Clockwork Angels

Clockwork Angels is the upcoming 19th full-length studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, set to be released in spring of 2012.^[3] Writing for the album began in January and February 2010. This was followed by early recording sessions during the spring of 2010. The first single from the album, "Caravan," backed with the B-side "BU2B," (short for "Brought Up To Believe") was released to radio stations and made available for digital download on June 1, 2010.^[4] The album will be released internationally by Roadrunner Records, sister of the band's longtime label outside Canada, Atlantic.^[5]

Background

One of the earliest indications that the band would begin working on new studio material came from an interview with guitarist Alex Lifeson in February 2009. At this time he speculated that Nick Raskulinecz, who worked with the band on their previous album Snakes & Arrows, would be invited to return as co-producer. At the same time, he denied that the band would create a "concept album".^[6]

On March 19, 2010, the CBC posted a video interview with bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee and Lifeson, which contained the first definitive announcement by the members of Rush. At the time, Lee was quoted as saying "... Just about a month and a half ago we had no songs. And now we've been writing and now we've got about six songs that we just love...".^[7] On March 26, 2010, in an interview with The Globe and Mail, Lifeson reconfirmed that the band had already written a half-dozen songs and that there was the potential for two supporting tours, one planned for Summer 2010 and a more extensive tour planned for Summer 2011. While still uncertain of exactly how and when the new material would be released, he projected a tentative Spring 2011 release date.^[8] By late March 2010, drummer and lyricist Neil Peart said that the band had about five songs completed and that American producer Nick Raskulinecz had returned as co-producer.^[9]

In late August, Lifeson remarked that an additional three songs were almost complete and that the album was turning out to be very musically diverse. In particular, Lifeson referred to the nearly finished title track "Clockwork Angels" as an "epic song" and a "multi-parted piece". He described it as "very dynamic".^[10] Peart said of the still in-work album in May 2011, "I intend it to be my highest achievement lyrically and drumming wise."^[11]

In January 2011, Lifeson told in an interview with Guitarist Magazine that, due to the extension of the Time Machine Tour, the release of the album will be delayed. Writing the final 2 or 3 songs required will resume in early 2011, with recording resuming after summer.^[12] Confirming an announcement from record engineer Richard Chycki via Twitter on December 20, Rush returned to the studio following completion of the tour's second leg and finalized the recording of Clockwork Angels. Further production on the album is expected during early 2012.^[13]

Singles

References