Rhapsody of Fire
Rhapsody of Fire (formerly Rhapsody ) is an Italian power metal band that combines elements of classical music and film music in their music. The band itself describes their music due to numerous factors known soundtrack composer since The- Dark- Secret -EP as " Film Score Metal" (formerly " Symphonic Epic Hollywood Metal" ). In their lyrics it came to fantasy stories that have been written to the splitting of the band of Luca Turilli.
- 3.1 Demos
- 3.2 Studio albums
- 3.3 Live albums and compilations
- 3.4 Singles and EPs
Band History
Foundation
The band was founded in 1993 under the name Thunder Cross in Trieste, Italy. The two band leader Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli 1994 brought the bassist Andrea Furlan, and the singer Christiano Adacher on board and made the band thus completely. With their first demo Land of Immortals Thunder Cross received a recording contract with LMP ( Limb Music Products) and named themselves into Rhapsody. Even before the first album Furlan and Adacher were replaced by new vocalist Fabio Lione and the bassist Alessandro Lotta.
The Emerald Sword Saga
Appeared in 1997 Legendary Tales, which is the first part of a five-part series of concept albums. It tells here the so-called Emerald Sword Saga, a fantasy story that was written by Luca Turilli. With the album Rhapsody also created the institution designated by them as Symphonic Epic Hollywood Metal style. For the sound pompous choirs and orchestra were later used (including the Don Cossack Choir ).
In 2000 Carbonera left the band, as (initially temporary ) drummer Alex Holzwarth was looking for ( Sieges Even ) from Germany and as a live performer all the French Dominique Leurquin on the electric guitar. Soon after, the band performed for the first time live, where they always have to resort to samples today to transfer the orchestral parts of the music on the stage can. In the same year appeared with Dawn of Victory a slightly more aggressive album on which Holzwarth was not yet heard. In 2001 the Frenchman Patrice Guers (Patrick Rondat ) the bass as a guest musician. Since then, there was no line-up changes more. Holzwarth heard since 2002 a permanent band. This year, the album Power of the Dragon Flame that the Emerald Sword Saga closes and the held a world tour of the same name appeared. In 2003, the label's contract expired with LMP from now they decided on a bigger label and switched to MCM.
The Dark Secret Saga
2004 Symphony of Enchanted Lands II appeared, the first arranged with full orchestra album together with elaborately produced music videos. As narrator had the then 82 -year-old actor Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, ... ). Since he liked very much this work and he was himself once an opera singer, he later sang on the eponymous single, the song The Magic of the Wizard 's Dream duet with Fabio Lione and can be heard since Symphony of Enchanted Lands II on all subsequent albums as a speaker. The album kicks off to the Dark Secret Saga, which continues the Emerald Sword Saga.
In 2006, a complaint by the owner of the brand name Rhapsody was loud. After the band had become bigger and bigger, they had to rename now and picked out as the new name Rhapsody of Fire. In addition, bassist Patrice Guers has now been integrated into the band. From 2005 to 2007 Rhapsody toured ( with intermediate interruption) as a supporter for Manowar at their joint Demons, Dragons & Warriors Tour. The live DVD was released in 2007 provides an insight into this tour and also in the production of the albums.
Since late 2007, the band was in a dispute with her management. In this context, the planned 2007 tour was canceled across South America. The dispute also concerned the solo projects Turilli. On 4 October 2008, the band had announced on her official website that she had to stop all activities for an indefinite period completely. In November 2009, the band announced their return with change to music label Nuclear Blast and the new studio album The Frozen Tears of Angels, which was released on 30 April 2010. In October, the EP The Cold Embrace of Fear followed. November 8, the band was on a world tour. On 6 December 2010 the album From Chaos to Eternity was announced, which was released on 17 June 2011.
Reorganization in 2011
On 15 April 2011, the American Tom Hess joined as a second guitarist for the band. With the end of their ten albums ending fantasy story, the band was on 16 August 2011 as a result of different musical plans her amicable split unknown. One of the two daughter Bands will be continued under the same name by Rhapsody founder Alex Staropoli with members Fabio Lione and Tom Hess. The other band is continued by Rhapsody founder and songwriter Luca Turilli Luca Turilli 's under the name of Rhapsody. It includes Patrice Guers and the former guest musician Dominique Leurquin. Alex Holzwarth agreed to two bands to remain true. On 1 September, as the new bass player ( at the point of Patrice Guers ) announced the German Oliver Holzwarth ( brother of Alex Holzwarth ), on 27 September as the new guitarist ( in the place of Luca Turilli ), a native of Trieste Roberto de Micheli. Alex Holzwarth realized after he had recorded an album with Luca Turilli 's Rhapsody to be able to devote but only a band and remained entirely Rhapsody of Fire.
New label and new album in 2013
On 11 December 2012, the band announced that they had changed the label AFM Records and already working on various projects. On May 3, 2013, the live album Live appeared - From Chaos to Eternity, on the " old classics and newer titles " are included that were recorded during the European tour in spring 2012. Due to " philosophical differences" Tom Hess left the band on June 25, 2013 little later, the band announced the start of production of their new studio album. The album is titled Dark Wings of Steel and appeared in Europe on 22 November 2013.
Style
The style of Rhapsody combines the typical features of Power Metal with orchestral, reminiscent of film music arrangements ( for example, is the refrain of the song " Pride of the Tyrant" modeled on the soundtrack of "Braveheart "). The vocals Fabio liones is clear and melodious. Especially in the first albums to Dawn of Victory bonds still at the sound of medieval and Baroque can also be detected. Dawn of Victory and Power of the Dragon Flame sound a little more aggressive in the albums from 2004 dominates a certain epic. This is generated through extensive use of a real orchestra as well as radio play- like passages. Therefore, the new genre name " film score metal" was chosen, which is to illustrate the style of music even more. The guitar solos Luca Turilli are based on the virtuosic, very harmonious late Baroque style and the acts building upon it Neoclassicism. Alex Staropolis keyboards solos and rarely take especially in the quiet pieces, the function of the basso continuo and the symphonic harmony through education samples. Bass and drums play a very supportive role. The orchestral moments are very sophisticated arrangement in the rule and are equally important to the classic metal cast. Large, often polyphonic choirs support the singing.
Discography
Demos
Studio albums
Live albums and compilations
- 2004: Tales from the Emerald Sword Saga ( Best Of)
- 2006: Live in Canada 2005 - The Dark Secret
- 2013: Live - From Chaos to Eternity
Singles and EPs
- 2007: Visions from the Enchanted Lands ( Live Clips documentation)