Customer Reviews

Symphony of Enchanted Lands 2: The Dark Secret

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Since their 1997 debut, "Legendary Tales", Rhapsody has been churning at an average rate of one album per 14 months (6 albums in 7 years). At that rate and with the specific genre the band has spearheaded, they are bound to run out of ideas.

And this album does it. Rhapsody simply doesn't know what to do anymore.

Before I go into the review, I urge you to not dismiss this review as someone who doesn't like the band or the genre. Rhapsody is one of my all-time favorite artists and I love every release (in fact, my expectations for "The Dark Secret" were, perhaps, astronomically unfair). Every album before this one has had something amazing to offer, be it a melody, a song, or a series of songs.

But "The Dark Secret" doesn't do it. The Italian quintet, which has earned its title in the power metal circuit as the most pompous and extravagant band, returned to their songwriting formula and exhausted it. Songs like "Unholy Warcry" have a choir, which is nothing new, and a chorus that deviates in one note from the norm (no big surprise there). The third song, "Never Forgotten Heroes" is probably the best song on the album *but* (and please try this) it is almost a direct copy of the third track on "Symphony of Enchanted Lands": "Wisdom of the Kings" (a superior track). It's uncanny. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this, or if the band thought this would go by undetected.

The band pulled off a successful 19-minute song ("Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness") in their last release with a variety of melodies, adequate sectioning, and a constantly evolving melodic structure. But the two painfully long 10-minute offerings on "The Dark Secret" ("Sacred Power of Raging Winds" and "Erian's Mystical Rhymes") drag on for hours. The delectable celtic number on the "Rain of a Thousand Flames" EP ("Elnor's Magic Valley") is butchered in a mediocre clone with almost *the exact same name*: "Elgard's Green Valleys". Finally, the album's ballad, "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream" is another "Wings of Destiny", just with a different name and some baritone singers in the background.

Did (all of) this not bother anyone else?

The addition of Christopher Lee does nothing to improve the band's catalog because frankly, I doubt that anyone really cares *that much* about the fantastic storyline behind their albums. I'm strapped to find people who can regurgitate the so-called "Algalord Chronicles" because even the biggest fans are in it for the medieval melodies and razor-sharp guitars.

The album's saving graces are few. The artwork is beautiful (as always), and the production is stellar. "Never Forgotten Heroes" and the innovative "Guardiani del Destino" are definitely great songs, but in small quantities. Overall, the album is very repetitive and lacks the truly outstanding tracks that have made their previous releases must-have's. Where are the "Pride of the Tyrant"'s? The "Village of Dwarves"'s? The "Land of Immortals"'s?

I say: wait a few years. Regenerate your creative energies, and come back to the studio with something new. Please.

See also: The entire Rhapsody catalog, but namely "Symphony of Enchanted Lands"

First of all, I really have to thank the great and unique Christopher Lee for helping this beautiful and unique band! This gorgeous album begins with Lee's narration, filled with much feeling... it really feels like a narration for The Lord Of The Rings!! Lee knows how to do it!!! When he quit talking, the choir begins to work!! Oh, GOD!!! What a terrific choir!! It's GLORIOUS!! Sometimes, this album, is like a horror movie.

Then, "Unholy Warcry" comes!! Great symphonic sounds!! Brute force!! And the terror-like choir!! Lione sings really good in this song! And the guitar solo ROCKS!!! This is a GREAT SONG, seriously.

"Never Forgotten Heroes" is kind of a rhapsody that contains some parts from "Thunder's Mighty Roar" (from the EP)and from "Wisdom Of The Kings" (SOEL I). Staropoli, the keyboardist, imporoves his style until it reaches to the very soul of the listener! The choir in this song, as in the whole album, is GREAT!!

"Elgard's Green Valleys" is a really short song that I'd call kind of an INTRO to "The magic Of The Wizard's Dream", which is a BEAUTIFUL balad, that begins with a heart-feel flute!

"Erian's Mystical Rhymes" is... OH!!!!!! For me, this song is the best from this band!!!! They had never made such a GLORIOUS and horror-movie-like song!! When you hear it, you'll understand perfectly what I mean!! They passed through the limits of beauty with this one! This is, besides, the most symphonic in all the album!!

