Rhapsody of Fire - I'll Be Your Hero

Rhapsody of Fire

I'll Be Your Hero

by Kevin Lewis at 20 June 2021, 3:09 PM

RHAPSODY OF FIRE is an Italian Symphonic/Power Metal band formed in 1993. One of the first in the symphonic genre, they have released 12 studio albums and this is the third EP of their storied career. "I’ll Be Your Hero" was released on June 4, 2021 through AFM Records. Comprised of new and previously released material, this is set to be the precursor to a new full-length album.

“I’ll Be Your Hero” is a brand-new track and a single as well. The song has a nice catchy hook and good use of vocal layering to create a wall of sound that fills the space. Manu’s drum work is fantastic and Alessandro’s bass line is excellent. They provide a rhythm that really mirrors the riff and bolsters the whole song. The guitar solo is a great fit for the song and the keyboards amplify everything, making this an epic song. And that note Giacomo hits at the end of the song? Pure, epic Power Metal goodness.

Adding in some wind instruments, “Where Dragons Fly” could be part of the soundtrack for a fantasy movie set in medieval times. The pace is more melodic and soothing, using backing vocals and alternating tempos and time signatures to create a tale that sets the stage for a journey into battle.

The next two songs were recorded live in 2019 on the previous tour. “Rain Of Fury” is the journey promised in the previous song. For the fans of Power Metal, the guitar work will surely leave them in ecstasy. The pace of this song is furiously fast and really gets the blood pumping. This is followed by “The Courage To Forgive,” a mid-tempo song that trudges along at the beginning before ramping up for the chorus. The keyboard work in this song is exquisite. The song sounds massive and truly feels like an epic story.

The last four songs on the record are the same, though done in four languages; English, Italian, Spanish and French. This is the ballad of the record. It’s the heroes theme song. The song builds throughout and hits a massive crescendo before fading out. It feels like the hero has returned home, victorious.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE are no strangers to telling epic tales that span multiple records. Epic tales, massive sonic journeys, that is this bands specialty. Once again, they have created a world in which to get lost, a story in which to immerse yourself. This is the soundtrack needed to escape your regular life. It will carry you away to a faraway land where you can relax and let the music remind you of times long past, where dragons roamed and heroes battled great monsters.

Songwriting:  9
Musicianship:  9
Memorability:  8
Production:  8