Year : 2017 (Japan Edition)
Style : Power Metal , Symphonic Metal
Country : Italy
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 132 mb
Bio:
Formed in 1993 as Thundercross, and then changed name to Rhapsody in 1995. They were forced to change their name again, this time to Rhapsody of Fire, due to copyright problems on 14th of July of 2006.Before Cristiano Adacher's arrival, Luca Turilli was also the singer of the band. Thunderforce played drums from "Dawn of Victory" to "Power of the Dragonflame," but for contractual obligations his real identity could not be revealed. There was also speculation that 'Thunderforce' did not actually exist and that the drums on these albums were programmed, but the band always denied this. Alex Holzwarth, who played drums in live shows, figured in the official line-up on the CDs. Holzwarth has played all drums since "The Dark Secret" EP.Dominique Leurquin played live with Rhapsody from February 2000 until 2011, and later also performed the rhythm guitar parts on albums, but was only ever considered a 'special guest' of the band.Rhapsody's baroque recorder parts have always been played by Alex Staropoli's brother, Manuel Staropoli. On Rhapsody's earlier releases, songs often contained narration by Sir Jay Lansford. Starting with "The Dark Secret" EP, professional actors, ntably including film veteran Christopher Lee, have been used instead. Lee has also performed as co-vocalist on a few B-sides.Rhapsody's management team included Manowar's Joey DeMaio after they signed to his Magic Circle Music label, but they were later involved in a long-running legal dispute that brought all band activity to a halt between 2007 and 2009.Luca Turilli and Patrice Guers left Rhapsody of Fire on good terms in 2011, and announced in November 2011 that they would continue as Luca Turilli's Rhapsody along with Dominique Leurquin. Both versions claim the entire band history up until the split as their own. Alex Holzwarth was initially a member of both bands but left Luca Turilli's Rhapsody after the recording of their first album.Nuclear Blast dropped Rhapsody of Fire after the split and continued with Luca Turilli's Rhapsody only. After one year, in December 2012 the band then signed to the German label AFM Records.
Album:
A legend continues in impressive fashion: Italian symphonic power metal kings Rhapsody Of Fire have rerecorded their biggest classic songs of the Rhapsody years (1997-2002) with enormous effort and a huge result. Mixed and mastered by Seeb Levermann (Orden Ogan).Compilations are, sometimes, boring and truly disgusting. In many cases, this kind of disc is just a way to take the last coins of the fans, especially when the band has nothing new to present. To the greater part of compilations in the “The Best Of” way, this is an undeniable truth. But in few cases, there are some compilations that are truly good, has something different to present. This is the case of “Legendary Years”, the new release of the Italian heroes from RHAPSODY OF FIRE.It seems a good intention: in “Legendary Years”, the band re-recorded some songs from the most creative and successful era, from the period of 1997 to 2002, and with the actual lineup. To speak in another way, it’s a way to present the new vocalist Giacomo Voli and new drummer Manuel Lotter. Maybe it’s a statement that the band will go on without Fabio Lione, who left the band in 2016. As well, it’s an extremely courageous album, because to have Giacomo singing old classics of the band is not only a way to say that RHAPSODY OF FIRE is alive, but to show the fans how the things will go with the new vocalist. Let’s be honest: with the great intolerance that Metal fans show to vocalists’ changes (bands as IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and ICED EARTH suffered a lot for this), to record such kind of album is a sign of courage!The sound production of “Legendary Years” is near perfection. Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann did a great job on the mixing and the mastering, and the quality of the sound that flows by our speakers is truly excellent. You’ll get the best of the songs clearly. The artwork of Alexandre Charleux for the cover is really great, and the message is clear: the gates for a new era for the band and its fans are coming. Another factor that can be the cause of the band release of “Legendary Years” is the actual reunion tour of RHAPSODY with Fabio and Lucca, for it could cause confusion in the minds of the fans. But here on the album is the true essence of the band’s music. I must be true: I really know that Fabio’s voice is amazing, but Giacomo a great singer as well.The are some classics that are amazing on their new versions, and “Dawn of Victory”, “Flames of Revenge”, “Land of Immortals”, “Emerald Sword”, “Legendary Tales”, “When Demons Awake”, “Holy Thunderforce” and “Rain of a Thousand Flames” are songs that speak for themselves. They are classics that all the band’s fans know and sing on the shows. But I think that songs as “Warrior of Ice”, “The Wisdom of the Kings”, “The Might Ride of the Firelord” and some others could be included on the album. Yes, I know it would be necessary to have a double CD, but who cares? RHAPSODY OF FIRE deserves!Ending my words, I believe that the band is really strong and amazing with this new lineup, and “Legendary Years” is here as proof that the Italian kings are back.
Line-Up:
Fabio Lione - Vocals (1995-present) - See also: Angra, Vision Divine, ex-Symmetry, ex-Hollow Haze, ex-Labÿrinth, ex-Kamelot (live), ex-Athena, ex-J. Storm
Alex Staropoli - Keyboards, Harpsichord, Piano (1995-present) - See also: ex-Thundercross
Roberto De Micheli - Guitars (2011-present) - See also: Sinestesia, ex-Steel Crown, ex-Thundercross
Alessandro Sala - Bass (2015-present) - See also: Sinestesia
Alex Holzwarth - Drums, Percussion (2000-present) - See also: Dol Ammad, Pergana, Serious Black (live), ex-Sieges Even, ex-Looking-Glass-Self, ex-Val'Paraiso, Brutal Godz, ex-Avantasia, ex-Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, ex-Paradox, ex-Blind Guardian (live)
Tracklist:
01. Dawn Of Victory
02. Knightrider Of Doom
03. Flames Of Revenge
04. Beyond The Gates Of Infinity
05. Land Of Immortals
06. Emerald Sword
07. Legendary Tales
08. Dargor, Shadowlord Of The Black Mountain
09. When Demons Awake
10. Wings Of Destiny
11. Riding The Winds Of Eternity
12. The Dark Tower Of Abyss
13. Holy Thunderforce
14. Rain Of A Thousand Flames
15. Where Dragons Fly (Japan Bonus Track)
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