"The Last Angel's Call" is like a comedy made music!! It's GREAT!! It's filled with pure happiness and hope and it's... yes, definitely a joke song!! You MIGHT listen to it!!

"Dragonland's River" is also a BEAUTIFUL balad!!! Well, really this band has the BEST ballads of all the metal bands'!!!! The Flute reaches the heart of the listener and the harpsichord and the vocalist fill it with hope and happiness... I can't say why this band is capable of making the listener a happier person! But it does!

"Sacred Power Of Raging Winds" is, like Erian's Mystical Rhymes, kind of a mini rock-opera! This one begins with Christpher Lee acting like a Wizard that asks the power of the wind to help the heroes cross the mountains! REALLY GREAT!!! Lee KNOWS how to do it! And the, the guitar comes with a terror sound, completely filled with arrengements!!! This band is the best with the arrangements!!! In this song, besides, there're FOUR MINUTES OF GLORIOUS INSTRUMENTAL POWER!! You have to listen to it!

"Guardiani del Destino" is THE BEST RHAPSODY BALLAD!!! It's not a ballad, perhaps... no... Is a medieval Empyrium-like song that will bring the listener back to the Middle Age! it's REALLY VERY WELL DONE!! It's gorgeous!!

If think this album can't go any darker... ha! Listen to "Shadows Of Death", that begins with tryumphant trumpets and a dark and acid and heavy guitar riff!!!! This and the last song ("Nightfall on The Grey Mountain", hte GRAND FINALE!!)are the darkest of the entire album!! And is filled with virtuosism and long solos! The best Heavy-Rock Rhapsody song!!

"Nightfall on the Grey Mountain" Reminds of hope!! It's the GRAND FINALE! It's VERY DARK but, then it goes VERY TRYUMPHANT!! You have to listen to this one!! Words can't descrbe it!

Well, I can really swear you're NOT going to be dissapointed if you purchase this album! If you are a Fan of symphonic Epic power Metal, you HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS BAND AND, EVEN MORE TO THIS ALBUM! :D

Hope this review to be helpful
PD: Sorry for writing such a long review

After Rhapsody delivered the triumphant conclusion to their ongoing Emerald Sword Saga with 2002's Power of the Dragonflame, a lot of metal fans were left wondering what the band would do next, and how they could possibly top their previous efforts. To their credit, Rhapsody spared no expense in making 2004's Symphony of Enchanted Lands, Part II: the Dark Secret their most epic and ambitious album to date. Unfortunately this strategy did not pay off.

On the surface, it makes perfect sense for a power metal band as symphonically oriented as Rhapsody to hire a huge orchestra to augment their album, and casting Christopher Lee (Saruman from the Lord of the Rings films) seemed like a stroke of genius, especially after the godawful narration of the band's previous albums. The only thing Luca Turilli and company needed to do was come up with an album worthy of these enhancements. Besides, the time was ripe for the band to come up with some fresh ideas, new storylines, and generally take their music to a new level. Instead Luca went back to the trough to "revisit" the themes from the band's first Symphony of Enchanted Lands album, and by revisit I mean they essentially ripped themselves off. There's absolutely nothing on this album that you haven't already heard from Rhapsody. The concepts, lyrics, and arrangements are so similar to previous efforts that it borders on self-parody. On its own merits it is a perfectly decent symphonic power metal album, but when you hold it up against the band's earlier works it just falls short of expectations.

Ultimately, Symphony of Enchanted Lands, Part II was a wake up call for this metal fan. In the past I was able to look past the band's cheesier aspects because they were so good at this kind of music, and they seemed to improve with each album. With this album, the band definitely took two steps back, and it proved to be the album that cured me of my Rhapsody affection. Oh well, we'll always have the Emerald Sword albums.

