Artist: Rhapsody Of Fire 
   Title: Triumph Of Agony
   Label: SPV Records

From the bands onset into the metal world, Rhapsody were a shining light in an over worked metal genre, with their debut release 'Legendary Tales' they shook the metal world up with their self styled "Film Score Metal", from then on the world was theirs for the taking.

Now the band return with their newest release they continue the 'Dark Secret Saga'.  With this new chapter in the story comes a new chapter in the bands history, with a change of name, mainly due to trademark and copyright problems, the band have taken this change and turned it into a plus and foresee this as a way of strengthening the band as a whole.  As "Rhapsody Of Fire" they see the name as a more fitting representation of the bands sound and overall energy it releases through it's songs.

The album is the most powerful and theatrical of the bands releases so far and with the return of legend Christopher Lee to once again take up the role of Wizard King, joined by his daughter Christina Lee as Princess Lothen, and Susannah York.

The album get off to a bombastic start with ‘Dar Kunor’, a really impressive introduction as it sets the mood for the journey the listener is about to undertake, along with the hero’s of the album Khaas, Tarish, Princes Lothen, Dargor and Iras Algor.

The album continues the journey with another monstrous track, the title track ‘Triumph Or Agony’.  Another bombastic assault of the highest calibre with the vocals of Fabio Lione rising high above the seventy-piece orchestra and choir used in the making of this album.

The album doesn’t let you catch your breath as it launches straight into ‘Heart of the Darklands’, another truly massive piece of majestic power metal that leads nicely into the medieval feel of ‘The Myth Of The Holy Sword’.

The grandiose spectacle continues with the solemn ‘Il Canto del Vento’ which debuts the song writing of Fabio Lione as he sings the entire track in Italian, and gives a vocal performance that would give the Three Tenors a run for their money.

It’s back to the more traditional power metal slant with ‘Silent Dream’, another massive track that paves the way for an even more power filled performance by Lione on ‘Bloody Red Dungeons’.

The full orchestral feel of ‘Son Of Pain’ must be heard to be believed.  This is another sombre track that raises the bar once more on what is a spectacular album.

I thought things couldn’t get any more glorious until I heard the sixteen-minute epic ‘The Mystic Prophecy Of The Demon Knight’, a five-part saga of its own. This track starts of with a mandolin and flutes in that medieval feel before a spontaneous thump of bass and drums leads into Lione’s superb vocals.  The track ebbs and flows from the hardened metal vibe, to the more atmospheric old world tones with such ease, it’s a pleasure to listen to such a masterpiece of eccentricity and narrative overture.

The album and the journey comes to a spectacular close with ‘Dark Reign Of Fire’.  A track that just emerges out of the ashes of ‘The Mystic Prophecy’ and captures the whole essence of album in six minutes of splendour and choral majesty that leave you drained and exhausted from the mystical musical journey you’ve just undertaken, and prepare yourself for the next chapter from Rhapsody of Fire. 

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