review by: Roberto Martinelli

The majority of people to whom this album will appeal to no doubt already own it, so I'll make this review extra short and sweet. Prophet of the Last Eclipse is a must have for all fans of European power metal. It's even better than the first Turilli record. I personally don't like Rhapsody all that much (as I feel the vocals could be much better, and the particular flavor of total wankery doesn't do it for me, somehow), but Luca Turilli (who is the guitarist of Rhapsody) is something else entirely.

For one, he's got a superb main singer, Olaf Hayer, whom we last heard on the Dionysus record reviewed in last issue. He's also got Sascha Paeth and Miro (on guitars/bass and keys, respectively), whose names anyone familiar with the elite in Italian power metal will recognize. But he's also got four choirs AND a male opera singer AND a female opera singer AND a string quartet AND percussionists to go along with the more traditional musicians in a metal band. The result is something that is so great: unbridled, unabashed melodies that soar; always brilliant, multi-dimensional vocals, and genius compositions. There are so many flavors on this record - so much to enjoy. Get this and Dragonforce (see above) and you'll be set for power metal for a while.