Dawn of Victory

Dawn of Victory is a fulfilling third album on which Rhapsody of Fire (then named Rhapsody) pushed cinematic, grand orchestration and high-speed power metal to grandiose limits. The beautiful, valiant melody Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli create develops majestically like a great river, accompanied by powerful choruses and narration. Fabio Lione’s overwhelming voice carries the sure center of that grand narrative world. A more straight, powerful record than the previous two. From the development from the opening intro to the speeding signature “Dawn of Victory” and the drama of “Triumph for My Magic Steel” to a cut like “Dargor, Shadowlord of the Black Mountain,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “The Village of Dwarves” and “The Bloody Rage of the Titans” convey the work’s fullness. In particular, “Dawn of Victory” became a live staple. A record that pursued the gorgeous, splendid appeal of symphonic power metal as thoroughly as possible. The band’s outstanding skill of turning even arguably excessive grandeur into a sure appeal appears in its clearest form. A powerful, engaging masterpiece symbolizing the fulfilling period of the “Emerald Sword Saga” — an essential record for fans.