Il classico boato del pubblico che precede ogni live viene di colpo interrotto da una base musicale: violini, cori, un canto in latino: i “Mighty Warriors of Metal” sono tornati, in tutto il loro splendore, presentati dalla baritonale voce di Christopher Lee.
Il concerto si apre con “Unholy Warcry”: Lione si concede nell’intro in una serie di vocalizzi ottimamente eseguiti: l’esecuzione è perfetta da parte di tutti, grintosa, più “cattiva” rispetto alla versione dell’album. L’unica cosa che manca è l’assolo completo di Turilli. La canzone scivola via veloce [voto 8], per poi passare a “Wisdom of the Kings”, una delle migliori dell’intero live. Potente come non mai, si sente spesso la chitarra di Turilli in punti dove ce l’eravamo dimenticata (o meglio, dove non l’avevamo mai sentita) rendendo così il brano molto più “metal”. [voto: 9]
Passiamo oltre: molto buona anche “The Village of Dwarves”, con i suoi ritmi molto simili a quelli di una ballata o di un canto scozzese, nella quale Lione interagisce parecchio con il pubblico di Montreal [voto 7]. Il vero fulcro dell’intero album è molto probabilmente “Erian's Mystical Rhymes”, allungata di parecchio, concedendo ai singoli elementi della band di esibirsi in ottimi assoli (eccelso quello di Guers, di cui spesso e volentieri ci si dimentica, purtroppo) [voto 9]. “Dawn of Victory” è forse la traccia che meno mi ha ispirato… pesante, la meno briosa… non male, per carità, ma comunque inferiore rispetto alle altre canzoni (a parte l’assolo di Turilli) [voto 6/7]
Occorre soffermarsi su “Lamento Eroico”… Lione tira fuori gli “attributi” con una voce che mai ci aveva mostrato, quasi esclusivamente lirica… riuscendo a regalare emozioni fortissime, soprattutto nelle ultime battute... sembra di vedere veramente il “guerriero del ghiaccio” (il protagonista della “Emerald Sword Saga”) sul punto di morire, al terminare della sua vita… da pelle d’oca gente... [voto 10].
Interessante anche “Nightfall on the Grey Mountains”, della quale viene solamente riportata una parte, data la lunghezza del brano originale [voto 7].
Le ultime due canzoni sono quasi dei “classici” dei Rhapsody: “The March of the Swordmaster” è introdotta da il classico motivetto medioevale, per poi passare ad una voce quasi in growl da parte di Lione. [voto 8 e mezzo].
“Emerald Sword”, l’ultima canzone a parte il “Gran Finale” (una sorte di standing ovation del quale si poteva fare a meno) è intrisa di forti emozioni da parte del pubblico, che canta assieme a Lione per tutta la canzone. [voto 8 e mezzo]
Concludendo, un ottimo live [da ricordare il fatto che i Rhapsody l’abbiamo registrato durante un concerto DI SUPPORTO ai Manowar] che merita l’acquisto, nei quali i nostri amati (odiati da molti) ragazzi italiani ci mostrano che ci sanno fare anche dal vivo.
Elenco tracce e testi
02 Emerald Sword (06:06)
I crossed the valleys the dust of midlands
To search for the third key to open the gates
Now I'm near the altar the secret inside
As legend told I need a sword like a dragon's eyes
On the way to the glory I'll offer my sword
To serve right ideals and justice for all
Finally happened the sun hit their eyes
The spell was creating strange games of light
Thanks to hidden mirrors I found my lost way [it's not "hidden mirrors"]
Over the stones I reached the place it was a secret cave
In a long bloody battle that prophecies told
The light will prevail as wisdom is gold
For the king for the land for the mountains
For the green valleys where dragons fly
For the glory the power to win the black lord
I will search for the emerald sword
Only a warrior with a clear heart
Could have the honour to be kissed by the sun
Yes I am that warrior I followed my way
Led by the force of cosmic souls I can reach the sword
On the way to the glory I'll offer my sword
To serve right ideals and justice for all
For the king for the land for the mountains
For the green valleys where dragons fly
For the glory the power to win the black lord
I will search for the emerald sword
04 Unholy Warcry (05:31)
IN THE DARK LIES A SECRET
IN THE MYSTIC SEVENTH BLACK BOOK
NEKRON'S DARK WORDS
HE IS KRON, KRON'S DISCIPLE
HE IS SWORN TO RETURN
TO AVENGE THE LOST DIVINE WARS
Algalord arise, greater than before
time of peace, not of war
Shouts of freedom from the castle walls
Freedom in the land and
hope for all
hope for all
INTO THE SILENT, DARK AND FORGOTTEN
CAVES OF DAR-KUNOR
DEEP IN THE SECRET BOOK IS AWAITING
UNHOLY WARCRY
NEKRON PROMISED BLOODY TERROR
BRINGING DEATH AND HATE TO THE NEW WORLD
From the rocky mountains to the golden sea
to the barbarians' sacred hills
From the icy north and misty lakes
to the walls of Seth and elvish plains
all beware!
