Rhapsody - Power Of The Dragonflame
2002 LMP Records

Track Listing:
1. In Tenebris
2. Knightrider Of Doom
3. Power Of The Dragonflame
4. The March Of The Swordmaster
5. When Demons Awake
6. Agony Is My Name
7. Lamento Eroico
8. Steelgods Of The Last Apocalypse
9. The Pride Of The Tyrant
10. Garoyles, Angels of Darkness: Angeli Di Pietra Mistica/Warlords' Last C

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Fabio Lione
Guitars:  Luca Turilli, Dominique Leurquin
Bass:  Alessandro Lotta
Drums:  Alex Holzwarth
Keyboards:  Alex Staropoli
Additional Guitars:  Sascha Paeth, Johannes Monno

Website:  www.mightyrhapsody.com

Shev's Rating:  D-
Overall Album Rating:  D-

Shev's Review:
For the record, the only reason why I'm even reviewing this album is because it was requested.  Never...ever...has such a band used repetitive operatic power metal cheese as a crutch like Rhapsody.  Bands like Manowar and Hammerfall are notorious for creating music equivalent to a giant vat of creamy dairy products, but at least they have a few songs which are very well-written and performed.  Rhapsody, on the other hand, manages to get a good running start before pole vaulting over both bands into new areas of epic power metal cheese.

As with everything else written by Rhapsody, this is pretty much the same stuff re-re-re-written for goofball enjoyment throughout the land.  Wild, flailing guitar solos, uplifting chorus, elves and unicorns frolicking in the woods, and all that other nonsense which Rhapsody seems to revel in like a dog on a dead bird.  If you've heard one album by Rhapsody, you essentially know what you're getting into as they're all the same boring, recycled drivel.

So in all honesty, I can't flunk this album completely (as much as I'd like to).  For one thing, Fabio Lione has an amazing voice almost equal to that of Bruce Dickinson.  Even though he sings for a terrible band, blazing through the halls of banality at a technically efficient light speed pace, you can't take away his voice which remains the sole structurally fit cornerstone to be had on here...or pretty much any Rhapsody release.  The other thing which really stands out is the occasional classical guitarwork, which is surprisingly brilliant.  If they could write their metal like they write their classical, this review would be written in a whole different light.  Other than that, unless you're already a big fan of Rhapsody and feel the need to collect everything they're ever written, stay very far away from this.  Personally, I wouldn't even take the time to wipe my nose with this after a good sneeze.
Shev's Rating:  D-