Triumph or Agony

Triumph or Agony is the seventh album studio released by Rhapsody of Fire in Europe on 25 September 2006. It is the first album that the band released after their name change.

For the Warlock album, see Triumph and Agony.
Triumph or Agony
Studio album by
Rhapsody of Fire
Released25 September 2006
Genre
Length62:33
76:07 (Deluxe edition)
LabelSPV GmbH
ProducerLuca Turilli, Alex Staropoli, Sascha Paeth
Rhapsody of Fire chronology
Live In Canada 2005: The Dark Secret
(2006)		 Triumph or Agony
(2006)		 The Frozen Tears of Angels
(2010)
Singles from Triumph or Agony
  1. "A New Saga Begins"
    Released: Summer 2006
  2. "Silent Dream"
    Released: 2007
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]

Triumph or Agony features a live 70 piece orchestra and choir and was again self-produced by guitarist/songwriter Luca Turilli and keyboardist/songwriter Alex Staropoli with assistance from co-producer Sascha Paeth. The album also features an array of guest narrators and character actors, including several recruits from the London theatre scene, the late Susannah York of the Superman film series and a return appearance by renowned actor Christopher Lee, as the all-knowing ‘Wizard King’. The song "Il Canto del Vento", is the first song in the band's history that is not composed by Turilli or Staropoli, instead it was composed by Fabio Lione.

The cover art is done by artist Jeff Easley, famous for his work on the Dungeons & Dragons line of products.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Luca Turilli, except track 6 by Fabio Lione; all music is composed by Turilli and Alex Staropoli, except track 6 by Fabio Lione.

No.TitleLength
1."Dar-Kunor
I. "Echoes from the Elvish Woods"
II. "Fear of the Dungeons"		3:13
2."Triumph or Agony"5:03
3."Heart of the Darklands"4:11
4."Old Age of Wonders"4:35
5."The Myth of the Holy Sword"5:03
6."Il Canto del Vento" ("The Chant of the Wind")3:54
7."Silent Dream"3:51
8."Bloody Red Dungeons"5:12
9."Son of Pain"4:43
10."The Mystic Prophecy of the Demonknight"
I. "A New Saga Begins"
II. "Through the Portals of Agony"
III. "The Black Order"
IV. "Nekron's Bloody Rhymes"
V. "Escape from Horror"		16:26
11."Dark Reign of Fire"
I. "Dark Reign of Fire"
II. "Winter Dawn's Theme"		6:27
French edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Son of Pain (French version)"4:42
French deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."A New Saga Begins (Radio Edit)"4:19
14."Defenders of Gaia"4:35
Italian edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Defenders of Gaia"4:35
13."A New Saga Begins (Radio Edit)"4:19
14."Son of Pain (Italian version)"4:42

Concept

"The Myth of the Holy Sword" presents the history of the Emerald Sword in the Emerald Sword Saga. During the third Elvish war in the battle for Galfor's mines, the warrior Naimur was captured by Atlon (referred to as "Hell's Fury"). Atlon tortured Naimur using an emerald stone to drain his energy and eventually killed him. After the battle, Loinir, Naimur's brother, took the stone used to torture Naimur and forged the Emerald Sword. Loinir asked the angels to bless the sword, filling it with their holy might.

Some years later, the Elves launched a new attack against Atlon and his forces, giving Loinir the chance to avenge his brother. "just a strike of the sword, [was] hell's last breath". Loinir felt as though the blade was too powerful, and thus he gave it to the wizards to examine. The wizards determined that the sword had indeed been enchanted with holy powers and that it could be dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands. They therefore hid the sword beyond the Ivory Gates.

Personnel
Rhapsody of Fire
Additional personnel

Production
  • Executive Producer: Joey DeMaio
  • Producers: Sascha Paeth, Alex Staropoli, Luca Turilli
  • Engineering: Phillip Colodetti, Bernd Kugler, Rob LaVaque, Marc Lenz, Sascha Paeth, Olaf Reitmeier, Jan Wrede
  • Mixing: Sascha Paeth
  • Editing: Phillip Colodetti, Rob LaVaque
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References
  1. Triumph or Agony at AllMusic
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