I have been listening to Rhapsody for about four years now and they are one of the few bands I can say I enjoy more today than I did yesterday. I've heard their songs hundreds of times yet only find them to get better and better with time. I, like many other Rhapsody fans, were greatly anticipating Rhapsody's latest effort Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret. I knew before hearing a note that it would be amazing since this is Rhapsody afterall, however, I did not expect it to be just as wonderful and amazing as it is ... a true surprise! Now that you have a little background information with my experience (and bias) with Rhapsody I will continue you on to the actual content of the album.

Being called Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret it is natural to assume this album will sound something like the first Symphony Of Enchanted Lands album. The good news about this is, it does! However, please do not even begin to think this is some sort of lame carbon-copy of the first Symphony Of Enchanted Lands album ... it certainly is far from it! Along with sounding something like the first Symphony album, you can also hear plenty of elements to the post-Symphony era albums such as the heavier guitars and the extensive use of choirs. As for the instrumentation, you will find a return to the frequent harpsichord use and even a return of the glorious organ ... pure glorious splendor! :-D

For the songs themselves, you can expect a good variety as you can on any Rhapsody release. You've got the fast numbers like Unholy Warcry and The Last Angels' Call as well as your epics like Erian's Mystical Rhymes and Sacred Power Of Raging Wings (as heard on The Dark Secret EP). I'd like to comment also on the two ballads: The Magic Of The Wizard's Dream and Guardiani Del Destino. I openly admit I'm a sucker for Rhapsody's ballads and I believe these two are of their best. Although we've heard the English version of Guardiani Del Destino (Guardians Of Destiny) on The Dark Secret EP, the true beauty of the song comes out in the Italian version ... have a Kleenex ready!

Lyrically, of course, you can expect a continuation of the great saga Rhapsody has written into new and exciting depths as well as an incredible anticipation for the next album! ;-) I am also glad to say that Rhapsody has included some lyrics and passages here about the beauty of our glorious Mother Earth - I love it! :-)

Basically, if you're a Rhapsody fan you need this album. If you're not, you should buy this album and become one! ;-) Enjoy it folks!

hello fellow metallians, i just have got to say that this album really grows on you over time. every album by rhapsody to me are all masterpieces in their own right, this cd continues the symphonic epic style that rhapsody has truly perfected and crafted into what is one of the most amazing styles of metal that i have ever heard. this album is truly epic in scope and full of memorable moments. i love the song never forgotten heros, it has some of the most beautiful intricate and delicatly slaying guitar work ever to emerge from the finger tips of luca turilli, this song is by far one of the best songs to ever be recorded by a symphonic band. fabio sings so perfectly on this album, never have i heard him put so much effort into his vocals as he has on this song(never forgotten heros) just listen to the main guitar solo. it will melt your mind. also the song unholy warcry is awesome, and typical rhapsody. from amazing power metal ballads to 10+minute epics, this cd keeps the rhapsody flame burning and shows that the future of rhapsody is to be as brilliant and majestic as their past. if you are new to the power metal scene and are interrested in hearing rhapsody and you wish to find out what all the hype about rhapsody is, or if you just want to hear for your self if they are truly as great as they are said to be then start out with the cd,(rhapsody-tales from the emerald sword saga) because it is a perfect way to get to know rhapsody. it has the best songs from their first 5 albums and is truly one of the greatest best of cd's ive ever heard. there are so many great power metal bands out today trying to keep the flame alive and i am so very thankfull for all of them. rhapsody are truly up there with the top 10 of the whole pack. so many bands are trying to immitate rhapsody and some of them are very good, but none of them can hope to compare with the masters of symphonic epic power metal RHAPSODY.
your friend and brother in metal, brandon whitson

I could go on forever about how much I love this CD, but instead I will give a brief description of each song.

