When an album begins with the spoken words of none other than Christopher Lee, reciting words like these, it can mean only one thing:

It was a good time for all creatures of the earth, but fate decreed that the Dark Prophecy of a Demonknight could bring a tragic end to this peace, scarring their lives forever. Only one person could cross the darklands surrounding Hargor and venture deep into the caves of Dar-Kunor. His is a name the world will never forget

He is Dargor

Yes, it's Rhapsody! Luca Turlulli's prolific Italian five piece have the market cornered in Operatic Dungeons and Dragons Pomp Metal. "The Dark Secret" is another slab of the trademark sound, a hybrid of power metal and Hollywood film score, the shredding guitars accompanied with choirs and orchestras to make a huge epic wall of sound. It's way over the top, and totally beyond parody; the sort of stuff which makes The Darkness look po-faced and serious. The sound alternates between speed metal, big operatic choruses, and atmospheric cinematic soundscapes. I guarantee you will either love this, or run screaming from the room in terror.

With just five tracks and a total running time of 29 minutes, this is a really a taster for their forthcoming full-length album.

Interesting The last track, "Non Ho Sonno" (sung in Italian) isn't actually performed by Rhapsody themselves, but by a band called Goblin (of whom I know little), but with additional production by Rhapsody's Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli.

(An earlier review, by Marty Dodge, appears here)