Rhapsody--Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret
SPV 2004
Once you've climbed to the top of your given field, how do you manage to ever progress any further? Well, by setting higher and higher standards for the rest of the pack to aspire towards, of course. That's exactly what Rhapsody have accomplished with their new album Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret. Brace yourself for an unrivaled journey into mythic proportion.
Rhapsody play self-proclaimed "film score metal." It's a fitting tag, really. If you ever sat watching the Lord Of The Rings trilogy of films and thought the whole thing would be even cooler if some epic metal band was providing the soundtrack, these guys are your answer to prayer. Of course, you could say that about practically every album in the band's backcatalog. What Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret has those other efforts didn't is backing by a 60 piece orchestra and choir, as well as story narration from Saruman himself Christopher Lee--you read that correctly. It's the ultimate fit for Rhapsody's already heavily Tolkien inspired fantasy lyrics and concept album approach. The Helloween and Manowar elements are present and great as ever in this music, but the perfect accentuations this disc boasts raise the whole experience to a level of grandeur and enormity metal may never see again.
As is standard with Rhapsody, Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret stands an album intended to be consumed as a whole--this is true of all concept albums. It's a lot to take in all at once, so make time for a couple brief intermissions in order to fully appreciate and optimally grasp what you're hearing. You could fill a book talking about all the highlights on this thing. Unfortunately, space won't permit that here. Still, take note of the wonderfully ethereal female operatic voice that shades both "Never Forgotten Heroes" and "Guardiani." If you're looking for something folky to the point it sounds straight out of the Shire, "Dragonland's River" and the instrumental interlude "Elgard's Green Valleys" have you covered. "The Magic Of The Wizard's Dream" will bowl you over with its passion, a true test of vocalist Fabio Lione's range which he answers with ease. Look also for the midtempo "Holy Diver"-esque palm muted gallop that counterbalances the band's patented speed runs during "Erion's Mystical Rhymes." All this is just the tip of the iceburg--again, you could go on all day about everything this masterpiece has to offer.
If you thought Rhapsody had it right on something like Power Of The Dragonflame, Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret will kill you. How these guys could get any better is a mystery but the proof is in the pudding. People who aren't in tune with this kind of music might be a bit turned off as over-the-top as this platter is. That's their loss. For all the hardcore metal believers out there, prepare to geek out like you never have before. A masterwork demanding of the deepest repect and highest praise possible.
Score this CD directly from SPV
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