DragonForce

This article is about the band. For the Saturn/PlayStation 2 strategy game, see Dragon Force.

DragonForce

DragonForce is an English power metal band formed in London in 1999. The group is known for its fast paced songs, twin guitar solos, and incorporation of "video game" sounds into their music.

History

DragonForce was formed in 1999 from the remnants of black metal band Demoniac under the name of DragonHeart, but soon changed their name to DragonForce before releasing any commercial albums due to possible commercial issues with Brazilian band Dragonheart. Their career began with the publishing of their early songs on the first incarnation of MP3.com claiming the top of the site's heavy metal charts. The hit song "Valley of the Damned" reached over 500,000 downloads in the first few months. Two of the original members, Steve Williams and Steve Scott left the band to form power metal outfit Power Quest. Sam Totman also started a side project forming a band called Shadow Warriors which featured Sam Totman, and ZP Theart. Sam has confirmed many times that Herman was not involved with Shadow Warriors.

DragonForce have enjoyed increasing popularity over the years, publishing three albums and touring extensively while supporting Helloween, W.A.S.P. and Iron Maiden. Their 2005 tour in support of the Sonic Firestorm album included support from Angra and Mendeed during their passage through the UK. On October 28, 2005 bassist Adrian Lambert announced his departure from the band in order to focus more time on raising his young son (Lambert later revealed in an interview that he had left due to musical differences with Herman Li and Sam Totman). Less than a month after Lambert's departure, on November 23, 2005, DragonForce were signed to Roadrunner Records in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia and New Zealand, who released their most recent effort, Inhuman Rampage on January 9, 2006. Lambert was replaced in 2006 by Frédéric Leclercq, who was made an official member after a performance on tour.

A master track of the song "Through the Fire and Flames" is featured in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and may be considered one of the most challenging tracks in the Guitar Hero series. The developers used the song to demonstrate the game at E3. After Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was released, the band's music sales reportedly increased drastically.

According to the January, 2008 issue of Revolver Magazine, DragonForce have started to record new tracks for an upcoming album.

Musical style

DragonForce's musical style includes:

• Emphasis on fast, twin-guitar harmonies in speed metal styles
• Generally optimistic and uplifting chorus sections
• Lyrics of a fantastical or epic nature, often with recurring themes and lyrical phrases in multiple songs
• Use of multi-tracked backing vocals
• Use of keyboards throughout songs
• Video game-influenced melodies and noises
• Blast-beats and speed drumming

Although the band takes their musicianship seriously, they do not embody the themes in their music. In an interview with Metal Hammer, guitarist Herman Li has stated "Oh no, it's completely serious, we have fun doing it...". DragonForce's influences are drawn from all kinds of metal, melodic rock, and in particular video games such as "Wonder Boy in Monster World", and the Final Fantasy series, with lyrics comparable to themes present in fantasy games.

The band have frequently referred to their style not just as power metal, but extreme power metal. Herman Li commented on descriptions of the band's style in an interview with Guitar World: "'Nintendo Metal,' 'Extreme Power Metal', 'Bon Jovi on Speed,' 'Journey Meets Slayer,' ...people are always coming up with weird labels for us."

Band members

Current members

• Herman Li - Lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
• Sam Totman - Lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
• ZP Theart - Lead vocals
• Vadim Pruzhanov - Keyboards, piano, backing vocals (2001-present)
• Dave Mackintosh - Drums, backing vocals (2004-present)
• Frédéric Leclercq - Bass guitar, backing vocals (2006-present)

Former members

• Adrian Lambert - Bass guitar, backing vocals (2004-2005)
• Didier Almouzni - Drums, backing vocals (1999-2003)
• Diccon Harper - Bass guitar, backing vocals (2001-2003)
• Steve Scott - Bass guitar, backing vocals (1999-2000)
• Steve Williams - Keyboards, backing vocals (1999-2000)

Discography

Main article: DragonForce discography

Studio albums

• 2003: Valley of the Damned
• 2004: Sonic Firestorm
• 2006: Inhuman Rampage

Demos

• 2000: Valley of the Damned (as DragonHeart)

Remixes

• 2008: Valley of the Damned - Remixed & Remastered

Singles

Year	Title	Chart peak positions					Album
		US	US Pop	US Main.	US Digital	CAN
2005	"Fury of the Storm"	—	—	—	—	—	Sonic Firestorm
2006	"Through the Fire and Flames"	86	56	34	49	61	Inhuman Rampage
	"Operation Ground and Pound"	—	—	—	—	—

"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Music videos

• "Through the Fire and Flames", from Inhuman Rampage
• "Operation Ground and Pound", from Inhuman Rampage

External links

• DragonForce - official site
• Template:MySpace-music
• our 2007 (Black Crusade Tour in Italy - 6 December 2007)
• Artist profile page at Roadrunner Records