Review by Paddy Gallagher for MPM
The discography of Rush can be categorised in 3 parts. The 1970’s sound, guitar heavy with progressive nuances, the synth influenced era of the 1980’s before returning to more guitar orientated sounds thereafter.
Released on 13th March 2026, the “Grace Under Pressure (Super Deluxe)” edition of Rush’s 10th studio album brings a crisp sound and a whole caboodle of variations containing everything from 4CD + Blu-Ray, 5 LP + Blu-Ray, Lithographs, 52-page hardback book, Dolby Atmos mix, Dolby TrueHD 5.4 mix etc depending on the configuration you, and your wallet, opt for.
Make no mistake, there are some pricey variations available but depending on your completist tendencies only the individual can decide their worth and which version to go for. What is clear is the sheer amount of work and attention to detail that went into this release and any of its associated extras, including graphic visualiser videos of the tracks; it was no rush (ta-boom-tsh) job attempt at a cash grab.
Originally produced by Peter Henderson, “Grace Under Pressure” was the first Rush album since their 1974, self-titled debut not produced by Terry Brown. The processes the band went through after leaving Terry influenced Neil Peart’s choice of album title, a quote from Ernest Hemingway, “courage is grace under pressure”. That release was remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Sean Magee and is Disc 1 of this “Super Deluxe” edition.
Sandwiched between the albums “Signals” and “Power Windows” and coming after a run that contained classics such as “2112”, “A Farewell to Kings”, “Hemispheres” “Permanent Waves” and “Moving Pictures” this album is a somewhat hidden gem in the expanse of the Rush discography that continues with the high standards already set and is considered by Alex Lifeson as Rush’s most satisfying album.
Melodic pop hooks dealing with gloomy lyrics pertinent to the times abound, darkly. Opener “Distant Early Warning” and track 4, “The Enemy Within” with their Cold War fears; “Red Sector A” as Geddy refrains “Are we the last ones left alive?” as the horrors of incarceration in a nazi concentration camp are described. “Red Lenses” with Neil Peart showing his inventive, percussive class, “Afterimage” providing a eulogy to a recently departed friend of the bands’, and closer “Between the Wheels” with metal-esque guitar from Alex complete with smoking solo.
Disc 2 contains the 2025 album mix by Terry Brown after he contacted Alex and Geddy suggesting the idea, an interesting sonic journey with more detail and different reverbs and worthy of the purchase on its own although a strong temptation could be the contents of discs 3+4.
The Grace Under Pressure Tour 1984 was captured and released on video in 1986 but didn’t include the whole show. The full audio of the performance is included on discs 3+4 with other configurations also including the visual of the concert, plus extras totalling 37 minutes.
Among many diehards, opinions vary when discussing remasters / special editions / re-mixes; stick with the original that has sat in their collection now for over 40 years with the original sound quality including a hiss that the older brigade may prefer or splash the cash to avail of the mouthwatering extras that such new releases invariably include along with modern sonic techniques of studio wizardry bringing the clear, crisp sound that a younger generation is used to hearing?
As with their music and lyrics, Rush never lower their standards and that includes the quality of the product; there may be some head scratch inducing options available to the prospective buyer, but this release, in any of its shapes and sizes, as with any Rush release, is worthy of inclusion in your record library.
RUSH ‘Fifty Something’ Tour 2026 & 2027
Tickets on sale now rush.com
Rush Backstage Club: http://rushbackstage.com/
www.rush.com/band
