ammunition' and a great solo from Lifeson. The best compliment that you could pay Peart's words is that they're thoughtful without being stuffy. The album, too, is heavy, but falls short of being one dimensional. You're gonna like it, I'm sure."

"Snakes & Arrows" is scheduled for release in the U.S. on May 1 via Anthem/Atlantic. Check out the album cover artwork at this location.

"Snakes & Arrows" track listing:

01. Far Cry
02. Armor and Sword
03. Workin’ Them Angels
04. The Larger Bowl
05. Spindrift
06. The Main Monkey Business
07. The Way The Wind Blows
08. Hope
09. Faithless
10. Bravest Face
11. Good News First
12. Malignant Narcissism
13. We Hold On

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