Rhapsody - Dawn Of Victory


Year of Release: 2000
Label: Limb Music Products
Catalog Number: LMP 0010 023
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:13:00

It was very much a question whether at all Rhapsody would be able to repeat the success of albums such as Legendary Tales and Symphony Of Enchanted Lands. Trust me, with this brand new Dawn Of Victory they have even exceeded themselves.

With the added bonus of a certain Aresius, the ancient wizard, Rhapsody kind of introduces an extra member, just like Iron Maiden's Eddie. The pompous classical atmosphere of the opening track "Lux Triumphans" already sets the pace for things to come. The choir makes me think of Orff's "Carmina Burana," ominous and brooding all the way. As soon as Luca Turilli gets his guitar out of the guitarcase it's all systems go in true Rhapsody fashion, thus including both orchestral and cinematic elements. The title track also introduces the powerful drumming of newcomer Alex Holzwarth.

The healthy sales of their previous album(s) enabled the band to toy around with a bigger budget so they have been able to work with the Helmstedt Kammerchoir, a unique baroque voice, a real violinist, and a real flute player. "Triumph For My Magic Steel" has the voice of Ronnie James Dio written all over it, whilst it's the addition of the real violin which underscores the originality here. "The Village Of Dwarves" is like stepping into a time capsule and getting off in the middle ages, what with real baroque recorders adding to the flavour. Calm sets in with "The Bloody Rage Of The Titans" which has a very classical chorus backed by outstanding piano, before once again the guitar takes over, taking the violin along for the ride. Flute, piano, guitar, baroque voice, huge choir: it's all there! The walls really come tumbling down during the massive "Holy Thunderforce," which is also the pièce de résistance for drummer Alex Holzwarth.

A Hungarian-esque folktune is interspersed in the instrumental "Trolls In The Dark," the melody of which is also sung by a child in the intro. My favourite track though comes at the very end. "The Mighty Ride Of The Firelord" is probably the most bombastic of all, covering all kinds of atmospheres. Once the choir mingles with the music, the song changes towards an opera-like finish. A solitary female voice steps in between two parts to give way to a synth solo, followed yet again by a super fast guitar solo by Turilli. Could this be Rhapsody's very own "Bohemian Rhapsody"?

Dawn Of Victory is the right successor for the Rhapsody heritage, but I feel the band will need to work harder on strong melodies as for now their trademark of fast guitars and powerful drums is becoming too transparent. It's not by adding a huge choir and attacking the music from a classical angle of incidence that all musical battles will be won!


Tracklisting:
Lux Triumphans (2:00) / Dawn Of Victory (4:45) / Triumph Of My Magic Steel (5:44) / The Village Of Dwarves (3:42) / Dargor, Shadowlord Of The Black Mountain (4:43) / The Blody Rage Of The Titans (6:24) / Holy Thunderforce (4:22) / Trolls In The Dark (2:24) / The Last Winged Unicorn (5:34) / The Mighty Ride Of The Firelord (8:35)

Musicians:
Luca Turilli - guitars
Alex Staropoli - keyboards, harpsichord, piano
Fabio Lione - vocals
Alessandro Lotta - bass
Alex Holzwarth - drums

Discography:
As Rhapsody:
Legendary Tales (1997)
Symphony Of Enchanted Lands (1998)
Dawn Of Victory (2000)
Rain Of A Thousand Flames (2001)
Power Of The Dragonflame (2002)
The Dark Secret (ep) (2004)
Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret (2004)

As Rhapsody Of Fire:
Live In Canada 2005 - The Dark Secret (2005)
Triumph Or Agony (The Dark Secret Saga, Part II) (2007)
The Frozen Tears Of Angels (2010)
THe Cold Embrace Of Tears (ep) (2010)
From Chaos To Eternity (2011)
Dark Wings Of Steel (2013)
Live From Chaos To Eternity (2013)
Into The Legend (2016)
Legendary Years (2017)
The Eighth Mountain (2019)

Visions From The Enchanted Lands (DVD) (2007)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin IT

Added: October 16th 2000
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.rhapsodyoffire.com
Hits: 2584
Language: english

  

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