Nurturing and constant prodding from youngish producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver), an admitted life-long Rush [ tickets ] fan, apparently inspired a breakthrough project for this progressive rock outfit which, has seen its share of tragedies--and even a near breakup--in recent years.

While the period since drummer/lyricist Neil Peart lost his wife to cancer and 19-year-old daughter to a car wreck yielded two stellar live projects, "R30" and the CD/DVD "Rush in Rio," as well as a successful tour, it was justifiably a period void of top-form songwriting.

But those days are over. Peart has since remarried, and produced four cathartic books, two chronicling his travels and travails across North America by motorcycle. And together with fellow 50-somethings Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, he has delivered one of the most exciting new musical projects from Rush since the band's "A Farewell to Kings" and "Hemispheres" days.

"Snakes & Arrows" combines some of Peart's most introspective, honest takes on spirituality and the ironies of organized faith, weaves them together with Lifeson's arsenal of power-guitar crunch, stinging leads and tasty bits of acoustic peppering, and leaves it up to Lee to articulate the visions vocally, all while holding it down with a hearty bottom end.

Even casual listeners may want to have lyrics in hand when they settle in to check out "Snakes & Arrows"--maybe even dragging out headphones for the pleasurable chore of enjoying the mix of words and music without distraction. The effort will certainly supply Rush fans with a holistic experience that has been too long in coming.

The CD is punctuated by three exceptional instrumental tracks: "The Main Monkey Business," "Malignant Narcissism" and the short but very sweet solo-acoustic tune, "Hope." Lyrically, the debut single, "Far Cry," alternates between leaps and lapses of faith, with a hammering beat and instrumental punch to help carry the number through to the last jangling chord.

"Good News First," conjures up shades of more recent Rush material, with an industrial drum line and the wash of acoustic-backed choruses begging the eternal question: "What happened to your old Benevolent universe?"

"Workin them Angels," is another catchy, straight-ahead rock number offering something of an apology for taking eternal good luck for granted. The hard-hitting "The Way the Wind Blows" offers harsh observations of world religion with Peart's flailing but tightly controlled drumming giving way to sentiments like: "From the Middle East to the Middle West, Pray and pass the ammunition."

If long-time fans have fallen from the fold as a result of lackluster output during the past decade, it's time to get religion again. "Snakes & Arrows" has all the musical ingredients that Rush devotees have been craving, and a lyrical bite signaling a new direction--a renaissance, if you will--for this tried and triumphant power trio from the Great White North.