In 1997 they attained with their debut “Legendary Tales” (1997, info) what only the fewest rock bands can claim. The original members of Rhapsody Of Fire, Luca Turilli (guitar), Fabio Lione (vocals) and Alex Staropli (keyboard) fabricated their own genre: ”Hollywood Metal” or ”Film Score Metal”, based on their epic power metal along with parts of classicism and film music but with folkloric touches, too, you can’t allocate their music to an already established category.
Around the turn of the millennium the typical aggressive metal took centre stage with albums like “Dawn Of Victory” (2000, info), “Rain Of A Thousand Flames” (2001, info), “Power Of The Dragonflame“ (2002, info), while since 2004 – specially on releases of the albums “Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret“ (2004, info) and “Triumph Or Agony“ (2006, info | shop) – epic elements stood in the focus and became their provisional peak in the orchestral “The Frozen Tears Of Angels” (2010, info | shop). In spite of the certainty that the moment of the former production of the year 2010 was deployed to work on “From Chaos To Eternity” (2011, info | shop) without a break, a return to traditional and more rocking virtues set in, though the self-created musical stamping ground wasn’t disregarded for only a second.
After 15 years of amity, drudgery and big ferventness, a lot of energy spent on the creation of symphonic music and an epic saga which will be preserved in the history of heavy metal, Alex Staropoli and Luca Turilli resolved to a friendly breakup.
“10 albums released and the end of the saga represent, musically and lyrically, an important artistic goal finally reached, underlined by the success of our last release “From Chaos To Eternity”, for which we want to thank our wonderful fans once again. Now the time has come that new artistic stimulations need to be found, in respect of both parts’ visions and perspectives and of our long-time friendship” declared Luca and Alex.
On ground of latest allowable arrangements, it was resolved that Alex Staropoli will still remain with Rhapsody Of Fire having Fabio Lione, Tom Hess, Alex Holzwarth, Alex’ brother Oliver Holzwarth and the guitarist Roberto De Micheli, while Luca Turilli will form his new band with the name LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY.
The first change to witness the band with the new band members Roberto De Micheli and Oliver Holzwarth live on stage is possibly during their upcoming world tour- tour dates will be published in a short while. Stay tuned for the return of the legendary film score metallers!
Fabio Lione (Vocals)
Roberto De Micheli (Guitars)
Alex Staropoli (Keyboards, Harpsichord, Piano)
Oliver Holzwarth (Bass)
Alex Holzwarth (Drums, Percussion)
Tom Hess (Guitars)
