12 Best Hard Rock Deep Cuts

After a few years working with drummer John Rutsey, Rush were playing typical bluesy rock and roll until they finally found their groove with Neil Peart. Not only considered the greatest drummer in the world, Peart also expanded the band's vision from a lyrical and musical point of view as they ventured out into more prog-rock material.

Many people single out the title track of the band's sophomore release Fly By Night as the true introduction of Peart, but the opener "Anthem" is a better indicator as to what direction the band was heading in. With lyrics inspired by Ayn Rand, this was the first time the band had lyrical themes that were based on literature and intellectualism rather than going to work and drinking.

The complicated riff and fantastic guitar solo from Alex Lifeson is the ideal blend of Rush's styles: complicated yet heavy tracks. The incredible shriek of Geddy Lee also lends itself well to the forceful riffs below. Going into this record, Peart played like he had a lot to prove to himself and to his bandmates. In creating "Anthem," Rush not only pushed themselves but wrote the roadmap for how their songs would be created for the rest of their career.