Symphony of Enchanted Lands II – The Dark Secret
Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret | ||||
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File:Rhapsody symphony of enchanted lands II.jpg | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 27, 2004 | |||
Recorded | March–June 2004, Multiple studios | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 72:48 | |||
Label | SPV GmbH | |||
Producer | Luca Turilli, Alex Staropoli | |||
Rhapsody chronology | ||||
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Singles from Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret | ||||
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Symphony of Enchanted Lands II – The Dark Secret is the sixth studio album released by Rhapsody in 2004. A concept album like all previous albums of the band, it is not a sequel to Symphony of Enchanted Lands but the first chapter of the band's new saga, The Dark Secret Saga, which would conclude with their ninth album From Chaos to Eternity.
Christopher Lee provides the spoken narration throughout this album. He is also a guest singer in the single version of the song "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream".
It is the last studio release of the band under the name Rhapsody. They changed their named to Rhapsody of Fire in 2006.
Concept
The album begins with the tale of "The Seven Black Books" written by Nekron, son of the Hell God Kron. The books, written with angel blood and then becoming indestructible, tell a part of a prophecy known as the Dark Secret. The prophecy would one day awaken the seven demons who would open the gates to hell, releasing every kind of ancient monster, alive and dead. Nekron would then be reborn to reign again in the unholy name of cosmic chaos, "And this time, he would reign supreme." ("The Dark Secret - Ira Divina")
A search for the books was conducted. Through the ages, six of the books were found; however, the seventh book, containing the secrets on how to resurrect Nekron, remained unfound. Nevertheless, there was still hope. After he discovered the black books, an angel named Erian had a vision where the Gods of Cosmic Light told him how to stop the prophecy. Erian then wrote, in his own blood, the White Book which revealed how to stop the prophecy. The book represented a threat to the hellish prophecy and to Nekron's resurrection and then, in the age of the Red Moon, 3000 years before, the Lords of the Darklands won their battle against the Army of the Nordic Plains and found Erian's Mystical Book in Ainor's sacred halls. The book was then hidden in the Darklands, in a place known only by the master wizards of the Black Order.
There was hope, however, that the seventh black book held a clue as to where Erian's White Book was hidden, and so The White Dragon's Order, an order dedicated to protect the Enchanted Lands from the Darklands, was founded. A man named Iras Algor wanted to lead a search for the seventh black book. However, no one knew of a way into the darklands. Iras Algor then recalled that Aresius had told him to search for Dargor. Surely he knew the way. There were many objections to this, but Dargor was their only hope, and so Iras Algor, the hero Khaas, princess Lothen and the elven king Tarish, led by Dargor, set out to find the seventh black book hidden in the caves of Dar-Kunor. ("Erian's Mystical Rhymes - The White Dragon's Order") They took the pass of Erloria, the safer way to reach the grey mountains. ("The Last Angels' Call") At the beginning the journey was full of wonderful visions, in the Dragonlands they found a lot of lovely creatures. But after ten days this sight was over and, when they finally reach the falls of Erloria, the sunlight was over. ("Dragonland's Rivers")
Now they were near the grey mountains. The path was full of rocks, the air was cold, but Dargor lead them through all these dangers. They also had to hide from the Black Order, the soldiers of Nekron. That night, in a magical vision, the father of Dargor, Vankar, appeared to the shadowlord. He reminded Dargor that he was half demon, and now he was a betrayer. Dargor faced him, even when he knew it was the truth. ("Sacred Power of Raging Winds")
Then, Iras led them to the mountains of Erinor, the only passage known to men in the plains of the Darklands. When they reached Hargor, it was time for Tarish, the elven king, to find a way through the caverns to Dar Kunor's entrance. The journey was dangerous, but Dargor protected them those two days. Finally they saw in the black and evil marsh, there lied the passageway between snakes and hellish mud. They saw the Dar Kunor river. Tarish knew that the only way was through the black ice water. He dived into the marshes and he soon disappeared. But he soon returned, with good news: he had found the entrance to Dar Kunor. ("Shadows of Death") The heroes take a short rest in the Grey Mountains before entering Dar Kunor. ("Nightfall on the Grey Mountains")
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Luca Turilli; all music is composed by Turilli and Alex Staropoli, excepted where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Dark Secret" I. "The Ancient Prophecy" II. "Ira Divina (Divine Wrath)" | Staropoli | 4:13
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2. | "Unholy Warcry" | 5:54 | |
3. | "Never Forgotten Heroes" | 5:33 | |
4. | "Elgard's Green Valleys" | 2:20 | |
5. | "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream" | 4:30 | |
6. | "Erian's Mystical Rhymes (The White Dragon's Order)" | Turilli, Staropoli, Vivaldi | 10:32 |
7. | "The Last Angels' Call" | 4:37 | |
8. | "Dragonland's Rivers" | 3:45 | |
9. | "Sacred Power of Ranging Winds" | 10:06 | |
10. | "Guardiani Del Destino" ("Guardians of Destiny") | Turilli | 5:51 |
11. | "Shadows of Death" | 8:13 | |
12. | "Nightfall On The Grey Mountains" | 7:20 |
Personnel
Credits for Symphony of Enchanted Lands II – The Dark Secret adapted from liner notes.[3]
Rhapsody of Fire
Additional musicians
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Choir
Brno Academy Choir
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Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
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Production
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Charts
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
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French Albums (SNEP)[4] | 27 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[5] | 70 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[6] | 33 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[7] | 62 |
References
- ^ "Metal Rules". Metal Rules. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ^ "RevelationZ Magazine - Your Heavy metal and Hard Rock resource". Revelationz.net. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ^ (2004). "Symphony of Enchanted Lands II – The Dark Secret liner notes". In Symphony of Enchanted Lands II – The Dark Secret [CD booklet]. Steamhammer.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Rhapsody – Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rhapsody – Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rhapsody – Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Rhapsody – Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
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