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What is the first thing you think of when a band hails from Italy and plays symphonic power metal? Right.... Rhapsody! Sometimes you get surprised by making the wrong conclusion, but this time you hit the jackpot. The band started in 1998 and released an album in 2002, what happened in the 10 years between I don't know, but now their second album is coming out.

I am not familiar with the first album, but for some reason I assume that the style haven't change a lot. The production of the album is current and the orchestral and symphonic elements are embedded well in the music. Like Rhapsody they use classical themes for example in the track "Glass Room", which is based on the 9th symphony of Dvorák. Nothing on this album sounds very original, but if you are inspired by Rhapsody, how can you? What I like about Holy Knights is that the guitars are rather up front in the mix and that gives the music a more metallic and heavier sound. The vocals of Dario Di Matteo are most of the times rather high, but that is very common for this style of music. Most of the songs have a high tempo and sometimes they almost lean towards Dragonforce tempi.

Not the most original band, but the musicianship is high class and the songwriting and the arrangements are above average. Fans of Rhapsody and bands in the same style will certainly appreciate these Italians!

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