Rage emerged in the early 1980s as part of the German speed/power metal scene that helped incubate contemporaries like Running Wild, Helloween, and Blind Guardian. Led by vocalist/bassist Peter "Peavy" Wagner, who has served as the band's sole constant member over the years, Rage hit their stride in 1988 with the release of their third studio LP, Perfect Man. Over the years the band has embraced elements of progressive metal and classical music, with 1996's Lingua Mortis serving as one of the first albums to be recorded with a full symphony. Wagner continued to lead the group through multiple lineup iterations well into the 21st century, releasing a string of well-received symphonic metal outings such as Speak of the Dead (2006) and Resurrection Day (2021), the latter of which was the group's 25th full-length studio effort.

Originally operating under the moniker Avenger, the group issued a pair of recordings (Prayer of Steel and Depraved to Black) before switching their name to Rage to avoid confusion with a British band of the same name. Employing a hard-hitting blend of NWOBHM and melodic speed metal, the newly-minted group issued their official debut, Reign of Fear, in 1986. Execution Guaranteed was released in 1987, with Perfect Man arriving the following year. The latter LP found success on the strength of the single "Don't Fear the Winter," which became a massive hit, and helped land Rage high-profile tour slots alongside bands like Motörhead and Saxon. "Invisible Horizons" from 1989's Secrets in a Weird World also found favor with metal audiences, and by the early '90s, the band had expanded on their regional success, with Trapped (1992) and The Missing Link (1993) making an impact internationally.

As time wore on, Wagner and crew began using extensive orchestral flourishes, culminating in the release of 1996's ambitious Lingua Mortis, which benefitted from the addition of a full orchestra, later dubbed the LMO (Lingua Mortis Orchestra). Subsequent efforts like 2003's sci-fi concept album Soundchaser and 2006's genre-juggling Speak of the Dead continued to tinker with the formula, and 2013 saw the release of LMO, the official debut of the Lingua Mortis Orchestra, who had been backing the group for the previous decade-and-a-half; the LP was also billed under Rage. Rage continued playing and releasing albums as the years progressed, issuing their 25th studio long-player, Resurrection Day, in 2021 and accompanying EP, Spreading the Plague, in 2022 with no indication of slowing down. ~ James Christopher Monger