Dark Wings of Steel

Dark Wings of Steel is a fulfilling work on which Rhapsody of Fire combines heavy, powerful guitar riffs, grand keyboards and orchestration, and dramatic vocals. It is the first work of the new lineup, made with Alex Staropoli at the center after the departure of the co-founder Luca Turilli. The fantastical, gorgeous decoration is rich, yet at the songs’ core, powerful riffs and a sure drive as heavy metal are firmly placed. A record inscribing a new step for the band. From the development from the opening instrumental to “Rising from Tragic Flames” and the drama of “Angel of Light” to a cut like “Vis Divina,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Fly to Crystal Skies” and “Tears of Pain” convey the work’s fullness. Fabio Lione’s operatic voice powerfully drives that world. A record on which fast, powerful parts and grand mid-tempo constantly intersect, powerfully supporting that narrative, grand world. You can fully savor both the splendor particular to symphonic metal and a heavier, harder feel. A engaging, fulfilling work on which, even in the great turning point of a central figure’s departure, the band powerfully maintained its musicality — a record announcing the band’s new lineup.