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Rhapsody Of Fire
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Triumph Or Agony
SPV/Steamhammer Records
Release: 09/26/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
J Sherrod
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Rhapsody Of Fire (formerly Rhapsody) had to change their
name due to copyright and trademark issues, but are back
with a fresh start and new album Triumph Or
Agony. I've never been a huge Power Metal fan, but I
respect the genre when it's done correctly. This album is not
enough power or metal to suit my taste, and drags on in its
length.
"Dar-Kunor I. Echoes From The Elvish Woods II. Fear Of The
Dungeons" sets the stage for the occult movie, dark,
dramatic shit that's about to ensue. Nice metal riffs, good
dynamics, chants like you would hear in The
Omen, woodwinds, tympani and everything else. It's
all here building the tension, foreshadowing things to
come.
The title-track follows with all the metal you can stand.
Galloping drumbeats, keyboards and glass shattering vocals
bring it in like old school Manowar with lyrical themes of
brotherhood and overcoming any and all obstacles in the
way. "Old Age Of Wonders" finds the band taking a breather
from the metal elements and delving into more courtly
music. With an Elizabethan introduction including recorders
and harpsichord, this is a jig that might have been played
before a 16th Century royal court at dinnertime.
"The Myth Of The Holy Sword" starts with pounding drums
and a false indication of heaviness. Judging from the
impressive intro, this song could have been so much more
than what it becomes. "Il Canto Del Vento" is cool for the
first minute (of 3:45) but I'd started to think about naptime
before it was over, and had begun drifting off to dreamland.
I regain consciousness for the next two tracks but am left
blasé and angered my potential nap was
interrupted.
The thing that stands out most about this album - like the
white elephant in the room - is tenth track, "The Mystic
Pophecy Of The Demon Knight [Note: I looked at the song
title three times and it says Pophecy and NOT Prophecy].
This is a five-part epic told in a Bardic narrative style:
I. A New Saga Begins
II. Through The Portals Of Agony
III. The Black Order
IV. Nekron's Bloody Rhymes
V. Escape From Horror
According to the band's PR, Rhapsody Of Fire pulled out all
the stops for this album - including cover design by famous
fantasy artist Jeff Easley, narration by legendary actor
Christopher Lee and the compliment of the 50-piece BRNO
Academy Choir and 60-piece Bohusiav Martinu Philharmonic
Orchestra. That's all fine and dandy but the detriment is the
band seems to hide behind all of that instead of
incorporating it into their sound.
A serious lack of guitar solos, double bass riffs and Heavy
Metal, in general, Triumph Or Agony provides
nothing more than the soundtrack to a B-movie of Conan
and Red Sonja films that were never released. Also,
Rhapsody Of Fire opened for the "Kings Of Metal," Manowar,
in 2006. All I can say is, 'Enjoy that
opening slot fellas, because I don't see Rhapsody Of Fire
taking Manowar's crown away anytime soon.' |
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