The Dark Secret- This is a very atmospheric intro; it really sets the tone with great narration by Christopher Lee ("The Wizard King.") 10/10

Unholy Warcry- Typical Rhapsody goodness, with a great instrumental section, and more great narration by Christopher Lee. I don't care much for the little guitar doodle towards the end- it gets a bit repetitive. 9/10

Never Forgotten Heroes- It starts off very similar to "Wisdom of the Kings" on SoEL1, and then goes on to a very catchy chorus. 10/10

Elgard's Green Valleys- This is a very weak transition piece. 5/10

The Magic of the Wizard's Dream- This is an amazing Ballad. You have to hear it to believe it. 10/10

Erian's Mystical Rhymes- Interesting Monster Noises at the beginning, although you can't understand them, and so I usually just fast forward through the first minute. The rest of this ten minute song is very interesting. 9/10

The Last Angel's Call- A more typical Rhapsody song; it has a great tune and reminds me more of Riding the Wings of Eternity from the First SoEL. It is very catchy. 10/10

Dragonland's Rivers- Some stream and grunting noises for a minute- supposed to sound like a Dragon drinking from a stream I guess. It is a short, but beautiful ballad. 9/10

Sacred Power Of Raging Winds - My favorite Rhapsody Song!! Picture this: A band of heroes are walking through the snow, Christopher Lee is calling upon the gods to help them on their quest. Then, a heavy guitar comes out of the fog. Then there is a very catchy main melody, and a very intense second verse. This is followed by a great dialogue between the Demon King and his son, Fabio Lione. Then, the song transitions into an amazing 4 minute instrumental solo, with some crazy syncopation. This song also revisits Elgard's green valleys, which creates the impression the travelers have returned to that same village in the heart of battle, furthering the "Film" aspect of the album. 200/10

Guardiani del Destino- This is an amazing ballad, full of energy. Unfortunately, I don't know Italian, but it is still enjoyable to listen to! 9/10

Shadows Of Death- A more typical Rhapsody song again, but it seems like Fabio tries too hard on the vocals. Overall, an interesting song, though. Good synthesizer and guitar solos. 9/10

Nightfall on the Grey Mountains- It builds up to the chorus, then falls back down in the same manner. It is kind of an odd ending to such an amazing CD. 7/10

OVERALL: Definitely recommended to all Rhapsody fans, Metal fans, Rock Fans, and Lord of the Rings fans! (As Christopher Lee plays a big part of the album)

I was so happy to buy this new cd/dvd when it first came out ! I had just bought the Tales from the Emerald Sword Saga ( best of ) cause the real cd's where too expansive ! So I first bought the Dark Secret and I bought this one. It needs a bit more guitars but the orchestral parts are so good that's amazing ! Vocals are the best from Rhapsody I ever heard ! The new thign is that everything about "orchestral" are made by a real orchestre ! The Only album where you can really feel a great bass part!

1 - The Dark Secret ( Ira Divina ) : A great opener that drops you directly into the atmosphere of this new saga and Christopher Lee's speech is really interesting...2/5 'cause it's a bit too long

2- Unholy warcry ( long version different than the EP ) : Really amazing song ! What's more to say than : HELL YEAH ! 4/5

3- Never Forgotten heroes : Another amazing song : 5/5 one of my fav.

4 - Elgard's green valleys : Cool violon solo... but... 2.5/5

5 - The magic of the wizard's dream : A cool slow song that shows the best orchestral parts from this album... 3.5/5 Lyrics are better than the music

6 - Erian's mystical rhymes : My favorite song from this album ! It's too powerful, you can feel the power of this album ! The drum is amazing, guitars too, there's a bass part and that's really cool !!!!! 7/5

7 - The last angel's call : another real good one ! The keyboards intro reminds me of the ancient albums, the chorus is cool too !!! 6/5 !

8 - Dragonland's rivers : This is a weird song... It's a bit too happy ! 2/5

9 - Sacred power of raging winds : A REALLLLLL cool song ! My second fav on the album Great solos from luca Turilli! 5/5

10 - Guardiani del destino : Great epic song ! Orchestral parts are great ! A bit slow... 3/5

11 - Shadows of death : Great song, amazing guitar parts, orchestral parts and drum parts...WOW 5/5

12 - Nightfall on the grey mountains : That reminds me the end of the Two Towers ( LOTR ) Cause it finishes the album and the crew of warriors are on the top of the grey mountains... The intro and the end are really scary and puts you in a cool atmosphere ! 4/5

OVERALL : 4.5/5 !!!!!!!!

The booklet and the case from the Cd/DVD version IS SO COOL ! The greatest booklet i've ever seen ! They put so much cash on this album ! And for a fan of Epic/Speed Metal ( no true heavy metal ! ) It's amazing to read all the explanations in this booklet !

