RHAPSODY OF FIRE
“Challenge The Wind”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Rhapsody Of Fire are a symphonic power metal band from Italy formed in 1995 releasing fourteen studio albums and three E.P.’s (to date) across a thirty year career – the bands most recent album ‘Challenge The Wind’ emerging in 2024.

Founded by keyboard player Alex Staropoli, the line-up for the new album is completed by guitarist Roby De Micheli (Sinestesia), bass player Alessandro Sala (Saeko), vocalist Giacomo Voli (ex Teodasia, ex Embrace Of Souls), and drummer Paolo Marchesich (Sinestesia) – ‘Challenge The Wind’ featuring ten songs over an incredible one hour of power! And when I say power, Rhapsody Of Fire are foot to the floor right from the off, the album cruising by without a single ballad in sight – “the current album consisting exclusively of up tempo numbers” states Staropoli defiantly. The bands root symphonic, orchestral style of metal is in full swing, accompanied by a tonne of energy and grit – ‘Challenge The Wind’ exploding into life with the title song ‘Challenge The Wind’. Quickly into their stride, Rhapsody Of Fire storm down the autostrada at full tilt, banging the head of every single metalhead they roar past! A barnstorming and quite frankly breath taking opening salvo, Rhapsody Of Fire mean business!

And business is good…very good – the album quickening courtesy of ‘Whispers Of Doom’. The Italian outfit are flying here, raising the levels of majesty and elegance to new heights, the sound of blistering symphonic power metal rising high in the air – along with a head bang ability so vigorous in nature that heads are liable to be rocked right off the shoulders of everyone! What a fantastic opening double – a double that becomes a triple as ‘The Bloody Pariah’ enters the fray as the (new) fastest song heard so far! The pace of the album since it began has been incredible, the classic sound of European power metal as emphatic as it’s ever been, Rhapsody Of Fire adding a weighty amount of symphonic metal to the mix to create a truly beautiful sound – a sound that’s taking my breath away, as I’m sure it will yours too! And bringing a heavier, rougher and tougher sound to the fore, ‘Vanquished By Shadows’ hits hard with an almighty punch not felt before – ‘Vanquished By Shadows’ a phenomenal sixteen plus minutes in length! By far and away the longest song on ‘Challenge The Wind’ (the album), ‘Vanquished By Shadows’ is a symphonic power metal masterclass by one of the genres leading lights – so take note all you young, new and upcoming symphonic metal bands, this is how fucking good symphonic metal should be!

Rhapsody Of Fire maintain the albums unforgiving pace and power with the emphatic ‘Kreel’s Magic Staff’ – an air of fantasy, magic and wonder descending upon the album. ‘Kreel’s Magic Staff’ actually settles into a mid tempo thunder romp as it progresses, the levels of elegance and majesty rising to new heights – ‘Challenge The Wind’ (the album) keeping a tight grip on every listeners attentions! A grip that doesn’t loosen one little bit, ‘Diamond Claws’ picking up the power metal baton and roaring forth like a jet fighter roaring off to war! And then out of nowhere, the band sprinkle just a little bit of progressive metal over proceedings, ‘Diamond Claws’ a gear changing pace changing gallop of varying metal styles. Amazing stuff from an amazing band delivering an amazing album – ‘Black Wizard’ increasing the pace three-fold, Rhapsody Of Fire breaking speed limits and ignoring traffic police as the earth burns under the bands red hot rampaging brand of metal!

The dramatic oomph of anthemic metal rises to the surface as ‘A Brave New Hope’ surges forth, the band increasing the pace across the chorus break, the albums intensity level remaining at sky high levels – levels that haven’t dipped one little bit since ‘Challenge The Wind’ (the album) began, and are unlikely to either, as ‘Holy Downfall’ roars into life with a shit tonne of power and panache! The energy driving ‘Holy Downfall’ forward is immense, the band planting one foot on the monitor to adopt the classic pose of traditional heavy metal – Rhapsody Of Fire blending the iconic metal gallop with a touch of progressive metal. What a journey ‘Challenge The Wind’ (the album) has been, the unrelenting pace and power fucking incredible! The album comes to a close with ‘Mastered By The Dark’ slow burning into life, building a symphonic crescendo ready for all hell to break loose! Well, kind of! ‘Cause at forty seconds in ‘Mastered By The Dark’ shudders the ground with a mighty anthemic swagger, a menacing yet melodic aura oozing upwards and outwards, taking the rabble rousing call to arms nature of anthemic metal to a hymn-like level! I tell ya readers, the grandeur, elegance and majesty across the albums finale are at phenomenally high levels!

Overall, a superb symphonic power metal march, ‘Challenge The Wind’ is attractive, addictive and insanely infectious.

TRACKLIST

Challenge The Wind
Whispers Of Doom
The Bloody Pariah
Vanquished By Shadows
Kreel’s Magic Staff
Diamond Claws
Black Wizard
A Brave New Hope
Holy Downfall
Mastered By The Dark

https://www.rhapsodyoffire.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rhapsodyoffire

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