Triumph or Agony

Triumph or Agony is a fulfilling work on which Rhapsody of Fire, binding orchestra, solemn choirs, symphonic, gorgeous keyboards and speeding guitar, draws a grand fantasy world. It is the first album released after the band renamed from the previous “Rhapsody” to this “Rhapsody of Fire.” The precisely crafted sound Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli create, while keeping fast metal’s sure momentum, generates a grand, cinematic expanse. A record on which the story of the “Dark Secret Saga” advances further. From the opener “Dar-Kunor” and the dramatic title track “Triumph or Agony” to a cut like “Heart of the Darklands,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Old Age of Wonders” and the beautiful Italian ballad “Il Canto del Vento” convey the work’s fullness. Christopher Lee’s solemn narration also powerfully colors that world. A record on which each song develops like one scene of a grand story, and the rich layering of voices and instruments further heightens that drama. A thorough stance that never fears its excess is itself a great appeal. A powerful, engaging epic condensing the essence of symphonic power metal — a record where the band’s grand world shines.