... but `it' has evolved somewhat.

Some aspects of the band are better than ever, and in other ways, they've weakened.

Songwriting-wise, they're less creative. Instrumental-wise, they're at their best ever.

Lyric-wise, I personally think they've lowered in standard. Because `The dark secret' is more of a concept album than the original `Symphony of enchanted lands,' the lyrics become more narrative rather than proclamative, if there ever was such a word, and to me this makes it weaker.

The narrations however have obviously improved, although I admit that the wimpy narrator of albums past never really bugged me. I just found it slightly funny.

In this CD, it's vocalist Fabio Lione who comes across as funny. His accent is way more Italian now, and his dialogue with his `demon dad' is kinda silly.

There's much less `balls' on this album, less relentless bass drum. They have become more orchestral, and this diminishes their appeal to me. I don't like them being called `film score metal,' because in the first place, I think their heavy metal music should be strong on its own without some movie-ness evoked.

As I said above, the instrumentals have become more wonderful than ever. Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli are truly creative gentlemen. I love the ideas.

I've only heard the entire album thrice, so my opinion is very subject to change. But here's my assessment of the songs:

Unholy warcry - Good start. Great instrumental section.

Never forgotten heroes - Great melodies.

Elgard's green valleys - A filler Renaissance-style melody.

The magic of the wizard's dream - As good a ballad as any they've done. They don't do that many as I reckon. Good melodies, they ripped off Lionel Richie's `Hello' for the verse.

Erian's mystical rhymes - Fantastic instrumental section.

The last angel's call - One of the better songs on the album, but I wish Fabio didn't sing in the past tense, didn't tell a story, during the chorus. It definitely weakens the song, especially when the chorus repeats and repeats at the end. The lyrics are like "Seven wizards came from distant lands, to meet kings, elves, dwarves and dragonlords." Who gives a damn? What happened to sword-raising lyrics such as "For the king, for the land, for the mountains, for the green valleys where dragons fly!"?

Dragonland's rivers - Don't like this. They should refrain from Renaissance-style music, without balls to back it up.

Sacred power of raging winds - Don't care much for this.

Guardiani del destino - A quite alright, non-ballsy song.

Shadows of death - Another great song, but they don't get sick of the main riff, while I kinda wean off it by the second verse. Still good job though. And of course the instrumental section is great.

Nightfall on the grey mountains - A weak ending. Much weaker than how `Symphony of enchanted lands' closed `Symphony of enchanted lands.'

And there's yet to be a part three for this `Symphony of enchanted lands' business. I do hope Christopher Lee is still alive then.

Finally I have had a chance to sit down and listen to Rhapsody's latest offering, their 5th studio release called "Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II ~The Dark Secret~". It's hard to believe it has been close to ten years now since these guys dropped a virtual bombshell on the metal world and catapulted the genre to new heights with their bombastically over-the-top "Legendary Tales" release. An album I often used to say threw everything at you AND the kitchen sink!

Perhaps now however, just the fact that the name of the new album from Rhapsody involves sequel numbering (Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II) suggests that their once amazingly original style is finally getting aged and might soon be seeing the end of the road. But, like a fine wine (or more appropriately cheese in this case!) they press on!

First off, don't get me wrong, this is a good record. Even great I suppose. The problem doesn't seem to be the songwriting, nor the singing or musicianship. It's just the apparent lack of something more to inject into the Rhapsody sound that appears to be the issue for me.

This time around (not unlike others in the Rhapsody catalog) we are visited first by eerie and distant sound effects and keyboards and the voice of a grizzled and wise narrator, who takes us through the story of Rhapsody's latest conceptual work and shows up during other songs throughout the album. It should be perfectly clear by now that all the guys in this outfit must have dressed up like their favorite characters from the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and stood in line for a week, waiting to see the movies each time they were released at the box office.

