RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Challenge The Wind Tour
17 November 2024 – Nieuwe Nor – Heerlen – The Netherlands

Tonight, in my hometown the audience was treated to some happy metal from Freedom Call and later on to 100% pure symphonic power metal from Rhapsody Of Fire. At 20:15 on a cold Sunday night German happy metallers Freedom Call – being: Chris Bay (vocals, guitar), Lars Rettkowitz (guitar), Francesco Ferraro (bass guitar) and Ramy Ali (drums) – kicked off their gig with A Perfect Day from their Legend Of The Shadowking album and immediately the tone was set, as we all know this was going to be a “happy” gig indeed.

Frontman and founder of Freedom Call Chris Bay entertained the audience vocally and the band, with their typical sound, gave the audience what they wanted: pure, no-nonsense hard rock/metal in the veins of notorious bands like Helloween, Gamma Ray, Sinner and Primal Fear. Freedom Call has been in the music business for twenty-five years and from their last album Silver (get it??) Romance only two tracks – Out Of Space and the title track – were played. The songs that got the best response from the small, but enthusiastic crowd, were Warriors, Metal Is For Everyone and Land Of Light, closing the gig in a very positive way indeed.

Then it was time for some Italian symphonic power metal as Rhapsody Of Fire hit the stage after the dark, serene voice of Christopher Lee “invited” us into the Dark Secret, being the first song of the fantastic Symphony Of Enchanted Lands 2: The Dark Secret album (2004). Of course, this was followed by Unholy Warcry, which set the venue on fire, as founder member Staropoli (keys), Roberto De Micheli (guitar), Allesandro Sala (bass guitar), Paolo Marchesich (drums) and the amazing vocalist Giacomo Voli really raged the stage full blast with their bombastic power metal sound. From Rhapsody’s latest album Challenge The Wind, their 14th studio album, only three tracks (Kreel’s Magic Staff, Diamond Claws and Challenge The Wind) were played and to me these three songs were also the least appealing ones of the setlist.
True highlights, after Unholy Warcry, were the truly bombastic, filmlike, anthemic The March Of The Swordmaster from Power Of The Dragonflame (2002), March Against The Tyrant (full speed ahead, but also with beautiful dreamy passages), featuring awesome vocals by “new” singer Voli and the title track of Rhapsody’s third album Dawn Of Victory; ending the regular set in true power metal style, as that chorus is so overwhelming, reminding me of a true Italian dramatic opera indeed.

Then it was time for the encores, kicking off with the neck breaking, up tempo Reign Of Terror, from The Frozen Tears Of Angels album (2010), followed by Kreel’s Magic Staff, a new song from their last album packed with impressive melodies and dramatic/emotional vocals. The two closing songs Land Of Immortals from their debut album (1997) and Emeral Sword from their second album, belong to my favourite Rhapsody songs ever, as they truly capture their specific, unique Italian symphonic power metal sound, especially the choruses are 100% singalong to anthems! So, Rhapsody Of Fire played an excellent set and for me these guys could have played a couple songs more, for instance The Mighty Ride Of The Firehood, Sacred Power Of Raging Winds or Tales Of A Hero’s Fate… maybe next time, as I would really love to hear this band again in the near future; awesome gig indeed!!

Review and photos by Martien Koolen