16.RHAPSODYSYMPHONY OF ENCHANTED LANDSSymphonic Power Metalreleased October 5th, 1998
via LMP
1. Epicus Furor [1:14]
2. Emerald Sword [4:21]
3. Wisdom of the Kings [4:28]
4. Heroes of the Lost Valley [2:04]
5. Eternal Glory [7:29]
6. Beyond the Gates of Infinity [7:23]
7. Wings of Destiny [4:28]
8. The Dark Tower of Abyss [6:46]
9. Riding the Winds of Eternity [4:13]
10. Symphony of Enchanted Lands [13:16]
Fabio Lione (Vocals)
Luca Turilli (Guitars / Choir vocals)
Alessandro Lotta (Bass)
Alex Staropoli (Keyboards / Choir vocals)
Daniele Carbonera (Drums)
FEATURINGConstanze Backes (Female baroque vocals on 10)
Sir Jay Lansford (Narration)
Manuel Staropoli (Baroque recorders / Baroque oboe / Choir vocals)
Michael ‘Miro’ Rodenberg (Choir vocals)
Sascha Paeth (Acoustic guitars / Madolin / Balalaika)
WITHa whole crapton of orchestra musicians It’s Rhapsody. You know what to expect. Let’s talk about the story instead! Skip to the end if you don’t give a shit.
This is the second chapter of The Emerald Sword Saga. The Warrior of Ice and the mighty dragon Tharos set off in search of the third key to open the Ivory Gates to an enchanted realm (“Emerald Sword,” “Wisdom of the Kings”). After speaking with the wizard Aresius, they ride across a great valley and desert. The Warrior and Tharos are ambushed by nightmarish creatures – ghosts and the living dead surround our heroes until Tharos fends them off and flies away with the hero (“Heroes of the Lost Valleys,” “Eternal Glory,” “Beyond the Gates of Infinity”).
Tharos and the Warrior have a lovely little flight (“Wings of Destiny”) until everything grows dark and cold, and the presence of evil can be felt in the air. They arrive at the Dark Tower of Abyss (“The Dark Tower of Abyss”). In this tower lies the Emerald Sword, a powerful, ancient weapon. Let me just say this is a monstrous track, one of the first Rhapsody songs I ever heard, and the orchestral stuff is sublime. I adore every single second of this song and wrote a full piano arrangement of it in college. Damn is it good.
Okay, so, the Emerald Sword is hidden in the Dark Tower. There’s a long history to the sword that’s actually explained in the 2006 song “The Myth of the Holy Sword”. (The sword is filled with the life force of the ancient warrior Naimur, whose energy was drained out of him by an emerald stone. Naimur’s brother, Loinir, after the battle of Galfor’s mines in which Naimur was captured, stole the stone and with it forged the Emerald Sword. The angels answered his prayers and blessed the sword which filled it with might. Years later, a last battle was waged against Atlon. With a single blow, Loinir cut down Atlon and avenged his brother, but later, unsettled by the power of the weapon, sealed it beyond the Ivory Gates for ages.)
Anyway – while Tharos battles winged demons in the sky above the Tower, the Warrior enters a secret door and discovers the Emerald Sword. A demonic guardian awakens – before the Warrior of Ice is hit, Tharos arrives and kills the beast. They immediately escape and fly far away (“Riding the Winds of Eternity”). Unfortunately, by the time they get back through the Ivory Gates, Tharos succumbs to injuries he took at the Tower, and the Warrior of Ice, furious and heartbroken, swears for revenge against the Dark Lord Akron (“Symphony of Enchanted Lands”).
In Summary: Symphony of Enchanted Lands is a monumental power metal album. It contains some classic, iconic power metal songs, with “Emerald Sword” serving as the band’s signature anthem. It’s bursting with orchestral arrangements and real musicians, but with a heavy emphasis on the metal band that makes up the core band: the keyboardist is almost his own orchestra separate from the real musicians, and the guitars still play loud, heavy riffs and solos that are up front in the mix. It’s a very balanced record while also sticking to some safe traditions like having a token ballad (“Wings of Destiny”), an intro track (“Epicus Furor”), a big epic (the title track), and a song with a little bit of proggy influence (“Beyond the Gates of Infinity”).
Katt’s Favorites: Emerald Sword,
Wisdom of the Kings,
Beyond the Gates of Infinity,
The Dark Tower of Abyss,
Symphony of Enchanted LandsListen to "Symphony of Enchanted Lands" by Rhapsody on Spotify