Caress of Steel

Caress of Steel
Studio album by Rush
Publication (s)	September 1975
Label (s)	Mercury Records
Format (s)	LP
Genre (s)	Progressive rock , hard rock , heavy metal
Title (number)	5
running time	45 min. 02 sec.
occupation	Geddy Lee - bass, vocals Alex Lifeson - 6- and 12-string electric guitar, acoustic guitar , steel guitar Neil Peart - percussion Erwig Chuapchuadua - steel guitar
production	Terry Brown and Rush
chronology Fly by Night (1975) Caress of Steel 2112 (1976)

Caress of Steel is Rush's third album , released in 1975. The album features Rush's first version of a long rock suite, "The Fountain of Lamneth". The album demonstrates the strong bond with the standards of progressive rock , long pieces divided into sections and solo passages with tempo and agility are each represented.

"The Necromancer" is a story that tells in three parts the legend of the hero Prince By-Tor, who set out to kill the eponymous monster. The first part, which describes the journey into the realm of the monster, has a rhythmic structure and has a mystical and gloomy effect with the long guitar inserts. The second part is brutal and threatening with a heavily distorted guitar, booming bass and intense drumming. At minute seven, after a break, the rhythm becomes faster, more aggressive and more combative. After the monster is finally "musically" defeated, the melody of the guitar, emerging softly from the background, sounds, which leads to a triumphant drum rhythm. The Necromancer's curse is broken and the hero returns home glorious as a soaring solo plays out that continues until the end of the song. The three parts are introduced by a deep, distorted narrator's voice, which describes the invisible circumstances and drives the story forward.

The title "Bastille Day" will remain in the program for a long time in the following tours. The album also shows in songs like "I Think I'm Going Soon" how Rush was influenced by Led Zeppelin , which became more obvious in their first album .

Track list

1. Bastille Day - 4:37
2. I Think I'm Going Soon - 3:38 am
3. Lakeside Park - 4:07
4. The Necromancer - 12:29
   • I: Into the Darkness - 4:12
   • II: Under the Shadow - 4:25
   • III: Return of the Prince - 3:51
5. The Fountain of Lamneth - 19:58
   • I: In the Valley - 4:13
   • II: Didacts and Narpets - 1:02
   • III: No One at the Bridge - 4:18
   • IV: Panacea - 3:14
   • V: Baccus Plateau - 3:14
   • VI: The Fountain - 3:50

Web links

• Reviews of Caress of Steel on the baby blue pages