Rhapsody

Power of the Dragonflame

Technically impressive, but mostly nothing new or memorable

Review Score:

(6/10)
I only have one other album by Rhapsody, Dawn Of Victory.

The first thing that struck me about this album was how similar it was. Both albums start with a bombastic chant that leads into the second track that is very faced paced. Both have a mixture of tempos, both finish with a long, epic track and both are incredibly cheesy. For this reason, I found it hard to appreciate this as much as Dawn Of Victory.

Dawn Of Victory was different to anything I'd heard before. I mean, there was the usual cheesy power metal sound, obviously, but Rhapsody had a unique sound as well. Dawn Of Victory had me listening hard because Rhapsody did things differently and all I wanted was to sit there and figure out how. This time around, I'm not listening to anything new. Power Of The Dragonflame is so similar that I couldn't really get into it - the interest of finding out about the album simply isn't there like it was the first time I heard Rhapsody.

However, repeated listens are rewarding. The massive epic track and the end of the album clocks in at nearly 20 minutes and has some fantastic acoustic guitars for the intro, some wild soloing by Luca Turilli in an interlude and a dramatic ending. Knightrider Of Doom and the title track are both great headbangers while Lamento Eroico is a different change in pace and style for the band.

So why only 3 stars? Firstly, although the songwriting has matured the content is of exactly the same nature as the album(s) before it. Secondly, although this does have some points of interest, there are no great songs here like there are on Dawn Of Victory. Tunes that get stuck in your head, moments that keep you listening over and over and atmospheres that send chills down your spine. Not nearly as prevalent here as it is on Dawn Of Victory. Dawn Of Victory was definately more catchy and at the same time has (for me at least) a lot of long term appeal. This album is more forgetable.

Perhaps if I'd heard this first I'd like it more, but that isn't the way it happened. "If ain't broke don't fix it" is a fair enough thing to say about bands like Rhapsody (ie those that have a great sound but don't really develop it), but content that sounds reused is broken. For me, my favourite bands are those that change and develop. Iron Maiden. Cradle Of Filth. Dream Theater. Blind Guardian. Queensryche. Bands who do not stick in a comfort zone but find different ways of presenting their ideas. As far as I can tell, Rhapsody don't do this. If you are yet to buy a Rhapsody album go with Dawn Of Victory or according to other reviews Symphony Of Enchanted Lands. This is by no means bad, but the first time you hear a band only happens once. If you already own material by Rhapsody, then the chances are that unless you absolutely love the band, you won't be overly impressed.

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