Rhapsody Of Fire

Formed by guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboardist Alex Staropoli, Rhapsody of Fire is an Italian band who pioneered the symphonic power metal subgenre by using massive classical orchestration and choirs alongside rock instrumentation.

Formerly known as Rhapsody, Rhapsody of Fire was created as a quintet during the late '90s.

Provocatively, their first four albums -- 1997's Legendary Tales, 1998's Symphony of Enchanted Lands, 2000's Dawn of Victory, and 2002's Power of the Dragonflame -- were all part of a conceptually linked, mythical song cycle dubbed The Emerald Sword Saga that, in turn, initiated the multi-volume The Algalord Chronicles.

Its second cycle, The Dark Secret Saga, was initiated by 2004's Symphony of Enchanted Lands, Vol. 2: Dark Secret, and continued with 2006's Triumph or Agony utilizing a 70-piece orchestra and choir.

The final part of the Algalord cycle began with 2010's The Frozen Tears of Angels, continued with the 35-minute EP The Cold Embrace of Fear: A Dark Romantic Symphony at the end of the year, and concluded with 2011's From Chaos to Eternity closing out the Dark Secret Saga.