Although I expected the heavy influence of medieval themes and things like old world storybook narration, sounds of galloping horses and the demonic voices of villains from below...what I didn't expect was how much of an influence guitarist and band leader Luca Turilli has brought in from his latest solo album "Prophet Of The Last Eclipse"! Which was a big departure from the dragons and wizards we are accustomed to hearing about from Luca and Rhapsody alike, and went for a total futuristic science-fiction theme instead. (By the way...that album is awesome!)

On many of the tracks, the keyboards (which are omnipresent as ever!) bend away from the usual mandolin sound and orchestral grandeur and get downright spacey! I'm not sure if this really works next to the voice of what seems to be 100-year old Toilken himself speaking throughout the record and all of the intense operatics that are here too...but it does at least offer something different than before. You'll also hear the musical accompaniment of flutes and other woodwinds on this CD, as well as a full symphony orchestra (no surprise!) and even an opera tenor! Was this Luciano Pavarotti Turilli? Hmmmmm......???

I found myself quite refreshed on a couple of tracks in particular ("The Last Angel's Call" and "Sacred Power Of Raging Winds"), where the behemoth wall of sound that's always behind the music took a break for just a few moments so we could enjoy a little less complexity and just get into the pure power of the guitars and drums (keys too still!) and the talented men who play them.

There are other standouts for the usual Rhapsodine reasons here too. "Elgard's Green Valleys" and Erian's Musical Rhymes" are amazing songs and would surely land on any "best of" compilation I would put together from this band.

So all in all, it's definitely Rhapsody. Maybe packaged just a bit different this go around, and perhaps even more soupy than usual and that's no disappointment for sure. But I'm guessing we might have started to see the fall of this legendary outfit if they can't find a way to reinvent themselves in a direction that will satisfy both their undying legions till the end (the kind who would buy a Rhapsody disco album!) and those in the metal bretheren who are more fickle-hearted when it comes to exploring what's new under the sun.

I was so happy to buy this new cd/dvd when it first came out ! I had just bought the Tales from the Emerald Sword Saga ( best of ) cause the real cd's where too expansive ! So I first bought the Dark Secret and I bought this one. It needs a bit more guitars but the orchestral parts are so good that's amazing ! Vocals are the best from Rhapsody I ever heard ! The new thign is that everything about "orchestral" are made by a real orchestre ! The Only album where you can really feel a great bass part!

1 - The Dark Secret ( Ira Divina ) : A great opener that drops you directly into the atmosphere of this new saga and Christopher Lee's speech is really interesting...2/5 'cause it's a bit too long

2- Unholy warcry ( long version different than the EP ) : Really amazing song ! What's more to say than : HELL YEAH ! 4/5

3- Never Forgotten heroes : Another amazing song : 5/5 one of my fav.

4 - Elgard's green valleys : Cool violon solo... but... 2.5/5

5 - The magic of the wizard's dream : A cool slow song that shows the best orchestral parts from this album... 3.5/5 Lyrics are better than the music

6 - Erian's mystical rhymes : My favorite song from this album ! It's too powerful, you can feel the power of this album ! The drum is amazing, guitars too, there's a bass part and that's really cool !!!!! 7/5

7 - The last angel's call : another real good one ! The keyboards intro reminds me of the ancient albums, the chorus is cool too !!! 6/5 !

8 - Dragonland's rivers : This is a weird song... It's a bit too happy ! 2/5

9 - Sacred power of raging winds : A REALLLLLL cool song ! My second fav on the album Great solos from luca Turilli! 5/5

10 - Guardiani del destino : Great epic song ! Orchestral parts are great ! A bit slow... 3/5

11 - Shadows of death : Great song, amazing guitar parts, orchestral parts and drum parts...WOW 5/5

12 - Nightfall on the grey mountains : That reminds me the end of the Two Towers ( LOTR ) Cause it finishes the album and the crew of warriors are on the top of the grey mountains... The intro and the end are really scary and puts you in a cool atmosphere ! 4/5

OVERALL : 4.5/5 !!!!!!!!

The booklet and the case from the Cd/DVD version IS SO COOL ! The greatest booklet i've ever seen ! They put so much cash on this album ! And for a fan of Epic/Speed Metal ( no true heavy metal ! ) It's amazing to read all the explanations in this booklet !