TEST FOR ECHO

In mid '90s I was already a big fan of the band, since discovering them in 1991 through Roll the bones album for the first time. I remember buying Test for echo when it hiting the shleves in 1996, and for sure I was not disippointed at all by the album sound or manner of composing. With this release Rush really wanted to go back to their roots of the '70s with a more edgy kind of heavy prog, the keyboards passages were left behind this time. Well, I really don't get it , what is so bad in this album, what is missing here that Test for echo is considered only for die hard fans. I really like this release, ok is nothing close to masterpiece or something alike, is not among best Rush albums, but has all the Rush ingredients. The heaviness is more evident here then on previous 2-3 albums is like a return to Caress of steel era or 2112 but less complicated manuvres are present or less elaborated arrangements like on those albums, but still solid I might say. Pieces like Test For Echo, Half The World, Time And Motion or Limbo are absolutly Rush it can be in sound, musicianship and all, no complains from me. Excellent art work, like on every Rush album btw. So, to me was and is a quite solid Rush album, I like it no matter what other said about it. 3.5 stars for sure.