Rush-Snakes & Arrows (2007)

With long gaps between albums, the expectations surrounding Rush's releases were always quite high. That said, the Canadian trio released "Snakes and Arrows" in 2007, an album preceded by "Vapor Trails" five years prior. At this point, the trio of Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, and Alex Lifeson continued to do their own thing, seemingly unconcerned with musical trends, and thus continued to explore their unique, virtuosic sound. This time, Neil Peart's lyrics focus on the ominous and cruel world we live in, a society living in constant insecurity, surrounded by violence, fear, and unhappiness. Musically, a dark and melancholic tone predominates throughout much of the album. Alex Lifeson's powerful hard rock riffs permeate much of the album, as heard in the opening track "Far Cry" and "The Way The Wind Blows", while the potent "Armor And Sword", "Workin' Them Angels", "Good News First", "Faithless", and "We Hold On" showcase more restrained and slowed-down rhythms. However, the band's almost nonexistent progressive side makes an appearance in the instrumental tracks "The Man Monkey Business," the acoustic "Hope", and the brief "Malignant Narcissism", where the sounds of the Mellotron and synthesizers play as important a role as Alex Lifeson's guitars. Although this version of Rush is not the same as it was in their heyday in the 70s, it's undeniable that they have evolved, creating a sound that is both recognizable and universal.