By the mid-1990s, Rush had weathered the grunge upheaval that rendered prog-rock unfashionable, and Counterparts stands as their answer—a record that honors their technical virtuosity while embracing a harder, more direct sonic palette. Released on Atlantic in 1995, it's a masterclass in controlled intensity: Geddy Lee's vocals cut through with renewed urgency, Alex Lifeson's guitar work balances intricate passages with muscular riffs, and Neil Peart's drumming remains impeccably precise. The album moves between propulsive hard-rock momentum ("Stick It Out," "Cut to the Chase") and more meditative moments that showcase the band's enduring melodic sense ("The Speed of Love," "Everyday Glory"). What emerges is a mature band refusing both nostalgia and concession, instead charting their own course through rock music's changing landscape. This vinyl captures a pivotal moment in their catalog.