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[miko2]

Today's Song: Unholy Warcry by Rhapsody

Speaking of Italian symphonic power metal, Rhapsody is now on iTunes. Rhapsody, for those of us just joining the conversation, takes the welding of power metal and fantasy themes and lyrics to it (il)logical conclusion. They write heavily orchestrated epic albumns about a fantasty world of their own creation, as if each album was a sountrack to a movie... with sequels. The above song comes from Symphony of Enchanted Lands part II, the only cd of their which I own and one that is narrated by none other than Christoper Lee himself.

I like the concept of what Rhapsody does more than the actual results. Part of my problem is that I can't shake the certainty that, while they're trying to be the ultimate Tolkien Lord of the Rings Heavy Metal Soundtrack band, what they really are accomplishing is more akin to the Lame Fan Fiction Fantasy Based on Eragon and Our Old AD&D Campaign Heavy Metal Soundtrack band. I mean really, they have maps, they have a whole world history, they have heroes and villians and magical swords and wizards, this particular band has gone as far as to have a novel written based on their fantasy world -- but even if English was their native launguage, would anyone seriously want to read it? I like music based on Lord of the Rings not because I blidly like anything high fantasy related, but because Lord of the Rings is such a cool story.

Still, the general idea of doing "Hollywood sountrack metal" is cool. I wish this kind of stuff existed when i was fourteen. ^_^

Unholy Warcry - Rhapsody

Holy Thunderforce - Rhapsody
Rain of a Thousand Flames - Rhapsody