THE RAGING PROJECT

THE RAGING PROJECT      “Future Days”

By Dark Starr

This new release from this French act might not be a completely tight fit under heavy metal. I've even seen them described as progressive rock. The truth is, this is an inventive album that has both of those elements expressed within its contents. The sound of this group is unique and intriguing. No matter how you classify them, I hope you give them a chance. They are a very interesting act with an unusual sound.

There is a lot of alternative rock and moody texture built into the opening track “Warning.” It's intriguing and unusual. “Rage” is suitably fierce and mean. Yet is has some artsy and alternative sections to it. It's a driving rocker. There are some spoken parts mid-track. The cut has some soaring hooks, too. “Don't Want” is next, and there are definite proggy elements to the rocker. It's driving and powerful. I really like the multiple voice vocal arrangement on the tune so much. As strong as everything that led up to this point was, this definitely raises the intensity. It has some decidedly complex music. It also works so well. 

With lyrics in French, “Colère” is intense metal with a lot of drama and style in the mix. Keyboards lend almost a DEEP PURPLE vibe to the piece. I really dig the energy and power of this “Even If I Bleed.” Still, they manage to bring in a lot of melodic elements. It is a killer track with a rich vocal arrangement. It has some great guitar soloing, too. The tune is a highlight of the set. “I Wanna Dance” probably fits under progressive rock, but it's not old-school prog. There are some hip hop elements at play, but also metal, cool quirky rock and more. It is one of the more unique things here. 

“Ambient” has prog rock, alternative and more built into it. I don't think I'd quite call this progressive rock, but I also don't think I'd call it metal. Much of this album is hard to classify. This is among the most difficult. A screaming hot powerhouse metal tune, “Turn” has some interesting twists and turns. Of course, that's appropriate for the title. There is a good balance between more understated and direct sections. 

At over ten-and-a-half minutes long, “On Earth” is an epic piece. It comes in keyboard based. The sound is sort of a combination of progressive rock and Goth textures. The song is really one of two here I would definitely call progressive rock. It works through a number of changes and rocks out more later. The lyrics to “Procession” are in French. It is proggy and electronic with a real slow, moody vibe. This is the other tune I would call pure prog. That said it does have some rather hip hop like vocals at times, and turns more metallic later. The two closers are songs from earlier (“Colère” and “Even if I Bleed”) with lyrics in different languages (English for the first and French for the second). 

THE RAGING PROJECT