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Rhapsody of Fire: The Cold Embrace of Fear

Epic Melodic Heavy Metal

3.0/5.0

Nuclear Blast Records
www.myspace.com/rhapsodyoffireofficial
www.rhapsodyoffire.com
By Craig Hartranft,  10.31.2010

They have been called many things: pompous, bombastic, outlandish, spectacular, epic, and garishly grandiose. But, Rhapsody of Fire, the pioneers of Italian epic film score power metal, are back with a vengeance. Following this year's earlier release The Frozen Tears of Angels, ROF brings an EP, The Cold Embrace of Fear, one grand song in seven parts, showing the orchestral and magisterial side of the band. Part heavy metal, part opera, and part cinematic score, The Cold Embrace of Fear is a fantasy tale with spoken parts (Christopher Lee, of course) and glorious bombastic power metal. Diehard fans will probably lift a woody when the album finally kicks off with Act III - The Ancient Fires Of Har-Kuun. But there's the rub. For all the glaring excess that one song is probably single biggest thing on this work; everything else is merely superfluous accent. The Cold Embrace of Fear is still dynamic over-the-top fun, but I wonder if it's all really worth it.

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The Cold Embrace of Fear is still dynamic over-the-top fun, but I wonder if it's all really worth it.

Alphabetical Index

To paraphrase late night talk show host David Lettermen, my next artist needs little introduction. Germany's Helloween are practically the godfathers of traditional European power metal. This year they will the ... [ Read More ]