Rhapsody is an Italian Symphonic Power Metal band, formerly known as Thundercross.
In 1997 Rhapsody released their debut album, Legendary Tales. Co-founders Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli created an epic sound with this first album. Although neo-classical metal had existed previously, Rhapsody incorporated classical music, baroque and heavy metal styles in a new sub- genre known as " Hollywood metal". The classical influences include such composers as Vivaldi, Bach and Paganini. The band also shows power metal influences and fantasy themes.
In the years that followed, Turilli and Staropoli, joined by Fabio Lione on vocals, developed this new sound with their albums Symphony of Enchanted Lands (1998), Dawn of Victory (2000), Rain of a Thousand Flames (2001), and Power of the Dragonflame (2002). They wrote pieces such as "Emerald Sword", drawing on Russian folklore and Celtic style elements and creating what was known as the " Emerald Sword Saga".
Turilli is the band's lyricist, as well as guitarist. His lyrics often refer to mystical lore from the medieval age and the heroic valor of those times, highlighting in particular the everlasting fight between good and evil. "Evil can be found everywhere," says Turilli. "But it will never win as long as there are enough good people who fight against it." While Turilli writes the lyrics and guitar riffs, the composition of the classical music is all Staropoli's doing.
Christopher Lee was involved in their last project, narrating part of the storyline. This album, labeled Symphony of Enchanted Lands Ⅱ: The Dark Secret, was a follow-up to the Emerald Sword Saga and was released in 2004.
