Italian symphonic metal band Rhapsody of Fire released their latest album “The Eighth Mountain” through AFM Records on 22nd February. This is the first album to feature new vocalist Giacomo Voli who joined the band in 2016, following the departure of Fabio Lione after more than twenty years as the frontman. Lione had recorded all eleven previous Rhapsody of Fire studio albums. The single “Rain of Fury” was included on the NI Rocks A-Z Show on 5th February and I’ll be including the latest single “Master of Peace” on the Friday NI Rocks Show next week.
The band formed in 1993, initially as Thundercross and then as Rhapsody. Before changing their name to Rhapsody of Fire in 2006 for legal reasons, they had released six studio albums along with a compilation album and a live album. Five more studio albums were released before Lione departed in 2016. Another founding member, guitarist Luc Turilli, had left the band in 2011 and formed Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody, releasing two albums before going into hiatus in 2018. Lione and Turilli were involved in a Rhapsody “20th Anniversary Farewell Tour” from 2017 -18.
The only founding member remaining in Rhapsody of Fire is keyboard player Alex Starpoli. He and singer Voli are joined by guitarist Rody De Micheli, bass player Alessandro Sala and drummer Manu Lotter. The album also features the Bulgarian National Symphony Orchestra.
Rhapsody of Fire are renowned for their fantasy based concept albums with several albums combined to tell a saga. The first five albums (as Rhapsody) were ‘The Emerald Sword’ saga and this was followed by ‘The Dark Secret Saga’ which covered the next four albums up to 2011 and a 2010 EP. Together these recordings are known as ‘The Algalord Chronicles’.
“The Eighth Mountain” sees the band launch a new saga entitled ‘The Nephilim’s Empire Saga’. The final track on the album, “Tales of Hero’s Fate” includes a narration from the late Christopher Lee that explains the concept of the album. Lee had appeared as a narrator or backing vocalist on all of ‘The Dark Secret Saga’ recordings.
Check out the band’s website at https://www.rhapsodyoffire.com/
About “NI Rocks Recommends”
The simple idea behind “NI Rocks Recommends” is to acknowledge and promote some of the great music being submitted to Rock Radio NI. The albums that I’ll be recommending are those that you’ll hear me playing tracks from on my shows. I'll not be giving marks or ratings or analyzing the tracks in great detail; just telling you something about the artist and the album. It’s a personal recommendation to go check something out, not a traditional “review”!