Artist: Rhapsody 
   Title: Symphony of Enchanted Lands - The Dark Secrets
   Label: SPV Records

Once again the Italian Symphonic Metal gods Rhapsody have unleashed another masterpiece. We got a sample of what was to come with the release earlier this year of the mini album 'The Dark Secret' and the single 'Unholy Warcry' which gave us the new and awe inspiring musical genre 'Film Score Metal'.  This intense mix of power metal and orchestra is nothing new but Rhapsody has taken this to a new high.

This blistering album has been given another dimension with the narrative on the album by the one and only master of horror Christopher Lee. ''This was a dream come true for us'' says Luca Turilli guitarist and founder member of the band.  The album itself finds the listener being transported to another time and place to a land of legend and myth where good and evil are at war and only the strong will triumph.

‘Unholy Warcry’ opens the album up proper after Mr. Lee sets the mood with a fine intro into the story, which is what this is, a story set to a metal soundtrack.  The track itself is goes at a thunderous pace and is full of fantastic swirling guitar riffs and pounding drums. The imagination and vision of Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli has no boundaries to come up not only the metal arrangements for the album but also to include the Czech Republics Philharmonic Orchestra and a full 50 piece choir is quite astounding.

From the grinding metal of 'Unholy Warcry' to the majesty and serenity of The 'Magic of the Wizards Dream' and the epic 'Erians Mystical Rhymes', the first of two tracks being over ten minutes in length, the other being 'Sacred Power of Raging Worlds'.  Both may seem a little lengthy to some but both contain enough ebbs and flows to keep you hooked from beginning to end.

This might not be everybody cup of tea but is a must to all fans of the genre if you like your metal full of mystery and magic than this is a must and if you are just a little curious its worth checking out, blockbusting stuff.

Tracklisting:

   1. The Dark Secret
   2.  Unholy Warcry
   3.  Never Forgotten Heroes
   4.  Elgard's Green Valleys
   5.  The Magic Of The Wizard's
Dream
   6.  Errian's Mystical Rhymes
   7.  The Last Angel's Call
   8.  Dragonland's River
   9.  Sacred Power Of Raging
Winds
   10. Guardiani 
   11. Shadow Of Death
   12. Nightfall On The Grey Mountains
 
                   

 

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