Rhapsody of Fire – The Legendary Years

[schema type=”review” name=”Rhapsody of Fire – The Legendary Years” description=”Label: AFM Records” pubdate=”2017-05-26″ ]

Review by: Juho Karila

I’m not sure if anyone can deny that the Italians have a sense of dramatics, let it be Antonio Vivaldi‘s Four Seasons or anything affiliated with Luca Turilli. Rhapsody of Fire doesn’t only let it show by combining opera and neo-classical with metal but their many turns and events have led into a few changes in the lineup and name. This however, isn’t about the dramatic turn of events but their latest “album.”

I won’t go into much details of the songs as the long-time fans surely know what they’ll expect.

At first, I was thrilled, when I was told to review some new RoF but that thrill and eager anticipation turned slowly into disappointment and mild anger when it turned out that this isn’t “a new album” they marketed it, but just a re-recorded compilation of greatest hits. Fair enough, I decided to give a teenage fantasy roleplaying nerd’s favorite band a proper trial but the first impression wasn’t any more flattering than what I had been anticipating. To be honest, it was quite the contrary.

It’s not about the selection of featured songs but the sound. Overly-produced, plastic, cheap and simply soulless that made me cringe every time I remembered when I first had heard songs like Emerald Sword or Knightrider of Doom and after the latter song, it was obvious that I wasn’t going to listen to this album more than I absolutely have to, only because of the sounds.

Technically, the songs have been played like they first were arranged, but the absence of mr. Turilli makes the songs feel hollow and I can’t see how a long-term fan gets too excited about this compilation but for new fans it gives a good overall cut through the band’s history and introduces the songs that raised the Italian fantasy metallers to success they enjoy nowadays.

If you don’t mind the sounds, go for it. But if you are looking for hearing something completely new, save your money for something else.

Lineup:
Alex Staropoli – keyboards
Roby De Micheli – guitars
Alessandro Sala – bass
Giacomo Voli – lead vocals
Manu Lotter – drums

Links:

Facebook

Official