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Rhapsody Of Fire - Dark Wings Of Steel

Label: AFM
Format: CD download
Released: 2013
Reviewed By: Mark Gromen
Rating: 6/ 10


It now becomes a little clearer why these Italians broke from their legendary six-stringer, Luca Turilli. While the title screams power metal, the latest platter by keyboardist/founder Alex Staropoli and singer Fabio Lione sounds quite progressive leaning, with a hint of new Warlord (‘A Tale Of Magic’), to boot. Seems like the opening slots and substitution vocal gigs have had an influence on the band. Reduced to a single guitarist, that instrument has been subjugated in the mix and certainly minimalized, in terms of shredding solos.

 

There’s a brief acoustic flourish in ‘Angel Of Light’ and ‘Silver Lake Of Tears’, probably the speediest song, is dominated by sweeping keyboards. In fact, the majority of the nine proper tunes (which discounts the short instrumental ‘Vis Divina’ intro and orchestral strings begun ‘Custode Di Pace’, operatic and in their native tongue) would be characterized as flowingly symphonic and mid-tempo (by Rhapsody standards). Plenty of multi-voice, backing choirs too. More "Broadway Metal" than ever, seems some of the Fire has been extinguished.

 
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