Tracklist: In The Beginning / The Sun Will Rise Again / One Way Out / Judgement Day / Streets Of Madness / Eagle / All I Need *# / Media Machine # / In The Night* / Never Too Late* / Forever / Beautiful Lady (bonus track)

Playing time: ca. 52:00 min.

Musicians: Rob Rock (vocals), Roy Z (guitars, bass, keyboards), Reynold Carlson (drums), Gregory Analla (background vocals), Ray Burke (bass on*), Jake E. Lee (guitars on #)

Producer: Roy Z

M.A.R.S., DRIVER, ANGELICA, JOSHUA, AXEL RUDI PELL, IMPELLITTERI... Rob Rock has sung for so many great Heavy Metal acts in the last years and it was always his exceptional voice, that formed the class and the style of  killer-albums like “Nasty Reputation” or “Eye Of The Hurricane”. Now it was finally time for Rob Rock to record a solo album and I can promise you, that everyone of you, who likes Rob’s previous work, will get addicted to “Rage Of Creation”. Together with his former DRIVER band mate Roy Z, he recorded a first-class Melodic Metal album, that unites all trademarks and elements, Rob Rock has become known for through the last years. After the short intro “In The Beginning”, the album starts with the razor-sharp and very catchy up-tempo hymns “The Sun Will Rise Again” and “One Way Out”, which remind me a little of the classic IMPELLITTERI and DRIVER stuff. The following “Judgement Day” is the best song Rob Rock has ever recorded. Based on a brutal guitar riff by Roy Z, that sounds a little similar to Bruce Dickinson’s “Chemical Wedding” material, the song starts very doomy, before it suddenly turns into another catchy up-tempo hymn. Genius!  “Streets Of Madness” is a straight rocking headbanger that sounds like a crossing of classic JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN. Both of these bands would be proud if they could present a song like this on their next album! Next song is the gigantic cover version of the ABBA classic “Eagle”. The song was already covered a few times before (maybe you remember the cover versions by SARGANT FURY and BALAAM & THE ANGEL?), but there’s no doubt about it, that Rob’s version is the best of all! The song spreads the same mystic atmosphere as AXEL RUDI PELL’s “Land Of The Giants”. Great! “All I Need” is a uncompromising rocker with a very melodic hookline, that is made for Rob’s powerful voice. “Media Machine” is pure Heavy Metal dynamite with a fantastic guitar playing by former Ozzy Osbourne/BADLANDS guitarist Jake E. Lee. “In The Night” is a powerful and head crushing riff monster, that breaks down every wall! Fucking great! “Never To Late” could have been taken from IMPELLITTERI’s “Eye Of The Hurricane” album and I swear, that it would have been the best song on it. “Forever” is a high melodic mid-tempo tune, that I can use only one word for: Killer! Only the pomp ballad “Beautiful Lady” (bonus track for Japan) is not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t change the fact, that “Rage Of Creation” will be the best Melodic Metal album of the year 2000! 

Rating: 97 %