• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Rhapsody Of Fire: The Eighth Mountain

Symphonic Power Metal

5.0/5.0

Website Facebook Instagram
AFM Records
Released: 22.02.2019
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 13.02.2019

Symphonic power metal legend Rhapsody Of Fire need no introduction. Yet their new and twelfth album, The Eighth Mountain is something of a new beginning. The album is the first studio album of new material to feature (as of 2016) new drummer Manu Lottner and vocalist Giacomo Voli. What has not changed is Rhapsody of Fire's epic and bombastic symphonic power metal.

Rhapsody Of Fire

As they've often done in the past, the symphonic parts are performed by a full orchestra, the Bulgarian National Symphony Orchestra. Also, as is the ROF custom, choirs were used in the vocal arrangement. This time it's two choirs with 20 members. Additionally, to add folk metal accents, solo musicians were recruited to play medieval instruments. Wrap all these things in Alex Staropoli's signature and amazing melodic power metal arrangements and you have the perfect Rhapsody Of Fire metal storm.

To consider some songs, you'll find galloping symphonic power metal with Abyss Of Pain, Seven Heroic Deeds, and Master Of Peace, or The Legend Goes On with its powerful choral start. With White Wizard, you get a strong symphonic start which quickly develops into melodic metal with large amounts of melody, harmony, and groove, and a damn fine catchy chorus. Within Warrior Heart, you'll hear those medieval woodwinds and folk guitar wrapped in a moving symphonic anthem. Later, a lighter symphonic ballad arrives with The Wind, The Rain And The Moon, a beautiful piece with a simply delightful and inspired chorus. This is Rhapsody Of Fire at their very best.

Suffice to say, Rhapsody Of Fire's The Eighth Mountain is simply another stunning musical achievement: pure and entertaining symphonic power metal from the grandest of masters of the genre. Quite recommended.

Cil City: Jump Off The Cliff

Melodic Hard Rock

4.0/5.0

Somehow I can't wrap my head around a female-fronted AC/DC cover band. Yet that's how Austria's Cil City got its start. But pop singers Celine Dion and Anastacia ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Rhapsody Of Fire's The Eighth Mountain is simply another stunning musical achievement: pure and entertaining symphonic power metal from the grandest of masters of the genre. Quite recommended.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]