Reviewer: Rottenbucher

Yes, that Sir Christopher Lee. The elder statesman of Hollywood who has portrayed a Sith Lord, Bond villain, Middle-Earth destroyer, Willie Wonka’s father, Count Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster and even declined the roll of Dr. Loomis in John Carpenter’s Halloween. Yes, the same Sir Christopher Lee (who was knighted in 2009) that appeared on the last three Rhapsody of Fire albums, a Manowar disc and won The Spirit of Hammer award from Metal Hammer in 2010. Who would have thought an actor, who is 88-years young, would release a Symphonic Metal album?

But Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross is not Lee’s first foray into singing.  He originally sang on the films The Wicker Man and The Return of Captain Invincible.  His performance was actually cut from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street but he can be heard in a duet with Rhapsody of Fire on their single, “The Magic of the Wizard’s Dream.”

Is Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross like Rhapsody of Fire? No.  It’s much more theatrical and similar to a musical.  It’s pure Symphonic Metal, just with a heavier focus on the symphonic aspects. Also, Lee is not the only vocalist.  There is a sizeable cast of characters who also sing with Lee’s character and actual distant relative, Charlemagne.

“Act I: King of the Franks” starts off slow, but then bubbles over into a bombastic track. “Act II: The Iron Crown of Lombardy” injects much more riffing than the previous track and the orchestrial moments are much more aggressive here.  “Act III: The Bloody Verdict of Verden” builds nicely with until it unleashes into a full on blast of typical Symphonic Metal. Lee really uses the power of his deep, baritone voice here and the underlying orchestra is splendid.  “Act IV: The Age of Oneness Out of Diversity” is rather explosive with its massive chorus, riffing strings and shredding guitars and “Act V: Starlight” may be the first Symphonic Metal Power Ballad.  Just like “Overture,” “Finale” bookends the disc with a revisiting of all the moods and melodies of the previous tracks. “Iberia” is very different when compared to the previous track.  Here Lee narrate’s Charlemagne’s battle in the Spanish swamps and the track features military sounds and sound effects.

Before each track is an intro which features a female narrator giving a brief lesson on what is to unfold in the forthcoming performance. Thus making Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross into one totally awesome history lesson. Sure, there have been concept albums in Metal, but never something this scholarly.

Charlemagne By the Sword and the Cross is not for everyone. This isn’t Symphonic Metal as most would think of it.  It’s grandiose and more “Epic Hollywood” than anything Rhapsody of Fire has ever done. It’s clearly operatic without being an opera and it’s very theatrical but sounds more like a soundtrack to a stage-produced musical. In fact, it would have probably been better labeled as a Metal Musical than anything else. Close your eyes and you can envision Lee singing on the side of the stage in full costume, with the action to his side and an orchestra in the pit.   Lee portrays an older Charlemagne looking back on his bloody past with a touch of regret.  Only a Hollywood actor could pull this off and Lee does just that.

Armed with a 100-piece orchestra, Sir Christopher Lee definitely unleashes a true first in Metal.  He also makes everything else previously called “epic” in Metal rather insignificant.  Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross is refined, sophisticated and one of a kind.  Seriously, the bar is set so high here that no one will be able to trump this feat.  Unfortunately, only Metalheads who are a fan of Sir Christopher Lee or dare to really think outside of the genre’s conventions will really grasp this.  But that doesn’t prevent this classically-inspired piece from becoming Metal’s classiest moment.

Release Date: March 15, 2010
Label: Casiz Music

TRACK LISTING

1.  Overture
2.  Act I: Intro
3.  Act I: King of the Franks
4.  Act II: Intro
5.  Act II: The Iron Crown of Lombardy
6.  Act III: Intro
7.  Act III: The Bloody Verdict
     of Verden
8.  Act IV: Intro
9.  Act IV: The Age of Oneness
     Out of Diversity
10.  Act V: Intro
11.  Act V: Starlight
12.  Finale
13.  Iberia
14.  The Bloody Verdict of Verden
       (Instrumental)

Total playing time:  62:21

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Christopher Lee - Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross

December 10, 2010

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