first I have all the moaners again speak first. There are just always someone who has something to complain about. Clear tastes differ and everyone expects halt at a new RUSH - album also something for certain, however, that new album to be called "weak" is not correct.
Were RUSH not always as any different? Have not you ever just not that made what was expected of them?
This is called "character" and these have the Canadians certainly.
For my part, as a longtime fan can only say that the new album enqueues seamlessly into the series of classics. Of course, the last studio output "Vapor Trails" a trace was more aggressive and harder, but who has studied the history of RUSH, looking also why !!!! There is even a miracle that there are still so the band.
"Snakes and Arrows" goes back to more melody and vestrickter arrangements. Such disks are available in Discography of RUSH sometimes even (holdyourfire), but this versatility distinguishes the men from yet. You always conjure up anew great songs out of the hat and in my opinion is the album at any listening test is always better. Alone the instrumentals (the main monkey business, or the ingenious malignant narcissism) are worth buying. The single "Far Cry" and the brilliant "Faithless" (read the text of Neil !!) are the best that have ever been written RUSH.
Conclusion: Even though it took almost five years, conjure the gods Lee, Lifeson and Peart with "Snakes and Arrows" a great album out of the hat that but you should hear several times to enjoy it properly.
I'm looking forward to the two concerts in the fall and hopefully more class albums of "Rush" in the future.
Armor and Sword