Rhapsody of Fire

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rhapsody of Fire


Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias = Thundercross, Rhapsody
Origin = Trieste, Italy
Genre = Power metal Symphonic metal [ [http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,67228.sm Rock Detector] ]
Progressive metal [http://wm08.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0xftxqqgldke~T1 All Music Guide] ] Neo-classical metal
Years_active = 1993 - Present
Label = Limb Music Magic Circle Music SPV
Associated_acts = Dreamquest, Athena, Vision Divine, Labyrinth
URL = http://www.rhapsodyoffire.com/
Current_members = Fabio Lione Luca Turilli Alex Staropoli Patrice Guers Alex Holzwarth
Past_members = Cristiano Adacher Andrea Furlan
Alessandro Lotta
Daniele Carbonera

Rhapsody of Fire (formerly known as ThunderCross and - more recently - Rhapsody) is an Italian Symphonic Power metal band led by Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli. Formed in 1993, the band has since released seven studio albums, one live album, one EP, and a live DVD.

History

Early years (1993 - 1997)

In 1993 Luca Turilli decided to create a Power metal band that would also use elements of classical music. The first to join him were Alex Staropoli and Daniele Carbonera. These three formed a band called "Thundercross". A year later they released their first demo, Land of Immortals, with Cristiano Adacher was on vocals. During this time, they changed the bass player a few timesFact|date=May 2008. "Limb Music Products & Publishing" showed interest in the songs. Not long after the release the band got a proposal from the record company.

The band decided to accept the offer and soon they began promoting their music. Now the group had access to higher quality equipment and started recording Eternal Glory. At this time "Thundercross" changed their name to Rhapsody. This name highlights the connection with classical music and poetry. That demo pushed Rhapsody up in the business and the press started to write more about themFact|date=May 2008. However, shortly after the release of "Eternal Glory" the vocalist Cristiano and the bassist Andrea left the band. Rhapsody found a new vocalist Fabio Lione. Fabio Lione proved to be a good chioce. As the former vocalist in two bands called Labyrinth and "Athena" he was known by the depth and power of his voice in his songs.

"Legendary Tales" and "Symphony of Enchanted Lands" (1997 - 2000)

With these four members they started recording their debut album. In 1997 Rhapsody released their debut album, "Legendary Tales". Co-founders Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli created an epic sound with this first album. Rhapsody incorporated classical music, baroque and heavy metal styles in a sub-genre they call "Hollywood metal" or "film score metal" because of its resemblance to movie soundtracks. The classical influences include such composers as Vivaldi, Bach and Paganini. The band shows strong Power metal influences, and lyrical content is centered around high fantasy themes. The album was recorded in Germany by the well known producer "Sascha Paeth" (Heavens Gate) who also helped Rhapsody with the bass parts. The album was also the beginning story of the Emerald Sword Saga.Turilli is the band's lyricist, as well as its guitarist. His lyrics often refer to mystical lore from the medieval age and the heroic valor of those times, highlighting in particular the everlasting fight between good and evil. "Evil can be found everywhere," says Turilli. "But it will never win as long as there are enough good people who fight against it." [http://education.music.us/R/Rhapsody-(band).htm~ Music Education] ]

In the years that followed 1997, Turilli, Staropoli and Lione developed this new sound even more with their second album "Symphony of Enchanted Lands" in 1998,having been joined by bass player Alessandro Lotta. They wrote pieces such as "Emerald Sword", drawing on Russian folklore and Celtic style elements and adding to the "Emerald Sword Saga". 1999 was a quiet year for Rhapsody, but not for its members. Luca and Fabio both released their solo album.

"Dawn of Victory", "Rain of a Thousand Flames" and "Power of The Dragonflame" (2000 - 2004)

In the spring Rhapsody started their first tour, starting in Sweden. They performed with Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica in Spring 2000 supported by their new drummer Alex Holzwarth.

After the tour they began recording their new album, "Dawn of Victory". The first single "Holy Thunderforce" was released in 2000 with some successFact|date=May 2008. The new album showed Rhapsody in a whole new light, with a more aggressive style and sped up tempo. It continued the third part of the Emerald Sword Saga, and the orchestra still played an important part of the album, with songs such as "Lux Triumphans", "The Village of Dwarves" and "The Bloody Rage of the Titans", played beside more bombastic melodies as "Dawn of Victory", "Triumph For My Magic Steel", "Dargor, Shadowlord of the Black Mountain" and "Holy Thunderforce". It had more success than any of their previous outings, and Dawn of Victory ranked at 32 in the German charts while in Japan it peaked in 4th place. In early summer 2001, Rhapsody toured through South America and Europe.

"Rain of a Thousand Flames" was an 42 minute EP, serving as a bridge between the last part of the Emerald Sword Saga and "Power of the Dragonflame". "Power of the Dragonflame" was released in February 2002 and had incredible success around the world. Marking the end of the Emerald Sword Saga, it contained soft ballads and upbeat metal melodies.The band was joined by another two members, Patrice Guers (bass) and Dominique Leurquin (Guitars). Alex Holzwarth, who had been playing drums for Rhapsody onstage since 2000 was listed in the official band line-up on these releases, although Holzwarth has played drums in the studio since The Dark Secret EP.

