Joe Bosso from Musicradar.com spoke with producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DANKO JONES, STONE SOUR, ALICE IN CHAINS) about working on RUSH's new album, Clockwork Angels. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Musicradar.com: How would you say the recording of Clockwork Angels differed from Snakes & Arrows?

Raskulinecz: "When I got involved with Snakes & Arrows, I was coming in a little late for school. They had most of the album written already. A few songs were works in progress, but pretty much everything was there. So the lesson plan was in motion, and I helped facilitate what they were doing. This one we started from scratch. They didn't talk about doing a concept album – that came later. But when I sat down with them three years ago, I said, 'I want to hear unbridled Rush. I don't want to focus on three-and-a-half minute songs; I don't want verse, chorus, verse, chorus – none of that. I want you guys to play, no holds barred. Let's just make music.' And that's what we did."

Musicradar.com: How were the songs presented to you?

Raskulinecz: "Geddy and Alex made rough sketches. They'd do demos and send them to Neil and me, and we'd all talk about them. They'd send three or four songs, and then six or seven months would go by and they'd send a few more. They went on tour for a year and a half, and there were no songs. This album has been in the works for some time."

Musicradar.com: Were there any notable changes to the band's gear from the last record?

Raskulinecz: "Not too much. We used Neil's DW touring kit, the one he played on the Time Machine tour. That thing sounds amazing! Guitar-wise, we raided Alex's collection, all of his old guitars and a few of his new Gibson signature models. Those things sound great. Alex played them for a few of his solos. For amps, I remember we used an old Marshall Plexi – there were a few Marshalls, really. We also used some Voxes, Bogners… a few different things. Geddy… he used his Orange amps. You know what we did use on this album that was different from the last one? The Moog Taurus 3 pedals. On the last record, we used the original T-1s that they had in the '70s. Let me tell you, the new version kicks ass!"

Read the entire interview at Musicradar.com.

For complete Clockwork Angels details visit Bravewords.com at this location.

(Photo top left courtesy of Musicradar.com)