FLY BY NIGHT

With the benefit of hindsight the arrival of Drummer Neil Peart in Rush was an essential addition for the band to progress from their Hard Rock roots into the Progressive giants they were to become. Much of this album follows in a similar vein to their debut but here the band display more finesse and start to show hints of a more Progressive and fantasy based style most notably on By-Tor and the Snow Dog.

The first three tracks are still pretty much straight Heavy Rock but album opener Anthem is an excellent track in particular with a great riff and Peart demonstrating he means business from the off.

Getting back to the previously mentioned By-Tor and the Snow Dog, here the band really start to demonstrate what they're capable of. The song is divided into four parts and although still primarily a Heavy Rock track they use more light and shade and really begin to show what great players they are as it's their most demanding piece to date.

Title track Fly by Night is another slice of good Heavy Rock and the band add acoustic Guitar to their arsenal, notably on Making Memories and the Tolkien inspired Rivendell although neither is essential. Final song In the End also has an acoustic guitar intro and after By-Tor and Anthem is the best track on the album combining a strong melody, powerful Guitar riffs and Geddy Lee's high pitch vocals taking centre stage to great effect.

Fly by Night is a step forward from their debut album but not a Rush classic and although well produced I prefer the versions of the key tracks here that can be found on their first live album, All the World's a Stage.