Band : Rhapsody Of Fire
Album title : The Frozen Tears Of Angels
Label : Nuclear Blast GMBH
Distributor : Nuclear Blast - Pias
Release Date : 15/04/2010
Release : CD

It's been four years since Rhapsody Of Fire's latest release Triumph Of Agony, but finally here they are back with new work, and, for the true fans, you can be assured.  It's still the classical Rhapsody sound, and yes, the themes they're writing about are also still the same. 

As on previous albums they could count on Christopher Lee (the younger people amongst us might only know him from his role as Saruman in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, the older might remember him playing countless roles in the sixties/seventies e.g. as Dracula, or other mostly creepy characters), although I must admit that they've been overdoing it a bit on some songs. Having more or less followed the career from Rhapsody Of Fire since their beginnings, when they were called Rhapsody, it seems as though I've heard it al before.  Not that this album is bad, far from it, but as I said, there's nothing new.  Some bombastic power metal with epic themes, mixed with some medieval and classical influences and that's it.  Beautifully performed and arranged, even if it seems that on this album the orchestral effect is less prominent than on their previous albums.

Rhapsody fans shouldn't hesitate and buy this album, since they know what they will get, as should fans of epic symphonic metal, cause even if I've got a few remarks, it is a good album.  Nothing new, but decent steadfast quality.

90/100

Erik Morren.