Trying to release a new album after releasing a masterpiece is one of the hardest tasks for any musician. Rage is no ordinary band though and when the three-piece set themselves up for something, they usually achieve it. This German thrash, power and speed metal hybrid released what is easily their best piece of work with their 2023 double album Afterlifelines, but on A New World Rising, the band does not slow down as they deliver a consistently melodic yet mostly fast paced album which will easily unite fans of power metal and thrash metal.
After a minute long intro, ‘Innovation’ kicks the album off with an epic, rapid drum fill. The verse that follows is thrashy yet melodic as the double bass work of drummer Vassilios “Lucky” Maniatopoulos carries us into the chorus, which is one of the most memorable choruses on A New World Rising. This song features a guitar solo that leads into a breakdown, which ends in the final chorus which gets repeated twice as the main riff returns for the final time.
‘We’ll Find A Way’ is a song that was born to be played live. The verses are typical Rage verses, but once the hook in this track hits, the verses do not matter anymore, as every band member is highlighted. The chorus feels like a guitar solo, and a drum fill put together as the double bass drives the chorus as Jean Borman delivers a hell of a guitar melody here. The song ends in an almost contrasting way to how most of it sounds, as the ending is played in near superhuman speed which adds to the uniqueness of this track, making this one a true standout not only on this record, but also on the Rage discography.
‘Leave Behind’ is where Rage truly showcase the melodic side to their music. This is a song that could be easily found on any power metal album. The guitars sound melodic, and are nowhere near to being as loud as they have been throughout this album so far. Frontman Peter “Peavy” Wagner does not use as much grit as he does usually as well, especially in the chorus. The guitar solo on this track sounds anthemic, and is clearly inspired from the 80s which adds to the classic power metal feel this song has.
‘Paradigm Change’ continues this anthemic epicness, but this time in an almost ballad form. This song is one of the slower ones on this record, but it is also written in a very rhythmic way, albeit less so in the chorus. The song does speed up towards the end with the guitar solo, but slows down again for the final chorus. Speaking of choruses, this one is easily another standout as it is melodic but sounds very grandiose when all of the elements are combined together, making this one another highlight for A New World Rising.
The following song is the longest on this album. This is another ballad to fast paced epic. The riffs are brutally loud as the verses feel delicate as they build up to the hook in the pre-chorus. The chorus here is extremely long and almost sounds like it has two separate parts, separated by a harsh vocal line delivered from Jean, which also ends the hook. This track has another breakdown which segues into a guitar solo, which flawlessly segues into the final chorus, which is something this band does better than almost any other band I listen to.
A New World Rising ends with a rerecorded version of one of their biggest ever songs; ‘Straight To Hell.’ This version feels heavier, but at the same time is not as thrashy as the original version. The main riffs, intro and outro, as well as the verses sound exactly the same as the original, albeit the elements of each instrument are louder and more prominent, but where this version is different, is that during the bridge, before the guitar solo in the original, there is a thrashy breakdown. Here, the band go straight into the guitar solo, which is something that they have also started doing live too.
This album is consistent throughout, which is exactly what is to be expected from Rage, with the highlights here being the thrashy songs. Musically, each member is solid, with each of them having their own sections to showcase their talents. The solos are top notch, the drums are fast and the fills are equally as rapid, and Peavy always delivers with his vocals. Where this album lacks is that if anything, the ballads feel forced, and do not have the same passion as the faster songs.
Overall, this is another phenomenal record from this German band, and is a sign that Rage still has a passion and determination to write fantastic music, which is incredible considering how long they have been going. It is also this determination and multiple lineup changes that turned them into being this three piece, and with this formation, they have proven to be equally as creative as if they had five members in the band, and not only this album, but previous albums have also proven this, showing to the world that Rage is an unstoppable force, no matter what kind of music, or who is in the band.
Rage: A New World Rising – Out 26 September 2025 (SPV / Steamhammer)
– Innovation (Official Music Video)