INTO THE SILENT, DARK AND FORGOTTEN
CAVES OF DAR-KUNOR
DEEP IN THE SECRET BOOK IS AWAITING
UNHOLY WARCRY
NEKRON PROMISED BLOODY TERROR
BRINGING DEATH AND HATE TO THE NEW WORLD
Torment, pain and bloody rain... Nekron's resurrection
They must kill the demon king or fight another war
"Only one person could have crossed the darklands sorrounding Hargor
and venture forth deep into the caves of Dar-Kunor...
His is a name the world will never forget...
He is Dargor!"
He is the chosen one
he walked out through the darkness
he met the wisdom's light
chosen to find the last dark rhymes
the last rhymes of hell
HE IS KRON, KRON'S DISCIPLE
HE IS SWORN TO RETURN
TO AVENGE THE LOST DIVINE WARS
There was only one who knew the way
he lived in the dark, lonely caves
the demon of the night could save the day
should they take a chance or run away...
Dargor was his name!
INTO THE SILENT, DARK AND FORGOTTEN
CAVES OF DAR-KUNOR
DEEP IN THE SECRET BOOK IS AWAITING
UNHOLY WARCRY
NOW THEY SWORE TO BAND TOGETHER
ON A SACRED JOURNEY
CALLED BY FATE, TIME TO BE GREAT
UNHOLY WARCRY
NEKRON PROMISED BLOODY TERROR
BRINGING DEATH AND HATE TO THE NEW WORLD
05 Wisdom Of The Kings (04:20)
Removed the stones which hide the cave
blind and dark along my way
I must go on wise and brave before a last hail
At the end of floor stairs of ancient stone
lead me to a vision, an unreal hall
And they appear in front of me
lightened by a mystic flame
A new dimension I have to face beyond the gates
I can not believe oh what now I see
when the two demons awake from the sleep
Holy dragons keepers of time
Ride brave the blue skies and spell my eyes
Fly beyond these hills ride on the wind
The wisdom of the kings
Lost in a dream I'm under the spell
of this sunny magic land
But Aresius said: Become aware! All can hide the hell...
Now it's time to go to the mighty sword
it's time to follow the kings' holy call
Holy dragons keepers of time
Ride brave the blue skies and spell my eyes
Fly beyond these hills ride on the wind
The wisdom of the kings...
06 The Village Of Dwarves (03:58)
The dwarves of Lork are showing all their honour
when you walk on the Gandor secret hill
The dance for fire and wind
and the stories about old kings
are pleasing our brave lords
down in the village of dwarves
The elves are playing under timeless willows
while blue and red paint all my beloved land
The dance for fire and wind
and the stories about old kings
are pleasing our brave lords
down in the village of dwarves
The eagle's eye is hiding something tragic
but in this night the red wine rules in me
The dance for fire and wind
and the stories about old kings
are pleasing our brave lords
down in the village of dwarves
And all night long me Arwald and Aresius
we speak, we laugh, we honor our king
The dance for fire and wind
and the stories about old kings
are pleasing our brave lords
down in the village of dwarves
The eagle's eye is hiding something tragic
but in this night the red wine rules in me
The dance for fire and wind
and the stories about old kings
are pleasing our brave lords
down in the village of dwarves
And time has come now to ride
before the end of the night
the march of the swordmaster
to the unholy fight
And time has come now to ride
before the end of the night
the march of the swordmaster
to the unholy fight
unholy fight
unholy fight
08 Dawn Of Victory (06:16)
Fire is raging on the battlefield
while arwald is fighting the war of the kings
the army of dargor, the thunder, the storm
so people are calling the brave and his sword
no time left to save the wise throne!
