When it comes to glorious symphonic power metal, Italian artists Rhapsody of Fire have been synonymous with this title since the Rhapsody moniker took ahold in the mid-90s. Keyboardist Alex Staropoli may be the lone reminder of those early days, but he hasn’t stopped in his quest to deliver epic film score quality metal once again through this newest studio record Challenge the Wind. The 14th effort if you combine both acts studio discography, the material here again displays a tremendous depth of majestic splendor, straddling the edges of virtuoso neoclassical passages next to call to arms vocal melodies/harmonies in a way that few bands have ever been able to achieve.
You have to suspend normalcy as you take a journey into lands established centuries ago – the quintet setting a tone that contains layers of guitars, bass, drums, keyboards and orchestration so you set sail to an alternate universe. The passionate kit flexibility Paolo Marchesich executes track by track can be Iron Maiden-esque one moment, then at blistering Dragonforce speed or precision the next, taking songs like “The Bloody Pariah” or “Diamond Claws” to aural heights of ecstasy – the latter also featuring some great synchronized keyboard/guitar harmony action in the instrumental break where Staropoli and axe man Roberto De Micheli illustrate superior skill sets. The diamond above all the musical earworms appears in the voice of Giacomo Voli. The man has that classical/operatic confidence tempered with the right lower, melodic register movements that prove he can hit a variety of emotions often in the same song – carrying the listener on each storybook tale line by line.
Proper choir placement as well as dynamic shifts increase the appeal from first song to the last – the band knowing when to calm things down into a strident, comfortable gallop for “A Brave New Hope” or explore Celtic/folk influences in spots of the otherwise symphonic power metal splendor that is “Holy Downfall”. And where other acts would save the longest track for last – Rhapsody of Fire instead place the sixteen-minute plus “Vanquished by Shadows” in the four slot, featuring everything from raspy, blackened screams, robust keyboard tones, vibrant classical instrumental sections, and cultural guitar harmonies that mirror the vocal melodies that lead to a calm, almost new age conclusion. Although the playback time may seem too expansive at 63 minutes, the multi-genre influence bank these musicians pull from ensures that you’ll have plenty to process and enjoy without feeling ear fatigue.
Challenge the Wind to these ears contains the best bombastic symphonic metal elements that put Rhapsody of Fire to the top of the class – while also adding some throwback aspects that access the best elements of classic Virgin Steele or Blind Guardian. The ideal battle soundtrack for fantasy lovers or individuals who suspend reality even if it’s for the briefest hour a day.