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RHAPSODY

http://www.mightyrhapsody.com/

Live In Canada 2005: The Dark Secret

Magic Circle Music  2006

by Sully Payton

In the world of metal, there are two things I can't stand- 1) Battle/Power Metal and 2) live albums. As for Number 1, I just can't get into the whole Dungeons and Dragons imagery put to music and sung by eunuchs. I listened to Ronnie James Dio enough in the '80s to not want to relive those concepts in the new millennium. Let's not forget the fact that people who see these types of bands live feel the need to carry swords that aren't necessarily made of plastic and actually know where to get armor. Negative reviewers of this genre are probably few and far between, their heads found on pikes in small wooded villages. As for Number 2, live metal albums rarely come close to matching the power and the feeling of actually being at the show and the recording quality often plain sucks.

Well, get my trusty steed and my battle armor ready because the new live record from Italian power/battle metallers Rhapsody blows my theories all to hell. Live In Canada 2005- The Dark Secret (Magic Circle Music) is one of the biggest sounding records I have ever heard. The production on this album, recorded over 2 nights at the Metropolis in Montreal while on tour with Manowar, is astounding. From the Teutonic chorus that opens "Dark Secret" and pops up throughout to every piggy squeal rendered by guitarists Dominique Leurquin and Luca Turilli, you will feel like you have a front row seat to this massive show.

But what about the music? Yes, wizards, dragons, elves, trolls, magical swords and all things Middle Earth make an appearance on this record. Front man Fabio Lione clearly stands head and shoulders above other vocalists in this genre with his significant range that borders on operatic, especially on the powerful "Lamento Eroico". The twin guitar attack is absolutely brutal. The guitars start full speed on "Unholy Warcry" and don't slow down until my favorite track, the epic "Erian's Mystical Rhymes". You'll begin to wonder how these guys can play that fast by the time you get to "Emerald Sword", another corker with great time changes. Rhapsody are a band that clearly know how to write a song. After the hour plus of music has passed, you will feel ready to slay dragons galore and save countless damsels in distress. If you're not, you better hide from the well-armed masses of rabid fans.