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"Energies of extinct universes scream blood, from the lands of the pitiless unknown"
Despite what the detractors say, Rhapsody is a band in constant evolution and change, and another proof of this mantra arrives with their fourth album: "Power Of The Dragonflame", which concludes the Emerald Sword Saga. The cover features a flaming dragon against the backdrop of a morning sky (once again respecting the temporal consistency of the covers). In terms of sound, "Power Of The Dragonflame" flaunts a mood that is at times truly epic and dramatic, very far from the sunny and catchy tunes of its predecessor "Dawn of Victory". Another element of discontinuity compared to the past is the lyrics, which almost always present at least one or more verses written in Italian.
The proof of this sonic shift is evident right from the intro: "In Tenebris" is much more dramatic and tense than the previous ones, supported by an organ that creates a doomsday atmosphere that explodes in the opener "Knightrider Of Doom", which in the beginning is reminiscent of "Emerald Sword" but develops in a way that is always catchy and overwhelming but much more combative compared to the 1998 piece, with one of the best solos of Luca Turilli's glorious career. Then comes the formidable "Power Of The Dragonflame", introduced by a great distorted riff, showcasing a Fabio Lione more aggressive than usual; the choral refrain is truly formidable, a real "crescendo of passion bleeding" to use Dani Filth's words. "The March Of The Swordmaster" represents the thematic continuation of "The Village Of Dwarves", whose sound it reprises in the first minute, then turning into a real war song, rhythmic and powerful. Here comes the most insane piece in Rhapsody's entire career, "When Demons Awake", which showcases purely symphonic sections opposed to an incredibly aggressive singing at the limits of growl (even though Eric Adams could have sung it perfectly with a clean voice) and a very brutal text that describes the atrocities of the battle and the apocalyptic rise of demons from hell with great effectiveness. One of the greatest technical masterpieces by the good Alex Staropoli.
"Agony Is My Name" is somewhat of a transitional piece (this doesn't absolutely mean it's bad, quite the opposite...) caught between the despair for the destruction brought about by the Dark Armies "Villages burns, the black fire runs, runs through the heart of the forest, killing my trees" and the desire for redemption "Symbol of death will soon be reborn, into the life of my tears fall, reborn and grow!". Then comes one of the most beautiful and poignant ballads in the entire history of Italian music, "Lamento Eroico", whose piano-flute structure is reminiscent of "Wings Of Destiny" yet is much darker and more intimate. The lyrics are nothing short of stunning, a great example of the talent of the misunderstood poet Luca Turilli. "Steelgods Of The Last Apocalypse" left me truly astonished, because in just five minutes it manages to contain four different souls: piano-ballad in the first verse, powerful and violent in the second, melodic, choral, and engaging in the third before reaching the majestic power-doom of the chorus, followed by "The Pride Of The Tyrant" which speaks of Dargor's conversion (those who haven't bought Rhapsody's albums can't know what I'm talking about) in an epic and melodic crescendo that marks the final redemption of good over evil, before reaching the incredible 19-minute suite that closes the Saga: "Gargoyles, Angels Of Darkness". I dare not even venture into a detailed description of the track, for the simple reason that doing so would kill its beauty and magic. I’ll just say that this song is to Rhapsody what "A Change Of Seasons" is to Dream Theater or "Bathory Aria" is to Cradle Of Filth, and in an increasingly intense and engaging crescendo of emotions, it reveals the long-awaited end of the saga, which is not exactly what one would call a happy ending, before fading into the rustle of the wind, leaving the listener astonished and captivated.
In conclusion, "Power Of The Dragonflame" is Rhapsody's masterpiece along with "SOEL", probably the hardest and least accessible album for a newcomer, but undoubtedly the one where the extraordinary talents of the 4 Mighty Warriors Of Heavy Metal manifest in all their magnificence, both in composition and songwriting. An absolute must-have
"Scream the thunder
to my heroic lament
Fate, consume the reality"
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