"The Dark Secret" and "Symphony of Enchanted Lands II" (2004 - 2006)

"The Dark Secret" EP was released on June 28, 2004. It gave listeners a taste of what could be expected from the new album, labelled "" which was released several months later in September. Christopher Lee was involved in this project, narrating part of the storyline. "Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II" was a follow-up to the Emerald Sword Saga called The Dark Secret Saga."Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II" features a wide variety of sounds and style."Unholy Warcry" mixes powerful heavy metal with Staropoli’s elaborate choral arrangements. On "Never Forgotten Heroes", Gregorian choir voices and majestic piano sounds create a eerie, Black Sabbath like atmosphere before the composition turns into a straight piecevague which is enriched by Turilli’s guitar leads. "Erian’s Mystical Rhymes" and "Sacred Power Of Raging Winds" are two pieces that are each more than 10 minutes long. These two could easily be considered mini rock operas because They showcase classical string sequences, as well as an orchestra, bass drum, and a choir. The violin and the cello produce dark sounds and a magical atmosphere is created by the duels fought between the woodwind players and the strings. These elements are unusual for a heavy metal composition. Together with the lead guitars by Turilli and Lee’s spoken parts, they give the whole work a magical mood, which is then intensified by Fabio Lione’s flexible voice.

The band produced a new single CD in 2005 labeled "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream", featuring new versions of "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream", one of the more popular songs from their album "Symphony of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret". The band had Lee sing backup vocals for Lione, because Lee felt that the narrator's part of being the Wizard King was not as good as it could be without him contributing his voice to at least one song. The song was reworked into four different languages, English, German, Italian, and FrenchFact|date=May 2008. They also included the original version of the song with a duet (in English), and an orchestral version of the song. This also produced Rhapsody's third music video. The band also released two new tracks exclusively on this single, "Autumn Twilight" and "Lo Specchio D’Argento" "(The Silver Mirror)". This single was released March 29th.

Name change and "Triumph or Agony" (2006 - 2007)

In July 2006 the band formerly known as Rhapsody changed their name to Rhapsody of Fire due to trademark issues and pressure from Real Networks [ [http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/rhapsody_forced_to_change_name.html Rhapsody Forced To Change Name | News @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com ] ] . The band's website goes into further detail:"The band members consider this a great new start, reflecting the emboldened and increasingly grandiose direction that their music has taken. "The power of the Dragonflame will burn brighter than ever before," says guitarist/songwriter Luca Turilli. Keyboardist/songwriter Alex Staropoli adds, "The name Rhapsody Of Fire better represents the energy that has always been present in this band and its music."

The band released their latest album, "Triumph or Agony", on September 25th 2006, in Europe. The second chapter in The Dark Secret Saga, Triumph Or Agony continues the bombastic "Rhapsody Of Fire" tradition with a live 70 piece orchestra and choir as Turilli and Staropoli continuing to self-produce the band’s work with the assistance of co-producer "Sascha Paeth".New songs include "Silent Dream", "Son Of Pain" and the epic 16-minute long "The Mystic Prophecy Of The Demonknight", an example of a cinema soundtrack adapted to a metal song. In addition vocalist Fabio Lione’s gives his songwriting debut for "Rhapsody Of Fire" with the song "Il Canto del Vento".

Legal fight with Magic Circle Music and new album (2007 - Present)

In June 2008, on their official website appears the following message, written by Luca Turilli:

"We are in the middle of a hard legal fight with Magic Circle Music and his main representative Mr. Joey DeMaio. That’s the reason why in the last months we had to keep all strictly confidential and could not release any official declaration that could obviously be used against us from the opposite side. As soon as this sad situation will be solved we’ll be ready for a great and mighty come back. A new album, a real masterpiece of Speed/Epic Metal, is already composed and ready to be recorded and after its release an immense worldwide tour will finally follow for yours and our extreme satisfaction."

Lineup

Current members

*Fabio Lione - Vocals
*Luca Turilli - Guitar
*Alex Staropoli - Keyboards
*Patrice Guers - Bass
*Alex Holzwarth - Drums

Former members

*Cristiano Adacher - Vocals
*Andrea Furlan - Bass
*Alessandro Lotta - Bass
*Daniele Carbonera - Drums
*Thunderforce - Drums

Guest members

*Dominique Leurquin - Rhythm guitar (studio and live guest)
*Sir Jay Lansford - Narration, 1997 to 2002
*Christopher Lee - Narration, Vocals, 2004, 2007
*Thunderforce - Drums, 2000-2002
*Sascha Paeth - Bass on "Legendary Tales and Power of the Dragonflame"
*Robert Hunecke Rizzo - Bass on "Legendary Tales"
*Brandon Lavigne - Tin Whistle on "Dawn Of Victory"

Discography

tudio albums

*"Legendary Tales" (1997)
*"Symphony of Enchanted Lands" (1998)
*"Dawn of Victory" (2000)
*"Rain of a Thousand Flames" (2001)
*"Power of the Dragonflame" (2002)
*"" (2004)
*"Triumph or Agony" (2006)

ingles

*"Emerald Sword" (1998)
*"Holy Thunderforce" (2000)
*"Magic of the Wizard's Dream (2005)

EPs

*"The Dark Secret" (2004)

Compilation albums

*"Tales from the Emerald Sword Saga" (2004)

Live albums

*"" (2006)

DVDs

*"Visions from the Enchanted Lands" (2007)

Demos

*"Land of Immortals" (1994)
*"Eternal Glory" (1995)

External links

* [http://www.rhapsodyoffire.com/ Official site]
*MySpace|rhapsodyoffireband|Rhapsody of Fire
* [http://www.rhapsody-ru.com/ Russian site]

References