"Caress of Steel" is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 24, 1975. Following the band's tour for Fly By Night, this album represented a significant shift in their sound from blues-based hard rock to a more progressive rock style. Key tracks like "The Necromancer" showcased their move toward narrative-driven, fantasy-based compositions, while "The Fountain of Lamneth" marked their first epic, occupying an entire side of the vinyl.
Despite the band's initial pride in the album, it struggled commercially and critically. Its darker tone and complex compositions alienated some listeners and led to disappointing sales, putting Rush at risk of being dropped by their label, Mercury Records. The accompanying tour was humorously dubbed the "Down The Tubes Tour" due to the album's reception. Over time, however, Caress of Steel has gained a more favorable view among fans, though it's often regarded as the "black sheep" of Rush's catalog, still reflecting an important step in their artistic evolution.
By mid-1975, Rush had solidified their lineup with guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee, and drummer and primary lyricist Neil Peart, who had joined in 1974. After the success of Fly By Night, which introduced multi-part and conceptual songs like "By-Tor and the Snow Dog," the band was gaining popularity and even received a Juno Award for Most Promising Group.
Following their Canadian headlining tour for Fly By Night, Rush began preparing their next album, Caress of Steel. They decided to further explore the extended, conceptual song structures they had started to develop, marking a clear shift from their blues-inspired hard rock roots toward a more progressive rock sound. Peart later reflected on their approach to Caress of Steel, noting the band's "serene and confident" mindset during the recording process, with all members feeling proud of the album's diversity and originality. Lee remarked that they were "pretty high" during the creation of the album.
Recording took place in July 1975 at Toronto Sound Studios, with mixing occurring in the same location. This period was crucial in defining Rush's evolving musical identity.
