ALBUM REVIEW: The Eighth Mountain – Rhapsody Of Fire
RHAPSODY OF FIRE are a band cemented in the foundations of metal itself – these Italian bards of neoclassical fantasy metal require no introduction and have encapsulated thousands of die-hard fans since their inception in 1993. With 11 successful studio albums behind them, a wealth of experience and a fresh line-up of veteran new-bloods, does Alex Staropoli have what it takes to write the next chapter of RHAPSODY OF FIRE’s glorious story with The Eighth Mountain?
In true RHAPSODY OF FIRE fashion Abyss Of Pain invites you deep into the chasms of imagination before the unstoppable power barrage of Seven Heroic Deeds introduces a truly evolved sound whilst showcasing the majestic momentum of front man Giocomo Voli and his octave-leaping vocals. The Eighth Mountain is the first album since the departure of beloved choir master Fabio Lione but with all due respect to probably one of the most unique and favoured vocalists in the genre, his replacement does a commendable job of following Lione’s legacy while breathing fresh life into a band with over two decades of exceptional song-crafting. Master Of Peace and Rain Of Fury echo remnants of 2000-era RHAPSODY OF FIRE but with a revised, more furious and solid sound.
Staropoli and his troupe keep classic characteristics on fire with epic choir-led bombardments, cunning keyboards and the sort of guitar solo’s Beethoven would be conjuring up if he was alive today. White Wizard narrowly keeps the positive vibes peaking but Warrior Of Heart brings back to life long since visited concepts and does a grand job of invoking images of enchanting heartwarming adventure. Sebastian Levermann was a great choice to mix and master this release, he augments the new identity of RHAPSODY OF FIRE with a crisp and thunderous production that shows signs of his infamously haunting work. The Courage To Forgive is a solid example of this – the force of the orchestral arrangement is imaginative and ironically unforgiving, to be expected from the Bulgarian National Symphony Orchestra. No RHAPSODY OF FIRE album would be the same without a stretched out saga so March Against The Tyrant is something we would expect to hear – a lengthy crescendo of epicness intrinsic throughout RHAPSODY OF FIRE’s career with less storytelling and more focus on exhibiting their new sound. Clash Of Times enables Roby De Micheli a chance to give Luca Turilli a run for his money whilst Staropoli reminds you he still has a few tricks up his sleeve in The Legend Goes On.
Unfortunately The Wind, The Rain And The Moon tries to recreate classics along the lines of The Magic Of The Wizards Dream but falls substantially below its standards or anything close. However, cult fans of the band as well as those who haven’t yet been baptised by RHAPSODY OF FIRE’s majesty will be relieved to see Staropoli and the gang throw all they have into Tales Of A Hero’s Fate. Reborn from the ashes of epic compositions such as The Frozen Tears Of Angels, it’s a beacon of hope that this band will continue writing consistently impressive chapters in their seemingly endless saga of fantasy-fueled domination. They leave us with one last emotional surprise as the late Christopher Lee makes his final cameo and beckons us to once again raise our swords towards the sky in his honour.
To round up, this is an album that fuels the flame that has long-since burned in the legacy of RHAPSODY OF FIRE – considering Staropoli is the only original member left in the band they do a meritorious job of keeping the sound within the bindings of the music regardless of missing the key ingredients that Lione and Turilli so often brought forward. Extravagant, complicated yet truly majestic The Eighth Mountain can safely join the ranks alongside previous albums without taking anything away from the essence that puts RHAPSODY OF FIRE consistently on the top of their game.
Rating: 8/10
The Eighth Mountain is out now via AFM Records.
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