Rhapsody of Fire - Challenge The Wind (2024)

Alex Staropoli and company are back with another fantastic release titled “Challenge the Wind”. The band’s signature high-octane Symphonic Power Metal continues to deliver epic songs as they unleash ten tracks and over 63 minutes of pure epic music. Rhapsody of Fire is a band in its own league and with this release they further consolidate their legacy as one of the best in the genre.

Opening with the perky album title track, we instantly get dreamy keyboard melodies, engaging vocal arrangements and intense guitar leads. Pretty much all the previously mentioned elements are staples of the band’s sound and they continue to deliver epic and memorable songs like “Whispers of Doom”, “The Bloody Pariah” and the 16-minute epic “Vanquished By Shadows”. This last track is definitely one of our favorites from the band as it weaves back and forth between moody passages with soaring vocals and dramatic tempo changes.

For those looking for more in-your-face pieces, “Diamond Claws” has a nice balance of classical Heavy Metal elements and Power-ballad components to deliver one hell of an epic piece. Our personal favorite has to be the melancholic piece “A Brave New Hope” and its lush atmospherics paired with epic instrumentation and moody tempo changes. The band’s explosiveness is unparalleled, and tracks like “Holy Downfall” are excellent examples of this.

As a whole, “Challenge the Wind” is another brilliant release from Rhapsody of Fire. Every single instrument is perfectly discernible and expertly executed, the overall cohesion in the music shows the years of experience that all members of the band have. While there are plenty of Symphonic Power Metal outfits, there is only one Rhapsody of Fire and with every single release they continue to reach new heights. If you are a fan of the genre, you can’t miss out on this release.

Label: AFM Records

Release: May 31st, 2024

Genre: Symphonic Power Metal

Country: Italy