Rhapsody of Fire is one of my favorite bands that remind me of the good times in the power metal genre, back when they introduced themselves simply as Rhapsody with the majestic “Legendary Tales”. The years may have passed, the band has split and Luca Turilli/Fabio Leone have followed different paths but Rhapsody of Fire’s musical DNA remains untouched and constant in time! Alex Staropoli masterfully drives the Italian vehicle and I dare say that he has found in singer Giacomo Voli an ideal frontman who transmits the vision of the Rhapsody of Fire leader.
In my eyes, the band’s recording renaissance started on “Eighth Mountain” and shone on “Glory For Salvation”, an album that recalled the glory days of Rhapsody’s first three albums. “Challenge The Wind” continues in this exact pattern with one important difference: all the compositions are up tempo and nowhere is there any trace of the familiar and so characteristic Rhapsody of Fire ballads. Maybe I belong to the minority but I would like there to be at least one slow track to complete the puzzle of the whole concept of “Challenge The Wind”. Having said that Staropoli creates an impressive spectrum of sounds with guitarist Roby De Micheli by his side, who we could say is at the opposite end of the whole construction as his guitar is firing while Staropoli is “building” the background of the compositions with his soundtrack-like arrangements.
I truly believe that “Challenge The Wind” is another worthy addition to Rhapsody of Fire’s catalogue and I hope even more people will support their effort as they did with “Glory For Salvation”. “Challenge The Wind” is one of the best euro-power metal albums of 2024 and we can’t wait to see the band on stage once again.
Highlight: The whole concept continues the “Nephilim’s Empire Saga” which is essentially focused on the search for the personal identity of each of us.
