Rhapsody

Symphony Of Enchanted Lands

Kitschy, but worthy. Powerful and pretentious, but childish.

Review Score:

(8/10)
This is a very good CD, and I don't give to it more stars mostly because the lyrics are so puerile that if you understand English (and the singer! Does he actually speak English?) you'll be laughing for hours. However, I encourage you to stand that burst of wordy, empty and ridiculous verses for the sake of good music. These guys are very good, and if they are faking to be adolescents, please try to play their game and listen this album carefully.

The CD opens with a choir-based intro that derives to the bombastic "Emerald Sword". If you like the Helloween of those good old "Keeper" days you'll find this piece terrific. After that there is a falling down, but the vein is reprised in "Eternal Glory", with a superb work on dynamics and those fanfares that remind to Rick Wakeman or ELP.

"Beyond The Gates Of Infinity" follows. This track is somewhat heartless but it still has several good moments in the interludes, so it will pass the test of an exigent ear. Next, "Wings Of Destiny" shows a direct influence of Queen and similar bands. It is a track wisely arranged and orchestrated, although Fabio Lione in the vocals duties can't fully deliver the feeling and power that a piece like this one needs.

The two following tracks offer the same stuff than the tracks 2 & 3. "The Dark Tower Of Abyss" is probably the second most elaborated piece of the album (the first one is "Symphony...", of course), with those baroque influences (and you won't help thinking in Yngwie Malmsteen) and a pretty bold structure. In spite of that it didn't catch me. "Riding The Winds Of Eternity" is also brilliant, but I was a tad bored at this point, so it passed by over my head. But then entered the "Symphony of Enchanted Lands"...

The title track is a powerful composition that really shows the talent of Rhapsody. At least for me it worked: I was turned off when it began, but I quickly became interested again. "Symphony..." is an eclectic piece with a great guitar work and a mighty (yes, mighty, everything influences you ;-)) orchestration. Its arrangements are superb. I liked the Irish influences (I could even forget the lyrics for a long while!), and now I think that Turilli's gang knew how to close the show with high flies. In few words: really pretentious and sophisticated, and a fine work of art.

To finish with this review, I confess that I find "Blind Guardian" much more expressive, but Rhapsody has gained a site in my CD player. It's a shame that I still have the feeling that something was missed. Do they need a better vocalist? Well... perhaps Midnight (ex-Crimson Glory) could boost this band's sound some stages over. And sure, lyrics would require some wiser writer for not being so kitschy. Anyway, the orchestrations are great along all this album, and this is probably the best it can offer to our ears. Keep the eye on Rhapsody, because probably their bests are still to come!

More Reviews: