Review Summary: The best power metal album of 2011, neo classical wankery in your ass. m/
When Rhapsody of Fire posted the song ‘Aeons of Raging Darkness’ for immediate listening and a free download, I must say that I was unimpressed. It sounded like the band had surrendered subtlety, and decided to implement as much cheese and bombast as possible, all into an insanely chaotic, and much too cluttered sound. At least, that is how it sounded when it was by itself, and not within the context of the whole album. You see,
From Chaos to Eternity is an album that sinks in slowly. If it isn’t digested properly, the immediate reaction will be to vomit it out, as if something detestable. If you’ve never liked the band before, this is the time to either give them a try, or run away as far as possible. This is the band at their best, and while there will be haters aplenty for one of the cheesiest bands in existence, there will also be those that understand the importance of this release – this is easily one of their best albums.
In one sense we should have seen this coming, yet it’s still completely unexpected. With the addition of a new guitarist, Tom Hess, the band can now only be described as batshit fucking insane. Nearly every second gives way to blisteringly fast, technical guitar work that is unlike anything you have heard before. The band is also much heavier as a result, with black metal shrieks happening surprisingly often. While these changes are already a lot to process, confusion results when the band’s entire catalogue of sounds is unleashed. Choirs, orchestras, operatic vocals, and spoken lines all collide into a frantic mess of pure chaos. All the while toying with time signatures, the album has a sense of urgency, and it is only fitting for the end of the band’s 14 year long story, The Chronicles Of Algalord. Somehow, they have ended the saga on the perfect note.
From Chaos to Eternity is not only one of Rhapsody of Fire’s greatest albums, but it also proves that power metal is not a dying genre. This album must not be missed.
