RAGE – Run For The Night [Rock Candy Remastered & Reloaded]

Rock Candy Records have ‘Remastered & Reloaded‘ the 3 albums by British ’80s rockers RAGE, available for the first time on CD, and believe me, all worth your attention.
“Run For The Night” was Rage’s third and last record, and although their previous is considered the best, I have a soft spot for this one, the more melodic, AORish of the bunch.

Signed to the fast rising independent label Carrere, Rage issued two well received albums before settling in to record their third album, this slightly more refined “Run For The Night”, a record that would be the band’s bid to hitch their wagon to the more melodic, arguably AOR side of Rock genre.
Indeed, Rage noticed the commercial & catchy sound of acts from the other side of the ocean, like Survivor and Foreigner, was the path to follow, still feeling unmistakable British.

Self produced, for “Run For The Night” the band enlisted the help of fellow Liverpool songwriter Steve Morris of revered AOR rockers Export, to help with material. For the first time they also utilised well crafted keyboard support lending a bold sheen to their third and final album.

From opener “Cry From A Hill” you’ll know this is a ‘different’ Rage: an anthemic midtempo melodic rocker with lots of keys in the background.
Next, “Fantasy” will remind you Aldo Nova and not only for the title but for its catchy chorus and that ‘Canadian sound’ which brings to mind Loverboy as well.
“Can’t Say No” has some Urgent in it (featuring a great Steve Morris guest solo), the Americanized “Light Years” is absolutely Boston / Scholz, while “No Prisoners” (love the backing vocals) is not far from the first Export in terms of sound.

“LadyKiller” is killer indeed, driven by a monster guitar riff akin Coney Hatch and an overall feeling which made ’80s AOR / hard so great. A highlight.
Of course, with this Rage ‘new’ melodic rock approach also arrive the band’s first (and last) ballad ever; the smooth title track plenty of nice atmospheres.
“Never Before” is totally Loverboy, then the band wraps the album with the hard rocker “Rock Fever” via a strong twin guitar attack in the vein of the band’s second album.

“Run For The Night” is pretty unknown for Brit AOR / Melodic Rock fans & collectors, perhaps due to Rage’s previous more hard rocking delivery. But this album is full of catchy melodies and sticky choruses in the best early ’80s AOR tradition.

“Run For The Night” was always a hard to find piece because the label did not properly supported the recording, and only a first LP batch was pressed. You can note this lack of support (not strangely the band broke up soon) in the production sound; it should be alot better.

This Rock Candy remaster tries to rescue a deeper low end & brilliance, and now it sounds much better (I heard the original and this is a true improvement). Additionally, this is the first official appearance of “Run For The Night” on CD.
If you love any of the bands mentioned above, grab this one immediately. This Rage final album is a must for all classic AOR / Melodic Rock fans out there, especially from the first half of the ’80s.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

01 – Cry From A Hill
02 – Fantasy
03 – Can’t Say No
04 – Light Years
05 – Ladykiller
06 – No Prisoners
07 – Run For The Night
08 – Badlands
09 – Never Before
10 – Rock Fever

Dave Lloyd – lead vocals, guitar
Mick Devonport – guitars, backing vocals
Terry Steers – guitars
Keith Mulholland – bass
John Mylett – drums
additional musicians:
Steve Morris – guest lead guitar on 3
Paul Owens – sax
Rick Juckes, Mike Railton – keyboards

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Run-Night-Rage/dp/B00W41HA88
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