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RHAPSODY OF FIRE Challenge The Wind By Daniel Höhr, European Correspondent Saturday, June 1, 2024 @ 8:07 AM
One thing RHAPSODY OF FIRE can certainly not be accused of is deviation from their signature style or introducing surprising elements into their material. So if anyone expects any novelties or musical revelations on this album, they're in for a nasty disappointment. I'm not saying there is no development in comparison to the last two studio efforts. On the first part of The Nephilim's Empire Saga, The Eighth Mountain (2019), RHAPSODY OF FIRE came across as extraordinarily massive and heavy. The second part, the 2021 effort Glory Of Salvation was dominated by choral bombast, which, frankly speaking, took the cheesiness inherent to the band's genre to an entirely new dimension. Now, two and a half years later, Staropoli and his bandmates have cut down on the choirs and, the album title says it all, embark on an octane-fuelled fight against the wind. From the opening faster-than-190-bpm title track onwards, RHAPSODY OF FIRE let you hardly catch your breath. In addition to the first number "The Bloody Pariah" and "Holy Downfall" exceed the 190 bpm mark. Tempowise, "A Brave New Hope" shifts down a gear and almost seems like a mid-tempo number in comparison the ubiquitious prestissimo movements on the album. Everything seems more compact, more to the point on Challenge The Wind and one thing that distinguishes the album is that it has no unnecessary lengths and no superfluous filler material.
There are notable exceptions, though. The Death Metal growls and riffing on "Vanquished By Shadows" are refreshing and provide a welcome change to the sonic landscape of the album. The acoustic guitar and the ballad-esque feel at the beginning of the gloomy and stomping "Mastered By The Dark" make this closing track a true highlight of the album, also because of its clever and effective arrangement and instrumentation.
Sound-wise, the album has a homogeneous and crystal clear sound, thanks to mix, which was in the most capable hands of Seeb Levermann. It does lack the heavy edge of earlier albums and seems a bit tame every now and then but its almost symphonic quality makes up for this.
RHAPSODY OF FIRE fans and Symphonic Metal aficionados will enjoy the album a lot and that's what it's all about. Anyone looking for innovative and diversified rock and metal music will be disappointed.
3.5 Out Of 5.0
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