Video Review: President-Rage

I am blown away by the artistry here, I had to write about it

Shane Brown

7/22/20253 min read

My Take on PRESIDENT's "RAGE" - Absolutely Blown Away

I just watched PRESIDENT's new music video for "RAGE" and honestly, I'm still processing how incredible this whole thing is. I had to write about it because this video and song combo has completely floored me.

First Things First, Who Is PRESIDENT?

Okay, so these guys are this mysterious masked band from the UK, and the intrigue around them is already off the charts. Nobody knows for sure who's behind the masks, though there's buzz that it might be Charlie Simpson from Busted and Fightstar. The mystery alone has me hooked, but then you add in that they're connected to Sleep Token's management team, and you know something special is brewing.

They've been teasing us since before Download Festival 2025, and now with their debut EP "King of Terrors" dropping September 26th, "RAGE" is giving us a taste of what's coming. And what a taste it is.

This Song Hit Me Like a Truck

What completely caught me off guard was how different "RAGE" sounds from their earlier stuff. I was expecting more of that violent metalcore energy from tracks like "In The Name Of The Father" and "Fearless," but instead, they went in this amazing electronic direction that I wasn't prepared for.

The way they've woven synths throughout the track creates this haunting atmosphere that builds and builds. And when I found out it's inspired by Dylan Thomas's poem "Do not go gentle into that good night," everything clicked. That "rage against the dying of the light" theme runs through every note, and it's giving me chills just thinking about it.

The lyrics dive deep into identity crisis and fear of change - themes that hit so hard right now. There's this vulnerability mixed with defiance that's just masterfully done.

That Music Video Though!

Oh my god, I cannot get over how absolutely stunning this video is! What completely blew me away was the choreography - these two women dancing throughout the entire video in this beautiful, interpretive ballet style that I rarely see in metal music videos. It's pure artistry in motion.

The way they've crafted this dance fight between the two dancers, one draped in black and one in white, is breathtaking. It's like watching poetry come to life through movement. The contrast between them creates this visual representation of the internal conflict the song explores - light versus dark, hope versus despair, rage versus acceptance.

What struck me most was how graceful and fluid their movements are, almost like watching professional ballerinas tell a story without words. You don't often see this level of interpretive dance integrated so seamlessly into a metal video, and it adds this incredibly sophisticated artistic layer that elevates the whole experience. The President vocalist watching from above just adds to the theatrical brilliance of it all.

The choreography perfectly captures that duality the song embodies the electronic, atmospheric sections flow with the dancers' more graceful movements, and then when the heavier parts hit, their movements become more intense and dramatic. It's like the dancers are physically manifesting the emotional journey of the track.

The Reception Has Been Wild

I've been diving into reactions online, and people are having such strong responses to this. Some fans are calling it "brave and powerful," and I totally agree. One comment that stuck with me was someone saying the song has "polar opposite sounds in the first and second half," and the video reflects that perfectly. That's exactly what impressed me most!

Sure, some people think the heavier elements take too long to kick in, but honestly, I think that buildup is what makes the payoff so satisfying. And yeah, someone compared the keyboard melody to "My Heart Will Go On," which made me laugh, but also kind of proves how memorable that synth work is.

Why I'm So Impressed

This track shows a band that's not afraid to evolve and take risks, and that video! The choreography is what absolutely hooked me. I've never seen ballet style interpretive dance used so effectively in a metal context, and it's genius. The way those two dancers embody the song's themes through pure movement is something special that you just don't see often in this genre.

The artistic vision here is incredible! Blending vulnerability with electronic atmosphere, keeping that metallic edge, and then adding this layer of visual storytelling through dance that takes it to another level entirely. It's sophisticated without losing its emotional punch.

The fact that they're rooting this in existential poetry while creating something that sounds so modern and fresh, PLUS incorporating this beautiful choreographic element - that takes real artistic vision. The whole aesthetic feels so polished yet raw at the same time, and those dancers just elevate everything about the experience.

I keep coming back to how haunting that chorus is, and how the whole aesthetic feels so polished yet raw at the same time. PRESIDENT is clearly building something bigger here, setting up an identity that's way more complex than I initially expected.

Bottom Line

"RAGE" has completely shifted my expectations for what PRESIDENT can do. If this is what they're bringing to their debut EP, I'm counting down the days until September 26th. This isn't just a good song - it's a statement. It's art that makes you think and feel simultaneously.

I'm genuinely excited to see where they take this sound next. Consider me thoroughly impressed and completely hooked.