RHAPSODY The Dark Secret Live In Canada 2005
Magic Circle Music/SPV (2006)
When it comes down to sheer power, sheer heavy metal, and sheer enjoyment in the live arena, this is surely it. As a live event, truly majestic and equally magic, we have a concert here that I would have loved, nee killed, to witness (especially as it was in support to Manowar, whose bassist Joey DeMaio produced this set).
Rhapsody play at the very theatrical, mystical and almost operatic end of European speed metal. Use of tapes add the choirs and orchestral arrangements, and mix superbly, and there’s a bowel trembling introduction from the legendary Christopher Lee.
The band’s keyboards mix with the high speed guitar well, and the rhythms are often fast and furious.
Opening 'Unholy Warcry' from their most recent album has the crowd roaring, and 'Wisdom Of The Kings' is high in melody.
Singer Fabio Turilli often chats with the crowd, mixing English and French evenly (this is in the French sector of Canada), but don’t panic – the singing is in English and excellent it is too.
The 12 minute epic 'Erin’s Mystical Rhymes' is bolstered by a drum solo, the intro to the song reminiscent of a Norse Opera and thoroughly enjoyable throughout.
'Nightfall Of The Grey Mountains' features interesting time changes, and is at times magnificently spooky.
The press blurb describes this as film score metal, but it’s so much more than that.
Infinitely less tongue in cheek or derivative than The Darkness, and infinitely heavier and more proficient and anthemic, they’re all showmen to the end.
*****
Review by Joe Geesin
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