Rhapsody of Fire

Rhapsody of Fire (formerly known as Rhapsody) is an Italian symphonic power metal band formed by Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli, widely seen as a pioneer of the symphonic power metal subgenre.

Since forming in 1993 as Thundercross, the band has released fourteen studio albums, two live albums, three EPs, and a Live DVD. Rhapsody of Fire is known for its conceptual lyrics that constitute a fantasy story throughout all of their albums from 1997 to 2011. After using the moniker of Rhapsody for nearly ten years, the band changed its name to Rhapsody of Fire in 2006 due to trademark issues.

In 2011, following the release of their album From Chaos to Eternity which concluded The Dark Secret Saga, and after 18 years as co-leader of the band, Turilli left Rhapsody of Fire (on good terms) to form a new Rhapsody band, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, along with two other members who left with him, Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers. They describe their discography as a parallel continuation of Rhapsody of Fire's discography, with their first album being their own "Rhapsody's 11th album" and consider that they didn't leave the band, rather that it amicably split in two.

In 2016, other long-term members Fabio Lione and Alex Holzwarth left the band, and reunited with Turilli, Leurquin, and Guers, to play again under the name Rhapsody for their 20th Anniversary Farewell Tour; in December 2018, several months after announcing that Luca Turilli's Rhapsody was now inactive, Turilli announced the creation of a new Rhapsody band named Turilli / Lione Rhapsody, with the lineup of the 20th Anniversary Farewell Tour (recreating, minus Staropoli, the original band's 2002–2011 lineup), which had since disbanded in 2023.

The band was formed in 1993 by Luca Turilli, Alex Staropoli, and Daniele Carbonera under the name Thundercross. Guitarist Roberto De Micheli, a classmate of Turilli, soon joined the band, but chose to leave shortly afterwards.

In 1994, Thundercross released their first demo, Land of Immortals, with vocalist Cristiano Adacher. During this period of time, they went through a few bassist changes in their lineup.

After accepting a proposal from Limb Music Products & Publishing, the band started recording their second demo, Eternal Glory. At this time they also changed their name to Rhapsody. Shortly after the release of Eternal Glory, Adacher and bassist Furlan left the band. Former vocalist of Labyrinth and Athena Fabio Lione joined Rhapsody afterwards.

With these four members, the band started recording their debut studio album, Legendary Tales, in Germany alongside producer Sascha Paeth. The album was released in 1997. The album is the first chapter of a saga titled The Emerald Sword Saga. The lyrics on the album (written by Turilli) often refer to mystical medieval folklore and the heroic valor of those times and are centered around high fantasy, highlighting, in particular, the everlasting fight between good and evil.