Dark Wings of Steel

Dark Wings of Steel is the tenth studio album by Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on November 22, 2013, in Europe and December 3, 2013, in the United States via AFM Records. Following the various line-up changes since the previous album From Chaos to Eternity in 2011, Dark Wings of Steel is the first album by the band to not feature guitarist and founding member Luca Turilli, the first with guitarist Roberto De Micheli, and the only album with bassist Oliver Holzwarth.

Background
Due to Turilli writing the lyrics and co-composing the songs with keyboardist Alex Staropoli in the previous albums, the lyrics are written by singer Fabio Lione, with Staropoli now composing the music with his brother Manuel. Following the departure of other guitarist Tom Hess earlier in the year, the album also marks the return to one full-time guitarist only.

Alex Staropoli stated: "Fabio from now on will be in charge of writing the lyrics and I think this is really important for a singer to be able to write and sing its own lyrics". He also noted about his brother Manuel: "I knew my brother had lots of talent and he proved himself by submitting me with many great songs, which some of them I had to arrange and to use. I am so proud of him and there is a lot more to come".

Personnel
Credits for Dark Wings of Steel adapted from liner notes.

Rhapsody of Fire
 * Fabio Lione – lead vocals
 * Roberto De Micheli – guitars
 * Oliver Holzwarth – bass
 * Alex Staropoli – keyboards, production, engineering, editing, cover and booklet concept
 * Alex Holzwarth – drums

Additional musicians
 * Manuel Staropoli – baroque flute, baroque oboe, recorder, duduk
 * Macedonian Radio Symphonic Orchestra – orchestra
 * Vito Lo Ré – orchestra and choir conductor, scoring

Choir
 * Hao Wang, Matjaž Zobec, Noémi Boros, Paola Marra

Production
 * Sebastian Roeder – engineering, mixing, editing
 * Giorgi Hristovski – engineering
 * Boban Apostolov – engineering
 * Alberto Bravin – engineering, editing
 * Christoph Stickel – mastering
 * Luca Balbo – choir contractor
 * Severin Schweiger – photography
 * Karsten vom Wege – logo
 * Felipe Machado Franco – cover art, layout, cover concept