Launched Through: AFM Information
Unencumber Date: Would possibly thirty first, 2024
Style: Symphonic Energy Steel
Hyperlinks: https://www.rhapsodyoffire.com/
Line Up:
Giacomo Voli – Vocals
Roberto De Micheli – Guitars
Alessandro Sala – Bass
Alex Staropoli – Keyboards
Paolo Marchesich – Drums
Tracklist:
1. Problem the Wind
2. Whispers of Doom
3. The Bloody Pariah
4. Vanquished by means of Shadows
5. Kreel’s Magic Group of workers
6. Diamond Claws
7. Black Wizard
8. A Courageous New Hope
9. Holy Downfall
10. Mastered by means of the Darkish
As an enormous symphonic energy steel fan, I’ve had just a little of a love/hate dating with the Italian band Rhapsody of Hearth over time. Then again, I’ve been somewhat proud of their more moderen paintings, with vocalist Giacomo Voli becoming in completely and serving to the band ship two implausible albums in a row. Following a somewhat long length plagued by means of primary departures and inconsistent album high quality, it kind of feels issues have totally stabilized now, with the band conserving the similar lineup from Glory for Salvation as they get in a position to free up their upcoming album, Problem the Wind. Given how sturdy the former releases have been, I used to be assured within the band’s talent to ship and eagerly expected listening to what they might get a hold of this time round. Finally, whilst I wouldn’t say that is certainly one of their all-time highest albums, it does certainly stay the profitable streak going, and it’s person who’s positive to delight many enthusiasts, particularly those that desire a undeniable facet of the band, as I’ll provide an explanation for under.
Over their lengthy, storied profession, Rhapsody of Hearth has launched a variety of albums with a new angle or really feel to them, such because the slower, lighter Triumph or Agony, the cushy and cinematic but nonetheless intense Symphony of Enchanted Lands II, the in large part narrative-driven Rain of A Thousand Flames, and naturally, their maximum polarizing album, the darkish, reasonably watered-down Darkish Wings of Metal. Whilst the band has at all times presented a mixture of rapid, melodic energy steel paired with epic, cinematic symphonic steel, their albums have most often been somewhat various and dynamic, with maximum albums that includes some ballads, some roughly epic, a form of folk-infused monitor, and every now and then some extra radical experiments. Problem the Wind is reasonably of a singular beast in its personal approach in that it’s in all probability their maximum targeted symphonic energy steel album up to now. Nearly all of the album is relentless, fast paced energy steel subsidized by means of epic keys and enormous symphonic preparations. There aren’t any ballads to be discovered in any respect, no full-on folk-infused tracks (even though there are mild folks components on one monitor), and there aren’t any actual experiments. As a substitute, it merely takes the core side of the band’s sound and doubles down on it, leading to an album that during many ways appears like probably the most Rhapsody album to ever exist, even though that doesn’t essentially imply it’s their highest album of all time. It’s implausible, even though, and coming off Glory for Salvation, an album of impressive tracks which didn’t at all times pair all that smartly in combination, this album unquestionably flows much more easily, except for one somewhat puzzling selection proper on the finish.
Problem the Wind isn’t probably the most band’s extra dynamic albums, however there’s nonetheless some selection, with one monitor particularly being just a little lighter with out dropping the entire center of attention, whilst some tracks are a lot heavier and extra intense, and naturally, there’s a variety of extra classic-sounding tracks, which strike a pleasing steadiness between melodic and heavy. On the middle of the album is the large 16-minute epic, “Vanquished by means of Shadows,” which is able to unquestionably stand proudly along the various different epic-length tracks the band has written over time. One drawback I discussed having with the former album was once that it had an inconsistent tone and really feel, and that’s in large part remedied right here, with maximum tracks having a somewhat darkish, sinister really feel to them. I’ve by no means paid a lot consideration to RoF’s lyrics, however it’s simple to inform they’re at a somewhat darkish a part of their ongoing saga at the moment, as this album offers with some very darkish topics whilst nonetheless keeping up the similar epic delusion environment as at all times. I additionally to find the tracks float properly in combination, with the only slower monitor coming straight away after the epic to calm issues down for just a little, whilst the remainder of the album is nearly continuous energy steel goodness, with bits of prog right here and there.
