Trieste based epic Metal act RHAPSODY started life in 1993 under the name of THUNDERCROSS. Galvanising guitarist Luca Turilli's classical heritage, his father being a famous concert cellist, with symphonic Metal made the THUNDERCROSS demo stand out from the crowd attracting the attention of noted German melodic Rock guru Limb Schnoor. Signing to Schnoor's LMP production company the band soon changed titles to RHAPSODY.
As RHAPSODY, fronted by ex-LABYRINTH and present day ATHENA vocalist Fabio Leone,the act debuted with the 7 track 'Eternal Glory' demo tape in 1995. RHAPSODY's debut album 'Legendary Tales' scored the band massive plaudits across the European Metal community. Bass player Andrea Furlan departed prior to its release. Despite RHAPSODY's rising profile Leone still stuck out his vocal position with ATHENA.
RHAPSODY's second album, which found ex-SINESTHESIA bassist Alessandro Lotta joining, really put the band on the map selling in excess of 100'000 copies in Europe alone. The band was also joined by ex-SIEGES EVEN drummer Alex Holzwarth and former DREAM CHILD guitarist Dominique Leuquin.
Turilli issued a highly successful solo album in 1999. Leone busied himself with an outside project too forming VISION DIVINE for a self titled album in alliance with LABYRINTH guitarist Olaf Thörsen in 2000.
RHAPSODY commited their version of 'Guardians' to the 2000 HELLOWEEN tribute album 'Keepers Of Jericho'.
Holzwarth united some of his ex-SIEGES EVEN colleagues to found project act LOOKING GLASS SELF in 2000. The drummer was also found sessioning on EDGUY's Tobias Sammet's mammoth AVANTASIA project album the same year. Meantime Fabio Leone would guest on the 2001 debut album from Argentinean Symphonic Metal band BETO VASQUEZ INFINITY, a band that often performed RHAPSODY's 'Land Of Immortals' as a cover version at gigs.
RHAPSODY re-emerged in November 2001 with the grandiose 'Rain Of A Thousand Flames' opus. The following month it would be announced that bassist Alessandro Lotta had been replaced by Patrice Guers, a man boasting credits with PATRICK RONDAT and CONSORTIUM PROJECT. RHAPSODY drummer Alex Holzwarth acted as a stand in for the first nine shows of KAMELOT's January 2002 European dates. Regular KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo took back the reins for their Offenbach gig. RHAPSODY would continue with touring in Europe with an April schedule packaged alongside ANGEL DUST and AT VANCE.
The band would reveal plans for two working project, one entitled 'Rhapsody In Black' and the other a J.R.R. Tolkein inspired 'Lord Of The Rings' piece. However by June RHAPSODY had scotched both ideas, apparently deeming 'Rhapsody In Black' as not in keeping with the band's 'positive' image. During August BLIND GUARDIAN pulled in the services of RHAPSODY drummer Alex Holzwarth for Brazilian dates, regular drummer Thomas Stauch suffering from a tendon infection. Holzwarth also donated his services to Greek Electro-Metal band DOL AMMAD, appearing on their debut 'Star Tales' record.