Shades of a past not so far to forget...
the rise of the demons from their bloody hell!
So come mighty warrior to light the last hope
for Tharos the dragon and your cosmic soul...
Now handle your emerald sword!
For Ancelot
the ancient cross of war
for the holy town of gods
gloria,gloria perpetua
in this dawn of victory
The ride of the dead and their practice of pain
is pounding in him as a terrific quake
you're closer and closer, now follow the smell
with your holy armor and the steel in your hand
fly angel of bloody revenge!
For Ancelot
the ancient cross of war
for the holy town of gods
gloria,gloria perpetua
in this dawn of victory
Tragic and furious the clash of the steel of the gods
that so magic the power, the sword in his valorous hands
Oceans of fire are blasting the throne of the demons
and from distant red skies and thunders are calling his name
the name of the master of pain
For Ancelot
the ancient cross of war
for the holy town of gods
gloria,gloria perpetua
in this dawn of victory...
Gloria,gloria perpetua
In this dawn of victory...!
09 Lamento Eroico (04:45)
Langue in me l�eco infranto
al truce sguardo dell�angelo cieco
rovina in me l�antica rima
nel cuor del cigno ferito � morente...
Cosmi di eternit� tradita
di verit� svanite che ora versano
lacrime d�addio in un vuoto nero...
sincero � fiero al mio destino andr�...
Urla il tuono!!
al mio lamento eroico
sorte...consuma la realt�!
Spiriti di mondi arcani
chiedo la vita al di l� della morte
per allinear le stelle amiche
� diventar guardiano celeste
Custode di eternit� guarita
di verit� trovate per tutti i figli di madre terra...
sempre a lei ho dato la vita...la morte...
si continuer�!
Urla il tuono!!
al mio lamento eroico
sorte... consuma la realt�! (X2)
11 The March Of The Swordmaster (05:07)
Ride.... die..... sacrifice!
Along the river of bloody tears
the mighty steel shining in my hands
we march and honor our brothers
victims of Kron's evil plan
We cross the lakes of the holy woods
to reach the ocean where red waves rule
the black king is moving to Algalord
this is the time.... he has to be stopped!
HAIL, HAIL!
...Brave swordmaster!
MARCH, MARCH!
...Great swordmaster!
and I ask the wind for the fall of the king...!
INTO THE RAY OF THE SUN
MARCH OUR HERO HUNTING THE DARKLORD
REBORN FROM THE BLOOD OF HIS GOD...
HIS GOD...THE WARMASTER KRON
RIDE FOR THE FALL OF HIS POWER
FIGHTING THE STORM, THE ROAR OF THE THUNDER
ALLY OF THE SUN AND THE MOON...
GREAT SWORDMASTER RULE!
Between the waves of the raging sea
echoes of warcries and battle hymns
the underworld's armies found their ancient queen
the funeral march in the depths of the abyss
The terror which strikes the honor which prays
will be face to face in the mortal doomsday
resist my fierce soldiers their vision can kill
it will test your corage... and your will to live
HAIL, HAIL!
...Brave swordmaster!
MARCH, MARCH!
...Great swordmaster!
and I ask the wind for the fall of the king...!
INTO THE RAY OF THE SUN
MARCH OUR HERO HUNTING THE DARKLORD
REBORN FROM THE BLOOD OF HIS GOD...
HIS GOD...THE WARMASTER KRON
RIDE FOR THE FALL OF HIS POWER
FIGHTING THE STORM, THE ROAR OF THE THUNDER
ALLY OF THE SUN AND THE MOON...
GREAT SWORDMASTER RULE!
To avenge all those cries I will rise to the sky
to defend mother life..
Ride... die... sacrifice!
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