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"Evil can be found everywhere, but it will never win as long as there are enough brave souls to fight it" (Luca Turilli)
As you may have guessed from the beginning, the band I am about to review is the greatest Italian metal band that ever existed. Linea 77, some poser might say, but those aren't Linea 77, it's Rhapsody (Of Fire).
Their second album, "Symphony Of Enchanted Lands," dated 1998, is an epochal masterpiece, one of the ten best albums of the '90s, one of those things that never stop making my heart race and make me proud to be Italian.
The cover depicts a warrior riding a red dragon, facing a black dragon ridden by a macabre figure: the allegory of the eternal struggle (understood as a battle, not as bassist Alessandro Lotta) between good and evil.
Are you ready to explore the fascinating universe of Rhapsody? Great, ready...go! It starts with the intro "Epicus Furor": violins and solemn male and female choirs, which introduce us to "Emerald Sword." A power metal song? Wrong, "Emerald Sword" is THE POWER METAL SONG, 4 beautiful minutes of swirling and whirling emotions that truly capture the soul, a timeless anthem that speaks directly to the listener's heart. "The Wisdom Of Kings" is introduced by a flute motif, giving an illusion of calm until the acceleration that kicks off another beautiful power anthem, with a chorus sung to perfection by the stunning voice of Fabio Lione (a cross between James LaBrie and Tony Martin, unique for the emotions he can convey). "Heroes Of The Lost Valley" is a short and relaxing symphonic interlude, to catch your breath from the emotional whirlwind of the previous 2 songs and prepare us for the seven epic minutes of "Eternal Glory." More complex and symphonic than ES and WOK but equally thrilling and evocative. A sinister howl of wolves introduces us to "Beyond The Gates Of Infinity," a song darker than the previous ones that describes infernal landscapes inhabited by malevolent demons with an almost filmic visual power. "Wings Of Destiny" is a wonderful piano ballad, a poignant and beautiful poem that describes the beauties of nature; too often Rhapsody's lyrics have been confused with those of Manowar, here there is no glorification of metal, just pure poetry.
Very bold, I would dare to say experimental "The Dark Tower Of Abyss" which offers us strange symphonic inserts that give the song less immediacy than the rest of the album but an undeniable charm. "Riding The Winds Of Eternity," introduced by the rustle of the wind, brings us back to more strictly power and accessible sounds, with a truly divine Daniele Carbonera, thus preparing us for the end of our journey in the land of Algalord, that is, the stunning 13-minute title track "Symphony Of Enchanted Lands" which begins with the heartfelt narration of the voice narrator, impersonating the warrior who has lost his faithful dragon in battle and pays tribute to it; and begins the song proper which alternates heavier and faster sections with more symphonic and sweet ones (one section is even sung by an opera singer), closing with the sweet and medieval sound of a flute, which puts an end to this divine, stunning, immortal album by this band that has stirred and knew how to dictate the rules (even emulated by Manowar) in the epic metal movement. I conclude my analysis by proposing "Emerald Sword" as the new national anthem.
"FOR THE KING, FOR THE LAND, FOR THE MOUNTAINS
FOR THE GREEN VALLEYS WHERE DRAGONS FLY
FOR THE GLORY, THE POWER TO WIN THE BLACK LORD
I WILL SEARCH FOR THE EMERALD SWORD"
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Epicus Furor (01:16)
Quae mala venientia metuuntur eadem afficiunt aegritudine instantia
02 Emerald Sword (04:23)
I crossed the valleys the dust of midlands
To search for the third key to open the gates
Now I'm near the altar the secret inside
As legend told I need a sword like a dragon's eyes
On the way to the glory I'll offer my sword
To serve right ideals and justice for all
Finally happened the sun hit their eyes
The spell was creating strange games of light
Thanks to hidden mirrors I found my lost way [it's not "hidden mirrors"]
Over the stones I reached the place it was a secret cave
In a long bloody battle that prophecies told
The light will prevail as wisdom is gold
For the king for the land for the mountains
For the green valleys where dragons fly
For the glory the power to win the black lord
I will search for the emerald sword
Only a warrior with a clear heart
Could have the honour to be kissed by the sun
Yes I am that warrior I followed my way
Led by the force of cosmic souls I can reach the sword
On the way to the glory I'll offer my sword
To serve right ideals and justice for all
For the king for the land for the mountains
For the green valleys where dragons fly
For the glory the power to win the black lord
I will search for the emerald sword
03 Wisdom of the Kings (04:30)
Removed the stones which hide the cave
blind and dark along my way
I must go on wise and brave before a last hail
At the end of floor stairs of ancient stone
lead me to a vision, an unreal hall
And they appear in front of me
lightened by a mystic flame
A new dimension I have to face beyond the gates
I can not believe oh what now I see
when the two demons awake from the sleep
Holy dragons keepers of time
Ride brave the blue skies and spell my eyes
Fly beyond these hills ride on the wind
The wisdom of the kings
Lost in a dream I'm under the spell
of this sunny magic land
But Aresius said: Become aware! All can hide the hell...
Now it's time to go to the mighty sword
it's time to follow the kings' holy call
Holy dragons keepers of time
Ride brave the blue skies and spell my eyes
Fly beyond these hills ride on the wind
The wisdom of the kings...
05 Eternal Glory (07:31)
Echoes of terror in this old land
I see the result of their quest
Skulls of old heroes lie everywhere
in this mystical place
Dust in their eyes, dust on my pride
in this infinite journey to the ancient sword
I can hear their lament between these rocks
the whisper of an angry ghost
he speaks for them all trapped in this lost world
I am their very last hope
to ride from hell free once again
to break the chains from a bloody past for my victory
Eternal glory ride fast to me
pound in my heart for the Algalord kings
Eternal glory spread your wide wings
fly and forever lead my holy steel
I'll fight, I'll cry for your silence your name
You'll live through me I will end all your pain
for the swan in the lake the bird on the tree
the peace for my beloved lands
The black king is near and Algalord calls
so heroes of the lost valley raise all your voice
Eternal glory ride fast to me
pound in my heart for the Algalord kings
Eternal glory spread your wide wings
fly and forever lead my holy steel
07 Wings of Destiny (04:30)
Day has gone
But I'm still here with you
My sweet rose
My green hills, beloved sea, lakes and sky
Beloved mother earth
Silent land
Erase my thoughts
I wanna lose myself in you,
All in you
Caress me and my soul
while I close my eyes
Oh wings of destiny
Through virgin skies
To far horizons I will fly
Dear peaceful land
Dear mother earth
Caress my soul while I close my eyes
Oh wings of destiny
Through virgin skies
To far horizons I will fly
Oh wings of destiny
Through virgin skies
To far horizons I will fly
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Other reviews
By the panzer1
"Surely 'Symphony Of Enchanted Lands' is a great album, there’s no denying it... an exceptional and exciting work."
"Epic fury! Epic... epic... fury... fury."
