Each time Rage releases a new studio album, I am like these kids waiting to buy the new Panini World Cup Football catalog/stickers. I can't wait to listen to Peavy's and Co new songs. I almost convince myself - in advance of course - that this album will be their best ever. A typical fan attitude :-)

After the second intro, my mind swaps naturally towards Welcome To The Other Side, the first album recorded with current line-up (Peavy Wagner, Victor Smolski & Mike Terrana). A fallacious mind move so to speak because I don't like at all Welcome To The Other Side. Too technical, Rage's spirit was killed in this record. Hopefully, Innocent send me back to Soundchaser album, with a little plus in the sound: the orchestra. The chorus knocks you down, with Peavy's voice being the foot-print of the band. My joy is shakedown at the middle of the song: the classical Rage's structure leaves the place to a technical/prog side. Victor's solos combined with "jazzy" orchestral parts load down the song-writing. The chorus kills hard ... but I am a bit worried. The fourth song is another orchestral intro. The album is once again 'slow down' by an intro called Depression (is it a joke or what ?). No Regrets, the next song, is a brake at this stage. If it wasn't for Peavy's voice (wonderful once again), I can tell you Speak Of The Dead has nothing to do with XIII.

The sixth track is ... you got it ... another intro called Confusion: this is a very bad April Fools' joke. As far as I am concerned, these intros are boring and adds on the indigestible feeling. Worst, the seven track is yet another small intro called Black, providing absolutely nothing and should have been avoided. Black leaves the place to Beauty. This is the third song while my cd-player displays number eight ! And guess what ? No it is not an intro, it is a ballad. This Speak of The Dead turns to be a nightmare so far. What happened between Soundchaser - the bombastic record - and this album. I hope the new signing with Nuclear Blast as nothing to do with this ... tragedy. Beauty is the worst track I have listen from Rage since a decade !!! The good news is that Beauty is the last track of the "mini-album" (with the orchestra). A small reminder: on XIII and Gost, the orchestra lightened the song-structure. Here, the indigestion is complete.

No Fear gives me a small swipe in the face and wakes me up. Peavy shouts again - helped with microphone effect - the guitar/drum rhythm is back to normal for a more classical heavy/power metal approach. However, songs remain very technical (break, guitar's solo, song structure). Let's put it this way: these are classical Rage songs sloughed by the technical/prog approach. I SHOUT IT OUT LOUD: if it wasn't for Peavy's voice, which send me back to these great Rage's albums (Soundchaser, XIII, Unity, Ghost) I would have pushed the stop button since a long time. Thus, I could bet my salary that Dream Theater secretly decided to record an orchestral album if Peavy wasn't singing. The damage caused by the technical song-writing structure increased song after song: Soul Survivor, Full Moon, Kill Your Gods, Turn My World Around. In fact, there are no anthems, no killing tracks, no memorable chorus for the "shower" in this new album. That's the weakest point of the album.

Where are the Down, Human Metal, Soundchaser, War of World (!!!), Great Old Ones, Refuge, Days Of December, Sent by the Devil, Invisible Horizon, Flesh and Blood, From the Cradle to the Grave, Higher Than The Sky, Don't Fear The Winter, etc, etc, etc. Soundchaser was the light, the messiah while Speak Of The Dead is a huge step back towards Welcome To The Other Side. Last but not least, why Rage's mascot is crucified on the cover ? I sincerely hope Rage hasn't turned Dream Theater ... because this is what Speak of The Dead is all about :-(

What about the bonus tracks? Full Moon in Spanish and in German (La Luna Reine & Vollmond). No special comments except that the best song of the album (with No Fear, Soul Survivor and Innocent) has been recorded with Spanish & German lyrics.

The orchestral album is a complete disaster (we are far far far far far away from XIII and Ghost, sorry Peavy) while the second part is too technical, too "complicated". Yellow card as far as I am concerned ... even though after another 50 spins, my mind will certainly abide this technical Smolski's demonstration.
After all, I am a huge Rage's fan .. and fans forgive :-)