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{{otheruses4|the band|the Saturn/PlayStation 2 strategy game|Dragon Force}}
DRAGONFORCE SUCK
{{Refimprove|date=March 2008}}

{{Infobox musical artist | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| Name = DragonForce
| Img = Dragonforcelive.jpg
| Img_capt = DragonForce in 2007 performing in [[Melbourne]].
| Img_size = 250
| Landscape = Yes
| Background = group_or_band
| Alias =
| Genre = [[Power metal]]
| Origin = [[London]], [[England]]
| Years_active = 1999 – present
| Label = [[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]], [[Noise Records (Germany)|Noise]], [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]], [[Spinefarm Records|Spinefarm]], [[Universal Records|Universal]]
| Associated_acts = [[Demoniac]], [[Power Quest]], [[Shadow Warriors (band)|Shadow Warriors]], [[Biomechanical (band)|Biomechanical]], [[Son of Science]], [[Bal-Sagoth]]
| URL = [http://www.dragonforce.com/ dragonforce.com]
| Current_members = [[Herman Li]]<br />[[Sam Totman]]<br />ZP Theart<br />[[Vadim Pruzhanov]]<br />[[Dave Mackintosh]] <br />[[Frédéric Leclercq]]
| Past_members = [[Adrian Lambert]]<br />Didier Almouzni<br />Diccon Harper<br />Steve Williams<br />Steve Scott
}}

'''DragonForce''' is an English Grammy-nominated [[power metal]] band formed in 1999 in [[London]]. They are known for fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game influenced sound.

== History ==
DragonForce was formed in 1999 by singer ZP Theart, bassist Steve Scott, guitarists [[Sam Totman]] and [[Herman Li]], drummer Didier Almouzni, and keyboardist Steve Williams. Initially the band intended to call themselves "DragonHeart", but found that a band [[Dragonheart (band)|with this same name]] already existed. They played with [[Stratovarius]] and [[Metal Church]] in [[Finland]]. The band underwent various lineup changes before settling with the six current members. Their song "[[Through the Fire and Flames]]" is one of their most famous songs and is featured on the game "[[Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock]]". The first track and first single, "[[Heroes of Our Time]]", from their latest album, ''[[Ultra Beatdown]]'', was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance]] on December 3, 2008 <ref>[http://content.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List]</ref>, and is also featured in the video game ''[[Skate 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videogamer.com/news/23-10-2008-9742.html|title=Songs included 'reflect the culture of skateboarding'.|last=Orry|first=James|date=2008-10-23|publisher=[[VideoGamer.com]]|accessdate=2009-01-25}}</ref>. In a concert in Melbourne, Michael Birney covered for Sam Totman as he broke his wrist. On January 22, 2008, the music video for their song "The Last Journey Home" was released to the [[Xbox Live]] Community.<ref>[http://www.dragonforce.com/df/news/dragonforce-video-world-premier-on-xbox-live DragonForce video World premier on Xbox Live]</ref>

DragonForce will carry out the Ultra Beatdown Tour in [[Latin America]] in May 2009, performing in [[Mexico City]], [[Monterrey]], [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Bogotá]], [[Porto alegre]], [[Curitiba]] and [[São Paulo]]. <ref>[http://www.dragonforce.com/df/news/mexico-south-amercia-tour-dates-added Mexico, South America Tour Dates Added]</ref>

== Band members ==
=== Current members ===
* ZP Theart - lead vocals <small>(founder)</small>
* [[Herman Li]] - lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals <small> (founder)</small>
* [[Sam Totman]] - lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals <small>(founder)</small>
* [[Vadim Pruzhanov]] - keyboards, backing vocals <small>(2001-present)</small>
* [[Dave Mackintosh]] - drums, percussion, backing vocals <small>(2004-present)</small>
* [[Frederic Leclercq]] - bass guitar, backing vocals <small>(2006-present)</small>

=== Former members ===
* [[Adrian Lambert]] - bass guitar <small>(2004-2005)</small>
* Didier Almouzni - drums, backing vocals <small>(1999-2003)</small>
* Diccon Harper - bass guitar, backing vocals <small>(2001-2003)</small>
* [[Steve Williams (musician)|Steve Williams]] - keyboards, backing vocals <small>(1999-2000)</small>
* Steve Scott - bass guitar, backing vocals <small>(1999-2000)</small>

== Musical Style ==
DragonForce's musical style includes:
* Emphasis on fast, twin-guitars in speed metal styles, with fast and lengthy solos (over 2 minutes);
* Fast keyboard solos, sometimes dueling with the guitars;
* Fast tempos;
* High pitched style vocal melodies;
* Video game-influenced melodies, noises;
* Lyrics covering topics like journeys, wars, battles, etc;

The band have frequently referred to their style not just as [[power metal]], but as 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 [[Amphetamine|speed]]', '[[Journey (band)|Journey]] meets [[Slayer]]', ... people are always coming up with weird labels for us."<ref>Guitar World, Holiday 2006, pg 72 "Hotter Then Hell"</ref> The band has often been labelled [[speed metal]]<ref>http://www.pe.com/entertainment/stories/PE_Ent_Guide_D_soundtracks.204707.html</ref><ref>[http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/music/hottickets/article_1223269.php Entertainment - Juan Gabriel to play the Pond<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=19752 Friday 07/07/06 Ozzfest 2006, Main Stage @ The Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix Arizona - GIGWISE<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> due to the fast tempos present in their songs, but always as a supplement to other types of metal descriptors.

