Band:	Rhapsody
Album:	Dawn Of Victory
Style:	Symphonic power metal
Release date:	November 28, 2000
A review by:	wrathchild

Disc I
01. Lux Triumphans
02. Dawn Of Victory
03. Triumph For My Magic Steel
04. The Village Of Dwarves
05. Dargor, Shadowlord Of The Black Mountain
06. The Bloody Rage Of The Titans
07. Holy Thunderforce
08. Trolls In The Dark
09. The Last Winged Unicorn
10. The Mighty Ride Of The Firelord

Disc II [Limited Edition Boxset]
01. Guardians [Helloween cover]
02. The Mighty Ride Of The Firelord [edit version]
03. Holy Thunderforce [alternate version]
04. Triumph For My Magic Steel [alternate version]
05. Multimedia Track Featuring:
+ Holy Thunderforce [video]
+ Epicus Furor - Emerald Sword [video]
+ Wisdom Of The Kings [video]
+ Algalord Chronicles I, II III
+ Photo Gallery
+ Track Commentary
+ History
+ Screensaver [for PC use only]

Third chapter of the Algalord Chronicles created by the founding fathers of the Italian band, Luca Turilli (guitars) & Alex Staropoli (keyboards), this album takes the music of Rhapsody to a more stereotypical extent: fast music, with the same way of singing (especially in choruses), with less exclusively symphonic passages, with more guitars... closer to real power metal than before.

It starts with some narration, and then an orchestral introduction, which express more despair than hope, when the title of the album could have made you think of a happier story.
Then the title track, Dawn of Victory: it's the first time the title track isn't the last and 10th track on a Rhapsody album.
It's a speedy song, with a good guitar riff, but the end consists in the repetition of the chorus... that wouldn't be bad if it was the only track to end like this, but unfortunately, Dargor Shadowlord Of The Black Mountain and Holy Thunderforce also repeat their chorus as an ending. Those 3 songs are the catchiest ones, with some good riffs and typical choruses that you can easily sing along. Holy Thunderforce, the single from the album, is heavier than the previous releases of the band, even in the lyrics and the vocals.
There are no bad songs on this album, but no one is really original. All have fewer orchestrations than before, mainly because Turilli's amazing guitar playing (excellent sweeping technique) is present on nearly all of them. The drumming is also more traditional double bass lines throughout the songs. And the bass guitar appears less important than before.

I'll conclude by a quote from Luca taken from a French magazine: "It's funny, cause Dawn of Victory was a success, but for me, it was just an ordinary album". And I do share his opinion, cause it seems that many Rhapsody fans consider this album as one of the best, without any reason.