Afterlifelines

Afterlifelines is an ambitious double album that sets RAGE’s bare-band ensemble aggression beside grand orchestral expression. On one disc, sharp riffs, fast beats and biting vocals push to the front; on the other, that same material takes on a different face within symphonic breadth. Linear, aggressive songs such as “End of Illusions” and “Justice Will Be Mine” show the band’s core, while the flow toward “Afterlife” and the closing “Lifelines” lets the fusion with orchestra widen the drama considerably. By clearly separating the two directions, the essence of RAGE actually comes into sharper view. Through this double set, it becomes clear that both the tension of a small lineup and a symphonic sense of scale are indispensable to the band’s music. A large-scale work showing the fullness of the later career, it is strongly recommended for listeners who want heavy metal’s aggression and constructive beauty at once.