Description
Meliah Rage is an American power/thrash metal band from Boston, formed in 1987 by guitarist/songwriter Anthony Nichols. Meliah Rage (whose name was inspired the Meliah Indian tribe’s practice of taking opium before going into battle), was signed to Epic records in 1988. Characterized primarily by their thrash metal vibe married to more classical metal melodies, the band has released eight albums since their inception. Solitary Solitude, released in 1990, turned out to be Meliah Rage’s last Epic release; in 1992, they left the Sony-owned label. It was also in 1992 that Meliah Rage went through some lineup changes. Jesse Johnson and Stu Dowie left the band, replaced by two newcomers: bassist Keith Vogele and drummer Sully Erna, who spent 18 months in Meliah Rage before going on to become the lead singer of the well-known, Boston-based alternative metal band Godsmack.
1. Solitary Solitude
2. No Mind
3. Decline of Rule
4. Retaliation
5. Deliver Me
6. The Witching
7. Lost Life
8. Swallow Your Soul
9. Razor Ribbon
©1990 CBS/Epic Records
5.0 out of 5 stars Solitary Solitude
Solitary Solitude is a powerful follow-up to Meliah Rage’s debut, Kill To Survive. Solitude is a mature evolution to their already powerful sound. This album sees them slowing down their sound a tad without losing any of their heaviness. If you are a Meliah Rage fan this is a must own album. A Thrash metal
5.0 out of 5 stars Their Best
This is their best album,it’s a much slower album then Kill To Survive but a much better album.
Solitary Solitude is the first song on the album,there’s thrash at the end of the song.
No Mind is awesome,that’s one of the faster songs on the album and one of the best.
Retaliation rules,that’s my favorite song on the album,it’s a slow aggressive song that pumps you up(amazing).
Deliver Me is a ballad which I do not like.
The song Swallow Your Soul is about the movie Evil Dead,great song,a lot of metal bands write about Evil Dead.
The last song Razor Ribbon is my second favorite song on the album,the riffs are awesome in that song.
This album is not as thrashy(still has some thrash),but better then Kill To Survive.
Here are the songs in order and what I rate them out of five stars.
Solitary Solitude-5/5
No Mind-5/5
Decline Of Rule-5/5
Retaliation-5/5
Deliver Me-5/5
The Witching-3/5
Lost Life-5/5
Swallow Your Soul-5/5
Razor Ribbon-5/5
A Rock’em Sock’em Thrash Album! – 88%
Wow, What a great album. An aggressive onslaught of catchiness, delivered in the form of palm-muted text book thrash metal. There are a few hints of power metal and straight forward heavy metal textures, but for the most mart however, this is straight forward bona fide thrash! Many critics failed to realize Meliah Rage as a competent thrash band and for whatever reason they never did receive the recognition that they rightfully deserved. I have heard some people compare this band to a lesser talented Pantera, but aside from the guitar solos on a Pantera album…I don’t quite know where their shortcomings are being derived from?
As far as I’m concerned, this album is excellent! Mike Munroe’s vocal approach is very powerful, yet at the same time full of flavour. Mike can sing like a motherfucker. He is capable of hitting some high notes and he can achieve the guttural effect when needed, but for the most part he’s simply a powerful singer that adds to the overall affect of the album on the listener. His angry emotion cannot be denied! Nor can his ability to structure several words strung into a single breath without deviating off key (check out the ending of Solitary Solitude)
The guitars are very crunchy and the chord progressions that Anthony Nichols creates, manage to work beautifully on each and every song. There are some groove laden dun-dun’s(aka palm muted in E Chord pattern’s) as well as some speedy crunchy kinda stuff that flows beautifully(see No Mind) Anthony Nichols is actually in my opinion one of the most consistent song writers of the genre. The man can do no wrong.
The drumming is better than sub-par, but not quite as amazing as on the next album.
Overall, this album is an important part of the early nineties thrash era, just before the genre kinda disappeared for awhile. All those that have never heard this album should immediately do whatever is necessary to acquire it, for it truly is a long lost Hardifact.
Also, be on the lookout on the net, there is actually a video for the song The Withcing.
Best Tracks are; Solitary Solitude, No Mind, Lost Life, The Witching, and Razor Ribbon
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Far thrashier than the debut – 87%
This one isn’t quite as strong as the debut album, but is still very very good. Here the band takes on a more traditional thrash sound, with a definite New York (Nuclear Assault/Anthrax) vibe. Indeed, they pretty much have the art of the midpaced single-note mosh riff down pat.
“”Solitary Solitude”” starts us off. Above average speed, but really not all that fast – definite thrash metal to be found here. Some nice riffs in the middle provide a great contrast to the introduction riff. Be warned – do NOT play this album in a country where headbanging is forbidden, or you will be thrown in jail and forced to listen to Barbra Streisand.
“”No Mind”” is more of the same, except it has the most crushing thrash break this side of “”Fight to be Free”” or “”Subterfuge””. In fucking sane. “”Decline of Rule”” – you want thrash, you’ve got it. “”Retaliation””… which is apparently a synonym for RIFF FUCKING ONSLAUGHT. “”Deliver Me”” is a strong ballad. “”The Witching”” is the hit single, it’s 80s metal, but the middle riff set is still quite fucking heavy. “”Lost Life”” and “”Swallow Your Soul”” are more of the same, a bit less overtly heavy than the first side of the album. Then, we have “”Razor Ribbon””, which starts off slow and then ends up heavier than Hell… it’s like getting whacked with a brontosaurus about 154 times per minute. Good stuff!
For the most part this is straight-up thrash, without nearly as many speed metal moments. Nonetheless, it is quite excellent and worth getting. THRASH!!!
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