If ever a band had a reason to cry the blues! Following an amicable split with long-time guitarist, virtuoso and admittedly best known member of the band (at least to casual fans) Luca Turilli, the Italian power metallers were set to move on to the next chapter of their lives, starting the clean slate with a headlining tour of North America. On the precipice of such a major undertaking, the band were informed they’d been dropped from the Nuclear Blast roster. Don’t know if the tour’s financial support was pulled, or affected in any way, but lack of print/online ads and preventing journalists/photogs free access to the venues, for review purposes, virtually guarantees press coverage will be non-existent. As was merchandise, not a speck of t-shirts, bumpers stickers, CDs. Zip, nada, nothing! So my opportunity to review/photograph the May 25th kick-off date in Philly had to be arranged through founder/keyboardist Alex Staropoli. Just the additional headache he needed days before jumping on a plane, with entourage in tow, for a month-long string of dates. Worse yet, RHAPSODY OF FIRE weren’t asked to be part of this weekend’s Maryland Deathfest, which I’m sure broke their hearts! Luca who?

This is a different band than just a few years ago, even apart from the line-up changes. Gone are the frilly shirts, goofy haircuts and static stage performances. All in black, apart from Staropoli’s standout blond hair and tank top, the more laidback attire (you know the Italian like to rock their fashion) I put down to the years of tutelage under Joey DeMaio’s wings (MANOWAR), when the Italians were signed to his Magic Circle label. Granted, Staropoli is tethered to his keyboard, but frontman Fabio Lione has benefited from his time “guesting” in KAMELOT, much more energetic around the stage. Large sections of the set utilize backing vocal tapes and music, as well as glorious voiceovers from actor Christopher Lee, who has narrated RHAPSODY records for more than a decade. Many of this evening’s selections were from the older/golden era (on Limb Music, as opposed to those on SPV or Nuclear Blast,).

Entering to the grandiose ‘Act II: Dark Mystic Vision’ intro, it was straight into ‘Ad Infinitum’, which segues directly to ‘From Chaos To Eternity’. There were a few glitches early on, especially Tom Hess’ guitar cutting out intermittently, but this is still early in this incarnation’s live schedule, so everyone seems to be going out of their way to make an impression in the post-Turilli era. As if checking the sound levels onstage, early on Lione sang with one foot on the monitors, half cocked away from the audience, seemingly looking to Staropoli (located at the back of the stage, next to drummer Alex Holzwarth) for approval/confirmation. Still, lots of motion onstage, keeping the focus on the music throughout ‘Triumph Or Agony’, then ‘Village Of The Dwarves’, before Lione took time to address the crowd. They have so many different styles within the power metal umbrella, from lilting, melodies that saw the usual mosh pit kiddies actually kick/skipping across the floor (‘March Of The Swordmaster’), the more typical speed metal flavored tracks and even the operatic ‘Lamento Eroico’. Must be a law that all Italian singer attempt opera at some point in their careers!

One of those ominous sounding Lee spoken word intros greeted ‘The Dark Secret’, whereas ‘Unholy Warcry’ saw the small gathering sing along. Along with ‘Land Of Immortals’, it was a potent one-two punch in the middle of the set. ‘The Magic Of The Wizard’s Dream’, a Lione/Lee-on-tape classical duet, was introduced by the singer, “Christopher Lee speaks nine languages. When we sang this song, he asked me why we didn’t do a version in Russian. What about…?” (He rattles off a list of tongues spoken by the 70s horror actor). “I will try to sing his baritone.”

Know it’s a big deal overseas, but we’d be better served if the back-to-back drum and bass solos would be ditched, in favor of an additional song. How many times does America get to see RHAPSODY headline? Dig out an old/rare chestnut instead. As it was, Holzwarth’s orchestral begun (tympani) solo syncopated headlights flashing at the crowd whenever he struck the big bass toms. Under undulating blue and red lights, the bass solo actually saw people clapping along, so not everyone agrees with my point-of-view (at least then and there, maybe in retrospect?). Thankfully ‘Holy Thunderforce’ and ‘Dawn Of Victory’ were already included in this evening.

When the band left the stage, for the first of two encores, the soccer chant “oh-ay, oh-ay, oh-ay, oh-ay” erupted spontaneously. Sort of felt like we weren’t in Philly, for a second. Strobes and an instrumental interlude, minus Lione onstage, reintroduce the band to crowd. There was really only one song left unplayed that most (myself included) had come to hear, ‘The Emerlad Sword’. Needless to say, we all went away happy!

