Rhapsody – Live In Canada 2005: The Dark Secret

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Produced by Sascha Paeth

Despite being a big fan of a lot of power metal, I’ve never gotten on with Rhapsody. Their music always seemed far to light and the vocal melodies were altogether too nice for metal. Too much “la” and not enough “grr”, to put it bluntly. This live album, the band’s first, is a slightly different prospect, however.

I should start by pointing out that if you are already a Rhapsody fan you will not be disappointed with this first live release. A complete show from Quebec on the 2005 tour for the Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret album, the sound quality and mix is superb throughout, with every instrument perfectly balanced. The special edition comes with a bonus DVD with a 5.1 mix of the show and behind-the-scenes footage as well, so it’s an essential purchase for existing followers.

Now, for the hitherto for uninitiated. Take Hammerfall, add more keyboards, more harmonies (the sweeter the better) and generally a more symphonic sound and you’re pretty much at Rhapsody. That’s in the studio. On this live release they have a lot more, for want of a better word, balls. Of course the elements that make them Rhapsody are still there, but it’s less prominent, leaving the awesome soaring vocals of Fabio Lione (yes, they’re Italian) and some great heavy riffing and soloing from Luca Turilli to bring the music home to the more traditional-metal-minded.

For a non-fan like myself, I feel the album starts better than it ends, with classic closers like Emerald Sword (someone tell Fabio you don’t pronounce the ‘w’) proving to be a little too ‘nice’, but of course, Rhapsody devotees will lap it up. The lyrical content is still all swords, dragons, wizards and flames, and if that sort of thing isn’t for you, this album isn’t going to change your mind. If, on the other hand, you don’t mind that and previously only disliked Rhapsody for being more than a little wimpy, this just might be a Rhapsody CD you want to own.

“ soaring ”

Tracklist: The Dark Secret / Unholy Warcry / Wisdom Of The Kings / The Village Of Dwarves / Erian’s Mystical Rhymes / Dawn Of Victory / Lamento Eroico / Nightfall On The Grey Mountains / The March Of The Swordmaster / Emerald Sword / Gran Finale

Written by Andy Lye
More: Live Albums, Power Metal, Symphonic, Rhapsody