Days of Rising Doom

Aina, Days of Rising Doom
Studio album by Aina
Released	September 25, 2003
Recorded	2002 - 2003
Genre	Power metal Progressive metal Symphonic metal
Length	68:16
Label	Transmission Records
Producer	Sascha Paeth

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Days of Rising Doom is the debut album and metal opera by the Progressive metal supergroup Aina released on September 25, 2003. The concept was created and the story and lyrics were written by Amanda Somerville. The music was composed by Robert Hunecke-Rizzo.

Story

The album tells the story of the fictional land of Aina, after the death of King Taetius as his son, Torek, takes the throne. The story begins with a warning delivered to King Taetius (Damian Wilson) by The Prophets, who warn him of danger on the horizon.^[2]

The story then moves on to the love triangle between Oria Allyahan (Candice Night) and the two sons of King Taetius: Talon (Glenn Hughes) and Torek (Thomas Rettke).^[3] After the death of his father, Torek becomes the king of Aina. However, he flees the kingdom in rage and humiliation when Talon is the one that gains lady Oria's hand in marriage.^[4]

Torek befriends a gruesome race known as the Krakhon, to whom he becomes a mix of king and deity; he also takes on the name of their deity, Sorvahr.^[5][6] Quickly, Sorvahr gathers an army of the Krakhon and leads them into a war against the whole world. Eventually he sieges and takes over Aina, casting out his brother, Talon, as well as Talon's wife, Oria, and daughter, Oriana.^[7][8]

In an effort to preserve his kingdom, Talon sends Oriana away from him where she can be safe.^[8] Meanwhile, Sorvahr rapes Oria, who eventually gives birth to Syrius.^[9]

Unknowing of their relation to each other (as siblings and as enemies), Oriana and Syrius meet one another and fall in love.^[10] As the couple reaches adulthood, Talon returns to the kingdom with a new army to retake the throne of Aina. Talon takes Oriana with him to help lead the army; on the other side, Sorvahr takes Syrius with him to lead the opposing army. As Oriana and Syrius meet in battle, they declare a tentative peace on the battlefield. The peace is shattered when Sorvahr, disgusted with his son for making peace rather than war, kills Syrius. Horrified and enraged, Oriana then takes the fight back to Sorvahr and defeats him on the battlefield; she then takes the throne of the newly reinstated Kingdom of Aina.^[11]

Track listing

Disc 1: Days Of Rising Doom

1. "Aina Overture" - 2:01
2. "Revelations" - 5:29
3. "Silver Maiden" - 5:00 singer: Michael Kiske
4. "Flight Of Torek" - 5:21 singer: Tobias Sammet
5. "Naschtok Is Born" - 4:39
6. "The Beast Within" - 3:17
7. "The Siege Of Aina" - 6:50
8. "Talon's Last Hope" - 6:10
9. "Rape Of Oria" - 3:05
10. "Son Of Sorvahr" - 2:58
11. "Serendipity" - 4:04 singer: Michael Kiske
12. "Lalae Amer" - 4:13
13. "Rebellion" - 4:01 singer: Glenn Hughes
14. "Oriana's Wrath" - 6:13
15. "Restoration" - 4:55

Disc 2: The Story Of Aina

1. "The Story Of Aina" - 15:08
2. "The Beast Within" - (single version) - 3:43
3. "Ve Toura Sol-Rape Of Oria" - (Ainae version) - 3:05
4. "Flight Of Torek" - (single version) - 3:33
5. "Silver Maiden" - (alternate version) - 4:59
6. "Talon's Last Hope" - (demo) - 5:46
7. "The Siege Of Aina" - (single version) - 3:55
8. "The Story Of Aina" - (instrumental) - 15:08^[12]
9. "Oriana's Wrath" - (alternate version) (Japanese Bonus Track) - 6:11

Personnel

• Robert Hunecke-Rizzo (Luca Turilli, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot) - drums, guitar, & bass
• Sascha Paeth (Luca Turilli, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot) - producer
• Michael "Miro" Rodenberg (Luca Turilli, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot) - keyboardist & arranger
• Amanda Somerville (Luca Turilli) - lyricist & vocalist: Maiden Voice and Oriana's Conscience

Singers

• Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) - Talon
• Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween) - Narrator
• Andre Matos (ex-Shaaman, ex-Angra) - Tyran
• Candice Night (Blackmore's Night) - Oria
• Sass Jordan - Oriana
• Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia) - Narrator
• Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot, Northern Kings) - Syrius
• Sebastian Thomson - The Storyteller
• Damian Wilson (Ayreon, Star One, Landmarq, ex-Threshold) - King Tactius
• Thomas Rettke (Heaven's Gate) - Torek (Sorvahr)
• Olaf Hayer (Luca Turilli) - Baktúk
• Cinzia Rizzo (Luca Turilli, Rhapsody, Kamelot) - Opera Voice and Background Vocals
• Rannveig Sif Sigurdardoffir (Kamelot) - Opera Voice
• Simone Simons (Epica) - Mezzo-Soprano Voice
• Oliver Hartmann (At Vance) and Herbie Langhans (Luca Turilli, Seventh Avenue) - The Prophets
• Also featuring The Trinity School Boys Choir as the Angelic Ainae Choir
  • Directed by David Swinson

Musicians

• Olaf Reitmeier (Virgo) - Acoustic guitars on "Revelations" & "Serendipity"
• Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater) - Keyboard solo on "The Siege of Aina"
• Jens Johansson (Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio) - Keyboard solo on "Revelations"
• T.M. Stevens (Steve Vai, Tina Turner) - Bass on "Son of Sorvahr"
• Axel Naschke (Gamma Ray)- Organ on "Son of Sorvahr"
• Erno "Emppu" Vuorinen (Nightwish, Altaria) - Guitar solo on "Rebellion"
• Thomas Youngblood (Kamelot, Ian Parry) - Guitar solo on "Lalae Amêr"
• Erik Norlander (Ayreon, Ambeon) - Keyboard solo on "Rebellion"^[13]

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Aina - Revelations (LyricWiki)
3. ^ Aina - Silver Maiden (LyricWiki)
4. ^ Aina - Flight Of Torek (LyricWiki)
5. ^ Aina - Naschtok Is Born (LyricWiki)
6. ^ Aina - The Beast Within (LyricWiki)
7. ^ Aina - The Siege Of Aina (LyricWiki)
8. ^ ^{a b} Aina - Talon's Last Hope (LyricWiki)
9. ^ Aina - Son Of Sorvahr (LyricWiki)
10. ^ Aina - Serendipity (LyricWiki)
11. ^ Aina - Oriana's Wrath (LyricWiki)
12. ^ Days of Rising Doom @ Encyclopaedia Metallum
13. ^ allmusic