Hopefully the band felt the same way.

More photos from Philadelphia can be viewed here.

Source: Mark Gromen – BW&BK/BraveWords.com

two-minute Italian-language TV report on the current European headlining tour by Italian symphonic metal masters RHAPSODY OF FIRE can be seen below.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE will embark on the North American leg of its “From Chaos To Eternity” world tour in late May.

The first official photo of the new lineup of RHAPSODY OF FIRE can be seen below.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE 2012 is:

Fabio Lione – Vocals
Alex Staropoli – Keyboards
Roberto De Micheli – Guitar
Tom Hess – Guitar
Oliver Holzwarth – Bass
Alex Holzwarth – Drums

The new RHAPSODY OF FIRE lineup made its live debut on April 6 at the PPM Fest at the Lotto Mons Expo in Mons, Belgium.

Staropoli and RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli last year announced their decision to go their separate ways.

Due to legal reasons, Staropoli will continue under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, will make his future efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE‘s original name), in which he will be joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).

RHAPSODY OF FIRE‘s latest album, “From Chaos To Eternity”, was released in North America on July 12, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. Described by the band as “the natural evolution” from 2010’s “The Frozen Tears Of Angels”, the CD marks RHAPSODY OF FIRE‘s final release based on the fantasy saga started in 1997 with the group’s debut album, “Legendary Tales”.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE recently extended its biggest world tour ever by adding a few select shows in Central and South America.

Commented Staropoli: “This is our biggest world tour ever with concerts in Europe, North America, Central America and South America. The energy, enthusiasm and excitement on this tour is far greater than it has ever been for us over our past 15-plus-year history! RHAPSODY OF FIRE is stronger than ever and the reviews of all the concerts we’ve already done on this tour are proof of that. For the first time ever, we’re also giving our Latin American fans the opportunity to spend an incredible amount of personal time with us face-to-face. We did this in Europe for the first time this year and it was truly great to bring us very close to some of our biggest fans in a very personal way.”

Source : Blabbermouth.net

Italian symphonic metal masters RHAPSODY OF FIRE have announced the details of the North American leg of their “From Chaos To Eternity” world tour.

Commented RHAPSODY OF FIRE keyboardist Alex Staropoli: “American and Canadian RHAPSODY OF FIRE fans have been waiting a long time for our return to North America. We’ve heard your demands and now it’s finally a reality! RHAPSODY OF FIRE is stronger than ever and ready to bring to you the longest, biggest and best show we’ve ever done in the band’s 15-plus-year history. We’re also giving fans the opportunity to spend an incredible amount of personal time with us face-to-face in order to bring us very close to our fans in a very personal and meaningful way.”

The dates are as follows:

May 25 – The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
May 26 – Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
May 27 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA
May 29 – Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
May 30 – Club Soda – Montreal, QC
May 31 – Imperial de Quebec – Quebec City, QC
Jun. 01 – Mod Club – Toronto, CA
Jun. 03 – Peabody`s – Cleveland, OH
Jun. 04 – Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
Jun. 05 – Mojoes – Joliet, IL
Jun. 06 – Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
Jun. 08 – Gothic Theater – Englewood, NJ
Jun. 10 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA
Jun. 11 – Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
Jun. 12 – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
Jun. 14 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
Jun. 15 – The Grove – Anaheim, CA

A special VIP package is also available for these dates. Details can be found at RhapsodyOfFire.com.

The first official photo of the new lineup of RHAPSODY OF FIRE can be seen below.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE 2012 is:

Fabio Lione – Vocals
Alex Staropoli – Keyboards
Roberto De Micheli – Guitar
Tom Hess – Guitar
Oliver Holzwarth – Bass
Alex Holzwarth – Drums

Staropoli and RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli last year announced their decision to go their separate ways.

Due to legal reasons, Staropoli will continue under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, will make his future efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE‘s original name), in which he will be joined by musicians Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers and Alex Holzwarth.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE‘s latest album, “From Chaos To Eternity”, was released in North America on July 12, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. Described by the band as “the natural evolution” from 2010’s “The Frozen Tears Of Angels”, the CD marks RHAPSODY OF FIRE‘s final release based on the fantasy saga started in 1997 with the group’s debut album, “Legendary Tales”.

Source : Blabbermouth.net