Performances are sturdy around the board, unsurprisingly. As at all times, keyboardist and band chief Alex Staropoli takes middle degree, along with his keys providing a variety of taste and most often being the motive force of the tune, at the side of the epic symphonic preparations and choirs, which can be each bit as epic-sounding and smartly achieved as ever. I to find Roberto De Micheli’s guitar paintings to be somewhat understated every now and then, in large part enjoying a secondary position and regularly being buried by means of drums, keys, and symphonic preparations. Then again, each time his guitar does emerge, it regularly sounds wonderful, with some superior, very melodic but technically spectacular solos, in addition to some heavy, every now and then thrashy riffs and a few beautiful epic shredding on a few tracks. Drums are a big center of attention in this album, with many tracks transferring at a fully rapid-fire tempo, requiring Paolo Marchesich to be totally engaged, and he’s very a lot as much as the duty, turning in an explosive efficiency all over the album whilst additionally doing a pleasing process of slowing issues down and offering some complicated rhythms when wanted. Giacomo Voli is in best shape as smartly, turning in a mixture of easy, intense, and robust vocals as he did at the earlier two albums, particularly shining on some beautiful impressive choruses. He’s obviously in his component with RoF and suits the band completely. Manufacturing may be superb, with keys, drums, and symphonic components all being prime within the combine, whilst vocals are across the heart and guitars are regularly just a little buried however may also be heard obviously when wanted.
Something Problem the Wind completely nails is the way to get started an album off. It comes out flying with 3 blazing-fast scorchers proper out of the gate, and they all are implausible songs in their very own proper whilst flowing in combination completely. Kicking issues off is the name monitor, which opens up with some heavy rhythm guitars ahead of the drums, keys, and symphonic components take over because the monitor strikes at an unbelievably quick tempo thru its opening verse. Voli delivers easy and robust vocals because the pace by no means shall we up for a 2nd, main into an intense, epic, and melodic refrain with some implausible choir vocals. The frantic tempo continues all over the monitor, with guitars being buried within the combine whilst the whole lot else sounds implausible. Micheli is in any case given a possibility to polish within the heart with a very good solo. Subsequent up is “Whispers of Doom,” which opens up with some great melodic guitar paintings, temporarily taking a gloomy, sinister flip, changing into heavier as the hole verse starts, accompanied by means of sweeping orchestral preparations. It maintains a brisk tempo all over, and if the rest, it’s much more epic and enormous with its symphonic preparations than the opener, even though it additionally has extra guitar paintings all over, with the solo segment particularly opening up with a pleasing neo-classical passage ahead of changing into some epic shredding. The refrain may be implausible, transferring at a speedy tempo whilst having large vocal melodies and symphonic preparations. Last out the hole flurry is “The Bloody Pariah,” which opens on a moderately calmer be aware with some cushy and somewhat atmospheric keys ahead of the symphonic preparations and drums pop out in complete power for a rapid-fire collection. The verses in this monitor are moderately slower, even though nonetheless somewhat upbeat, and there’s a pleasing slowed-down segment with marching drums and heavy guitar paintings, main into but some other epic and catchy rapid-fire refrain with some impressive vocal melodies and a fantastic efficiency by means of Voli. It additionally has probably the most highest, maximum in depth guitar solos at the album.
