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Rhapsody, Luca Turilli's: Ascending to Infinity
Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending to Infinity Review

Rhapsody, Luca Turilli's: Ascending to Infinity

Symphonic/Power/Opera Metal
4.5/5.0

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Nuclear Blast Records
by Craig Hartranft,  06.20.2012

Once upon time in the metal universe, two men, guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboard player Alex Staropoli, formed a power metal band. They called it Rhapsody, and it was grand, bombastic, and outrageous symphonic metal. Observers called it 'Hollywood metal,' and then 'film score metal.' Then there was a copyright fight with a prominent digital music service about their name. Our heroes renamed the band to Rhapsody of fire. They continued their adventure of striking the metal community with the shock and awe of their power metal. They called it 'cinematic metal.'

Luca Turilli's Rhapsody Band Photo

Rhapsody: making Hans Zimmer blush.

And then there were two.

Two different bands, that is, lead individually by our heroes. They split was amicable they say.

Staropoli continues with Rhapsody of Fire. Turilli formed the new Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, having, of course, to avoid any potential pesky copyright battles. We've come full circle, but now, by their own admission, we have two Rhapsody bands. Aren't we the lucky ones? Both were destined to release the 11th Rhapsody album. Turilli's Rhapsody delivers first with Ascending to Infinity.

Ascending to Infinity does not skip a beat from previous albums, except for the larger fantasy theme of previous albums and the fixture of Christopher Lee' narration. This is the gargantuan sound of 'cinematic metal,' a hybrid of symphonic, power, and operatic metal. I would suggest this album nears closer to that latter category. Call this both cinematic and operatic power metal. Who does it better? That was a rhetorical question.

Simply view the song titles: Dante's Inferno, Excalibur, Clash of the Titans, and the humongous Of Michael the Archangel and Lucifer's Fall, the longest cut here. Now add the layers of lush and grandiose vocal arrangements, symphonic atmosphere, and heroic guitar work, and you have classic Rhapsody (of Fire). Turilli recruited Alessandro Conti, a classically trained singer for the lead vocals. He's simply phenomenal, with immense range and exquisite pitch. And the compositions, the music, well, all the adjectives necessary have been used in this review.

Simply, Ascending to Infinity is immense, an aural extravaganza of glorious and bombastic symphonic power metal. What else would you expect from Luca Turilli and friends. Recommended.






In Short

Simply, Ascending to Infinity is immense, an aural extravaganza of glorious and bombastic symphonic power metal. What else would you expect from Luca Turilli and friends.

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