10 Greatest Final Rock Albums Of The 2010s
7. Clockwork Angels - Rush
Five years after the release of Snakes & Arrows, Canada's ambassadors to the land of instrumental prog rock were back for one last adventure.
Rush, comprised of bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer Neil Peart, unleashed Clockwork Angels on the world in 2012, all one hour and six minutes of it. A tantalising concept album, the story behind the record was that of a dystopian, steampunk-inspired world, which ticked all the boxes for Rush's dedicated fanbase.
The end result was a sprawling, yet concise collection of songs that stood out on their own as well as feeding into a larger narrative. Catchy hooks, electrifying solos, vocal gymnastics, it was all here, and the fans lapped it up.
Rush had the distinction of having the same core lineup since their second studio album back in 1975, which might be why the death of Peart in 2020 hit them so hard.
Though mounting health problems had essentially put an end to the group's activities, Peart's passing was the full stop on the career of an extraordinary trio of friends who gave the world some spectacular music.