Following that intense opening collection, the band unleashes the impressive 16-minute epic, “Vanquished Through Shadows.” Because the title implies, it’s some other monitor with an excessively darkish really feel to it, and it’s additionally somewhat heavy at issues. It opens up with some somewhat thrashy guitar paintings, transferring at extra of a reasonable tempo thru its opening segment, and a few very sinister-sounding harsh vocals are used. I’m now not positive in the event that they’re achieved by means of Voli or anyone else, however both approach, they sound implausible, and all of the opening segment is without doubt one of the highlights of the album. It in the end leads right into a rapid refrain with extra speedy drums, heavy guitars, and robust blank vocals. It’s very epic, melodic, and catchy whilst keeping up the darkish really feel of the hole segment. The monitor takes many twists and turns all over, with the center portion in large part being mid-paced and cinematic, whilst one of the most instrumental portions in the second one part are rapid and have some very technical guitar paintings. There’s additionally some very temporary acoustic guitar sections, even though the ones don’t final lengthy and are not anything greater than a short-lived reprieve from the depth of the remainder of the monitor. There’s a actually cool, very twisted-sounding atmospheric guitar riff they use a number of occasions all over the monitor as a form of transitioning piece, and it’s certainly one of my favourite portions of the monitor. Total, it’s a fantastic monitor, more than likely my favourite at the album, and whilst it’s onerous to mention the place it ranks a number of the band’s many epic-length tracks, it’s unquestionably someplace within the higher part.
Transferring into the last collection, “Courageous New Hope” is the cheeriest, maximum upbeat-sounding monitor at the album, even though it by some means nonetheless flows naturally between two darker tracks. It opens with some great melodic guitar paintings, main right into a cushy opening verse with mild drum paintings and a restrained pace. This builds as much as a blazing quick refrain with some impressive, uplifting vocal melodies and certainly one of Voli’s highest performances at the album. It’s a monitor that balances gradual and rapid passages very successfully and is but some other fast winner.
Subsequent is “Holy Downfall”, which as soon as once more opens with some somewhat darkish, technical guitar paintings and maintains a thick surroundings all over, with some heavy, dark-sounding guitar paintings. It successfully makes use of a quit/get started development, with gradual parts carried by means of creepy vocals and darkish guitars blended with rapid sections. This continues all over the verses, in the end resulting in a rapid, melodic, and really classic-sounding refrain, which stands as certainly one of my favorites on all of the album.
Right through the primary 9 tracks, this album is implausible and has a easy float, seamlessly transferring from one monitor to some other. Then again, it ends on a somewhat puzzling be aware, with “Mastered by means of the Darkish” successfully taking probably the most cushy acoustic passages of “Vanquished by means of Shadows” and the usage of it to transition into that monitor’s heart portion, which is gifted in its entirety with each the tune and lyrics apparently equivalent. The object is, it’s a fantastic collection, and it’s particularly efficient inside the context of the epic-length monitor it’s taken from, however it’s now not somewhat as efficient by itself. I’m now not positive why the band selected to wreck it up and reuse it like that, particularly because the last monitor. That’s two RoF albums in a row the place I’ve been left just a little at a loss for words by means of the finishing.
With the exception of that one minor unhappiness, Problem the Wind is an implausible album and represents some other primary triumph for Rhapsody of Hearth, who’ve been on somewhat the resurgence today. I nonetheless assume The 8th Mountain is the most productive album from the band’s present technology, however this album is an in depth 2nd. Whilst it won’t be offering up the total spectrum of sounds some enthusiasts could also be anticipating, others might be delighted by means of its relentless, steady center of attention on rapid, cinematic-sounding symphonic energy steel, damaged up best by means of one moderately softer monitor and an enormous, complicated epic-length monitor within the heart. It’s transparent the band is firing on all cylinders at the moment, so it’s an exhilarating time for longtime enthusiasts like myself. Any symphonic energy steel fan who hasn’t heard RoF but will most likely to find so much to revel in in this album.
Rankings: 9/10
Written by means of: Travis Inexperienced
My International Thoughts – Group of workers Creator
Travis Inexperienced is a Canadian primarily based author for My International Thoughts, with a specific interest for energy steel, in addition to an pastime steel in all its paperwork.
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