The Forgotten Album Review

Album: Prophet of the Last Eclipse

Artist: Luca Turilli

Year: 2002

Suggested by: Matt Rickert

    Welcome to the Forgotten Album Review, where we take the music the world missed out on and bring it to the light! This week's album is ‘Prophet of the Last Eclipse,' a lesser-known side project by Rhapsody of Fire guitarist Luca Turilli. A symphonic power metal sci-fi/fantasy epic, it offers everything you could ask for from the genre.

    Music: Generally, one expects the guitar to dominate in metal, but Turilli makes such extensive use of orchestra and keyboards that it spends at least as much time in the background as it does in the limelight. Many of the lead melodies are played on keyboard, strings, brass or even accordion to give the album a sweeping diversity of sounds. When the guitar does get to shine, the rapid riffs and swift solos never disappoint.

    The combined effect is powerful and dramatic, so much so that many listeners will likely feel overwhelmed. If you like fast-paced music and being surrounded by more sounds than you can keep track of, this is the album for you.

    Lyrics and vocals: The vocals are almost as varied as the instruments, with the lead usually taken by high-range male singing but in rare occasions by female vocals. On top of everything else is a full choir of male and female singers, usually used to set an ominous or desperate tone at the beginning of the song or to add more strength to a soaring chorus. Of course, it just wouldn't be complete without ominous chanting in Latin, and there's plenty of that too.

    The lyrics are one continuous sci-fi tragedy, telling the story of the fallen hero Arkan and antivillain Sania. The story itself is hard to follow, as Turilli had to make the choice between being poetic and being understandable and decided on the former. Whether the lyrics add even more to an awe-inspiring experience or turn the whole album into an overdramatic nerdfest is up to the listener.

    Variety: If you think keyboards, a full orchestra, a choir, and the full compliment of metal instruments aren't variety enough, you're probably insane. But just in case you are, Turilli threw in things like slow songs, atmospheric and experimental sections, and Italian folk. A blend of major and minor keys prevents the album from sounding either too dark or too sugary.

    Originality: This is the guitarist of a symphonic power metal band going off and making his own symphonic power metal band. However, the greater focus on orchestral instruments in ‘Prophet of the Last Eclipse' gives it a very different feel from most other symphonic power metal, truly living up to the genre's name.

    The story is surprisingly original, and the characters are relatively well-developed considering the short time available for telling the story. A few of the lines sound like they were torn right out of golden age sci-fi and can be painfully nerdy, especially when the singer names and classifies fictional starships or solar systems, but as a whole it's well-done and memorable.

    Final word: Powerful, fast-paced, and well-orchestrated, Prophet of the Last Eclipse is all kinds of fun to listen to. Thumbs up!