Rob Rock’s Rage of Creation
Eyes of Eternity

October 2003
Released: 2003, Massacre Records
Rating: 4.3/5
Reviewer: Rick

It was 3 years ago that Rob Rock released his first solo effort called RAGE OF CREATION. It was a collaboration between himself and Roy Z who has been a much in demand producer and musician working with the likes of Rob Halford, Bruce Dickenson and Helloween. Rob and Roy go way back to 1990 when they released a disc under the name of Driver. Here it is 2003 and the duo is working together again. After the release of RAGE OF CREATION Rock put together a band to tour and now they have become a permanent group called RAGE OF CREATION. This is the group that joins Rock and Z on EYES OF ETERNITY.



EYES OF ETERNITY is another great addition to the discography of both Rock and Z. Joining Rock: vocals and Z: guitar and bass on the disc is “Reynold “Butch” Carlson: drums, Ray Burke: bass, Mistheria: keyboards, Rick Renstrom: guitar, Bob Rossi: guitar Stephen Elder: bass and Tracey Shell: drums. The disc opens with “Rock the Earth” which sees Rock head a slightly more powermetal direction. It is here that we are introduced to the keyboards of Mistheria. I have to say that I like the addition of keyboards to the Rage of Creation sound. As with his work with Winterlong, Mistheria adds keyboards that are a compliment to the music and not an overpowering presence. The title track is another great powermetal track that allows Rock to do what he does best, powerful soaring vocal lines. “Rage of Creation” is a good old fashioned mid tempo traditional metal song. Unfortunately I don’t know which guitar players provide the various blazing solos in this song. It’s too bad because they are the real centrepiece to this track. The strongest song on EYES OF ETERNITY is “Stranglehold”. It is a great amalgam of the group as a whole as it reminds me of Rock’s debut CD but with the added aggressiveness found on this release. Pulling out all the stops, Rock closes the CD with a 12-minute track called “The Hour of Dawn”. It starts out as a slows ballady type number but then turns into a shredfest where there is a plethora of guest appearances from a number of today’s greatest guitar players. Solos are provided by, among others, Jack Frost (Seven Witches), Gus G (Firewind, Dream Evil, Nightrage, Mystic Prophecy), Axel Rudi Pell, Tom Naumann (Primal Fear) and Jeff Kollman. A shredding way to end a strong disc.



Rock has hit another home run with EYES OF ETERNITY. Rock’s collaboration with Roy Z again pays large dividends as they have delivered an excellent disc of metal. Rock has also put together a great band including Rick Renstrom who is also in Tiwanaku with Wade Black and Emo Mowery. This disc is getting a much wider distribution than Rocks last CD. Hopefully Rock and Roy Z continue with their collaborations because they have struck metal gold once again.