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Rhapsody was an Italian power metal band who released several albums before having to change their name to Rhapsody Of Fire in 2006. Luca Turilli was a member of that band until last year, when he and bassist Patrice Guers left to form Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody. Their debut album is Ascending To Infinity.

In addition to Turilli, the band members include guitarist Dominique Leurquin, who was a live member of Rhapsody Of Fire and played in another Turilli project, Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest.


Alex Landenburg (At Vance) is the drummer (although Rhapsody Of Fire's Alex Holzwarth played on the album), and Alessandro Conti the vocalist.

Ascending To Infinity is a very cinematic effort, with a lot of orchestral elements, layered atmosphere and choirs. The songs are bombastic with solid guitar riffs. The band varies things a bit, such as the folk-influenced into to “Excalibur.”

Conti is an excellent singer. He has a wide range and can easily hit the high notes. He also sings with a lot of emotion and a hint of vibrato that gives his voice more gravitas. “Tormento E Passione" is sung in Italian with both male and female vocals, and is one of the strongest songs on the album.

The album is certainly ambitious, and when it clicks on all cylinders the results are outstanding. Tracks such as “Clash Of The Titans” are memorable and catchy. And while the songs are all painstakingly constructed, some of them are style over substance. The symphonic elements and choirs overshadow the core of the song because that core of melody and riffs isn’t quite up to par.

Thankfully that’s only the case on a couple of songs. When that base of melody, hooks, etc. is strong, it is accentuated and spotlighted by the other elements, not drowned out.

The most ambitious song on the album is the epic 16 minute closer “Of Michael The Archangel and Lucifer’s Fall.” Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody manages to maintain interest throughout the lengthy track, an impressive feat. It’s another flawless arrangement with a lot of ebbs and flows that encapsulates the entire album.

Fans of Rhapsody Of Fire and Turilli’s solo material know exactly what to expect with Ascending To Infinity: cinematic and epic symphonic power metal. Though sometimes over the top (especially the cheesy narration), it meets expectations and raises the stakes for Rhapsody Of Fire to meet or exceed this on their next album.

(released July 3, 2012 on Nuclear Blast Records)



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