VAPOR TRAILS

I cannot describe my feelings about receiving the news of a new album from Rush, after the weak Test For Echo and the strong personal problems that evolved Neil Peart. I was really fearing a new miss, but what we got is a good album that makes us say that this IS the real Rush we love !

When in Presto Rush left the synthesizer guided music in order to return to its original heavier sound, the only problem I found was that Presto was a musical miss, with songs that does not reaches the band's musical quality. The followers were uneven, the good Counterparts, the average Roll The Bones and the miss Test For Echo. Then came Vapour Trails with its well defined heavy sound, with strong composition that missed in Presto and a clear view of what is this album about.

Unlike Counterparts with a killing opener, there are no highlights here. All songs, supported by superb musicianship, construct a continuum of heavy prog ambience with no weak point. And how nice it is to see a power trio giving such a lot of presence with no need of keys or a second guitarist and also with so many difference from those fabulous bands of the sixties and seventies.

I think this album would have a fantastic acceptance from Rush's fan if it was released in the time and place of Presto. A strong musical change marked by a memorable album with first line song quality. Four stars.