Single review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Brave New Hope

AFM Records [out now]

Rhapsody Of Fire’s vocalist, Giacomo Voli sounds more like Brother Firetribe’s Pekka Heino every day. Or maybe it’s the other way round. Those expressive vocals, bringing a lyric to life, are hard to match.

‘Brave New Hope’ is the first teaser trailer from the band’s forthcoming album (their 14th), Challenge The Wind, due out next month.

It’s a good choice, illustrating just why songwriter, keyboard player, band leader, producer, Alex Staropoli has come to be described as Melodic Symphonic Metal’s “Film Score Composer”.
His spine tingling orchestrations are the perfect backdrop to Voli’s “reach for the stars” vocals.
It’s glorious stuff, packing a considerable melodic punch, with Staropoli maintaining a strong producer’s grip on the soaring choruses.

A truly magnificent listen. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 27 January 2025

MARINA V Symphony & Metal (indie)
TOUGH ON FRIDAYS Nosedive (Golden Robot Records)
ROYAL SORROW Evergreen (InsideOut Music)
H.E.A.T. Disaster (earMUSIC)
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR Grayer Than Blue (Journeyman Records)
ELLIS MANO BAND Count Me In (SPV)
MADELINE HAWTHORNE Ghost In A Shell (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 27 January 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)