Caress of Steel

Caress of Steel can often be seen as an album of firsts. It is without a doubt Rush’s first true foray into the realm of progressive rock. It is also their first album to contain a side-long epic and a song longer than 10 minutes. However, it was also their first (and only) commercial failure, leading to the album as a whole being cast aside by both the band and critics. Though songs such as Bastille Day and Lakeside Park are considered classics (the latter was even played during Rush’s farewell tour, R40), the remaining tracks are often seen as too complex or too ambitious. Nevetheless, the album has gained a solid following in recent years with many calling it “a hidden gem.”