Progressive Savage

Rape of the Earth by Patrick Rondat

Rape of the Earth is Patrick Rondat’s second solo album. Compared to his most recent work this is not a marvelous recording. Still, it’s pretty decent and quite interesting from a historical perspective as it shows a transition from heavy to prog metal, introducing Patrick’s individual style that will remain on his successive albums while his riffs will undergo a major evolution.

Rape of the Earth is 1980’s heavy metal influenced album so similar to other guitarists’ work of that times. If I were to compare it with someone else’s work, I’d describe it as a mixture of Marty Friedman’s (Mindscape) and Gary Moore’s (Barbarians at the Gates, The Last Whale) finest.

My personally favorite tracks here are Barbarians at the Gates–having nothing in common with Niacin’s song–a very good heavy metal composition with Gary Moore-ish beginning; and The Last Whale with it’s jazz-like guitar theme resembling once again Gary Moore’s finest–The Loner. Of course the song you’re going to recognize immediately from Patrick’s successive recordings is Burn Out, an uptempo neo-classical composition, which acoustic version made it’s way into Patrick’s On the Edge. The album closes acoustic track World of Silence.

All in all, this is an interesting album. Not essential, but good nonetheless. Worth listening to when you’re in a mood for good old–though fast and complex–hard rockin’.

Country: France
Released: 1991
Website: rondat.com
Line-up: Patrick Rondat (guitars), Christian Namour (drums), Pascal Mulot (bass)
Guests: Didier Brard (keyboards)
Track list:

1. Ultimate Dreams 4:50
2. Mindscape 4:50
3. Barbarians at the Gates 7:56
4. The Last Whale 7:31
5. Burn Out 6:47
6. Nuages 6:26
7. Rape of the Earth 4:45
8. Visions 6:04
9. World of Silence 6:21