Review by Adam M on February 8, 2023.

This album has an old school Paradise Lost vibe to it combined with tons of In Mourning feel that makes the music emotional and heartfelt and carries a weight of sadness with it. The pure motivational quality of the sound is very touching and carries you forward with the melodies that really shine through while having a very wide array of influences. Music featured on this album really shines through and makes this a very nice album to listen to and will also win you over and have you fall in love with the band quickly.

In terms of musicianship, the guitars feature a melodious edge to them that is a highlight here, but combined with the deep growl and singing that is clean, it makes for a grand type of impact with its tone and is boosting this record into higher planes and makes it quite wondrous to behold. The drumming and bass are solid and lay a proper rumble to the foundation and to what is being presented so all in all, the musicianship on the album is great and made for another highlight to the disc. As a matter of fact it all gels together nicely into a highly morose melodic epic.

In my opinion, if there is a flaw to be found in the album, it lies in how at some moments it sounds sort of syrupy and trying to pull on emotional strings that aren’t there. This leads to bringing the emotions down a little, but this is still very potent stuff. It is a highly entertaining set of songs that comes together well nonetheless and leads to an emotional impact upon the listener. Fans of melancholic doom metal will find a lot to like here.

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Review by Jack on November 4, 2001.

Above all else, Rhapsody’s latest; “Rain of a Thousand Flames” is an experience in jollity. Rhapsody’s overblown compositions should tell us Rhapsody are having as much fun making this record as what I am listening to it. Meant to be a little teaser to their full-length album coming in February 2002 on Limb Music Products and is specially priced due to it being only 42 minutes in length. But this is the sort of album I would definitely pay full price for.

‘Symphonic Epic Hollywood Metal’, dubbed by Limb Music Productions; that should tell half of what “Rain of a Thousand Flames” is all about. It is clear that Hollywood often does not take itself seriously, and Rhapsody follow whole-heartedly in their footsteps. If you thought some of Children of Bodom’s keyboard integration on their last two albums were mad, you have seen nothing yet. The difference is that while Children of Bodom’s seemed forced and slightly out of place for more serious tunes, Rhapsody’s are more enjoyable and fit better with the melodramatic stylings of the “Rain of a Thousand Flames”.

What is interesting and unique about “Rain of a Thousand Flames” is that there is an enormous lack of single man normal vocals. There is lot of speaking and telling of fantastical deeds and stories, but there is very little singing in the normal power metal sense of the word. This is a good thing, and adds to the mystery of the album and the world Rhapsody thrusts you into. Epic choirs and spoken passages are more the norm than the standard power vocals. Vocalist Fabio Lione does an excellent job of not taking a front seat like many power bands do. Balance is one of the strongest features of “Rain of a Thousand Flames”.

“Rain of a Thousand Flames” is split into two sections. The first three tracks give an introduction for the onslaught which will follow next; the next four tracks fall under the name of ‘Rhymes of a Tragic Poem: The Gothic Saga’ and incorporate their songs together something like Iced Earth’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes” and the ‘Something Wicked Trilogy’, but being slightly more dynamic in proportions.

This is one of my favourite power albums of the year and should propel Rhapsody further away from the other power metal bands in the race. My only gripe with “Rain of a Thousand Flames” is while being overblown and enjoyable, it can sometimes be too pompous and silly the beginning to ‘Queen of the Dark Horizons’ comes to mind. That small smear on Rhapsody’s latest aside, this is a fully fun and exciting release.

Bottom Line: Rhapsody’s “Rain of a Thousand Flames” is an aesthetic and tasteful release that tells a story that actually works. That alone is rare. But to have a story and good metal is even rarer. Those two points should hint that buying “Rain of a Thousand Flames” might be a good idea, if not than me telling you now should.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10