End of All Days

End of All Days keeps the symphonic ideas of its predecessor in the background while bringing RAGE’s native speed and riff drive back to the front. The thickness of multiple guitars and Peavy Wagner’s powerful voice carry the songs straight ahead, striking a balance between grandeur and forward motion. Cuts that pair speed with hooks, such as “Under Control” and “Higher Than the Sky,” sit beside larger-scaled pieces like the title track “End of All Days” and “Fortress,” giving the album shape. Rather than dropping the orchestral breadth entirely, it skillfully dissolves it into the heat of the metal. Throughout, the focus is on a song’s energy and hooks, not technique alone, and the melodic strength in “Frozen Fire” and “Silent Victory” leaves a strong impression. Having passed through symphonic experiment, RAGE returns to the power-metal core here — a fulfilling record.