Andrew Spice Unleashes a Defiant Anthem with “Rage Stage”

Andrew Spice has never been one to shy away from emotion, but with “Rage Stage,” his new single following the acclaimed comeback “High Park,” he steps fully into the fire. Simultaneously furious and theatrical, intimate and explosive, the track delivers a spine-tingling mix of gothic pop balladry and emotionally charged protest. It’s a defiant call to arms against betrayal—and a stirring reminder that sometimes, healing begins with rage.

Written by Spice and produced by JUNO-nominated artist Matthew Barber, “Rage Stage” is both a sonic exorcism and a pointed declaration of boundaries. The production swells from whisper to war cry, draped in synths, echoing piano lines, and ominous percussive flourishes that feel like emotional tremors. At its core is Spice’s voice: clear, haunted, and unwavering in its purpose. Every note feels hard-earned, each word delivered with a sense of truth that cuts deep.

If “High Park” was a lush meditation on memory and longing, “Rage Stage” flips the mirror, reflecting back not just loss but the rightful fury that can come in its wake. There’s a performance element to the track—it’s dramatic, sharp-edged, and designed to shake you—but at its center is something raw, human, and unapologetic.

“Too often, we are rewarded for being complacent in the face of injustice. Anger can actually be our best friend when it motivates us to fight back for the right cause. ‘Rage Stage’ is about embracing my own fury, standing up for myself, and conquering an enemy.”

– Andrew Spice

That fury, captured so succinctly in his own words, is palpable throughout the track. The title alone suggests performance, but this isn’t posturing—it’s a reckoning. Spice builds a lyrical narrative around the release of suppressed emotion and the triumph of reclaiming one’s voice. The song doesn’t simmer with frustration; it roars with conviction.

Spice’s return to music after a 21-year break has been as bold as it has been tender. His previous singles, “High Park” and “Gentle Sentinel,” garnered attention from Wonderland, FAULT, and House of Solo, alongside CBC and WXPN airplay and over 24,000 music video views. But “Rage Stage” is perhaps his most searing statement to date. It refuses to look away from pain. Instead, it transforms it.

Though the track feels fresh and immediate, Spice’s musical history is extensive. A classically trained pianist with a sharp lyrical sensibility, he first emerged in 2003 with Pretty Demons, produced by Emm Gryner. The album earned an OutMusic Award nomination and critical praise from outlets like NOW Toronto, Toronto Star, and Swerve. Then, for over two decades, he stepped back from the spotlight, building a successful career as a clinical psychologist. But his reemergence as a songwriter brings with it the weight of lived experience—and it shows.

The songs he’s now sharing draw strength from vulnerability and clarity from confrontation. His long-awaited sophomore album, due later this year, promises to explore themes of tenderness, grief, queerness, and resilience. Judging by the emotional intensity of “Rage Stage,” the record is shaping up to be not just a collection of songs, but a personal manifesto.

What makes Spice’s work so compelling is his refusal to dilute the complexity of emotion. In “Rage Stage,” he doesn’t just express anger—he honors it. The track legitimizes rage not as something destructive, but as a vital force of self-protection and truth. It’s a bold, necessary message in a culture that too often punishes people—especially queer people—for speaking their truth with volume.

With “Rage Stage,” Andrew Spice proves that a comeback doesn’t have to be quiet or polished. It can be loud, confrontational, unflinching—and still be deeply beautiful. This is not just a return. It’s a reclamation. And he’s only just getting started.