• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

If Rhapsody (of Fire) isn't operatic or symphonic enough for you, you're in luck. Former Rhapsody guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter Luca Turilli split a few years back, slapped his name in front of the word "rhapsody" and started writing cinematically-inspired Power Metal. This version of Rhapsody's debut, 2011's Ascending to Infinity, sounded a lot like the original band albeit with more of a flourish and 2015's Prometheus – Symphonia Ignis Divinus takes the band's sound further in that direction. Turilli's guitars are mixed very low with only the occasional riff or solo letting you know it is there at all and the bass is nearly inaudible on anything less than full sound system. Keyboards are the driving force which gives the songs a "Lord of the Rings camera sweeping over a snow-capped mountain from a helicopter" feel. The vocal lines are quite operatic (male and female) with most of the lyrics sung in Italian which enhances that to a great degree. There are some memorable choruses ("Prometheus") and melodies ("Anahata") but as usual the album is lengthy and so much of it is made up of essentially incidental movie music it is hard to remember specifics after a full sitting.

As usual Turilli surrounds himself with talent and the performances are excellent but Prometheus – Symphonia Ignis Divinus is a niche album, for fans of very operatic Power Metal, in the same way those shred albums by Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Tony MacAlpine and others truly appeal only to guitarists. I found it to have more value as background music than something I want to sit and focus on.