== Discography ==
{{main|DragonForce discography}}
{{Sound sample box align right}}{{Listen|filename=DragonForce Soldiers of the Wasteland.ogg|title=Soldiers of the Wasteland (sample)|description=A brief sample of the sixth track from the [[Sonic Firestorm]] album.}}{{Sample box end}}

=== Studio albums ===
* 2003: ''[[Valley of the Damned]]''
* 2004: ''[[Sonic Firestorm]]''
* 2006: ''[[Inhuman Rampage]]''
* 2008: ''[[Ultra Beatdown]]''

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons|DragonForce}}
* [http://www.dragonforce.com Official DragonForce website]
* {{MySpace|dragonforce|DragonForce}}
* [http://musicametal.blogosfere.it/2007/12/dragonforce-venti-foto-dal-black-crusade-a-milano.html Black Crusade Tour 2007 photos on MusicaMetal]
* [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/DragonForce/ Artist profile page at Roadrunner Records]
* [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587142/20080508/dragonforce.jhtml MTV News interview about new album]

{{DragonForce}}

[[Category:DragonForce]]
[[Category:English heavy metal musical groups]]
[[Category:English rock music groups]]
[[Category:Music from London]]
[[Category:Power metal musical groups]]
[[Category:2000s music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1999]]
[[Category:Roadrunner Records artists]]

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Revision as of 18:43, 30 April 2009

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

DragonForce is an English Grammy-nominated power metal band formed in 1999 in London. They are known for fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game influenced sound.

History

DragonForce was formed in 1999 by singer ZP Theart, bassist Steve Scott, guitarists Sam Totman and Herman Li, drummer Didier Almouzni, and keyboardist Steve Williams. Initially the band intended to call themselves "DragonHeart", but found that a band with this same name already existed. They played with Stratovarius and Metal Church in Finland. The band underwent various lineup changes before settling with the six current members. Their song "Through the Fire and Flames" is one of their most famous songs and is featured on the game "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock". The first track and first single, "Heroes of Our Time", from their latest album, Ultra Beatdown, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance on December 3, 2008 [1], and is also featured in the video game Skate 2.[2]. In a concert in Melbourne, Michael Birney covered for Sam Totman as he broke his wrist. On January 22, 2008, the music video for their song "The Last Journey Home" was released to the Xbox Live Community.[3]

DragonForce will carry out the Ultra Beatdown Tour in Latin America in May 2009, performing in Mexico City, Monterrey, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Porto alegre, Curitiba and São Paulo. [4]

Band members

Current members

  • ZP Theart - lead vocals (founder)
  • Herman Li - lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals (founder)
  • Sam Totman - lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals (founder)
  • Vadim Pruzhanov - keyboards, backing vocals (2001-present)
  • Dave Mackintosh - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2004-present)
  • Frederic Leclercq - bass guitar, backing vocals (2006-present)

Former members

  • Adrian Lambert - bass guitar (2004-2005)
  • Didier Almouzni - drums, backing vocals (1999-2003)
  • Diccon Harper - bass guitar, backing vocals (2001-2003)
  • Steve Williams - keyboards, backing vocals (1999-2000)
  • Steve Scott - bass guitar, backing vocals (1999-2000)

Musical Style

DragonForce's musical style includes:

  • Emphasis on fast, twin-guitars in speed metal styles, with fast and lengthy solos (over 2 minutes);
  • Fast keyboard solos, sometimes dueling with the guitars;
  • Fast tempos;
  • High pitched style vocal melodies;
  • Video game-influenced melodies, noises;
  • Lyrics covering topics like journeys, wars, battles, etc;

The band have frequently referred to their style not just as power metal, but as 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."[5] The band has often been labelled speed metal[6][7][8] due to the fast tempos present in their songs, but always as a supplement to other types of metal descriptors.

Discography

Main article: DragonForce discography

Template:Sound sample box align right

Soldiers of the Wasteland (sample)
A brief sample of the sixth track from the Sonic Firestorm album.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Template:Sample box end

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List
  2. ^ Orry, James (2008-10-23). "Songs included 'reflect the culture of skateboarding'". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  3. ^ DragonForce video World premier on Xbox Live
  4. ^ Mexico, South America Tour Dates Added
  5. ^ Guitar World, Holiday 2006, pg 72 "Hotter Then Hell"
  6. ^ http://www.pe.com/entertainment/stories/PE_Ent_Guide_D_soundtracks.204707.html
  7. ^ Entertainment - Juan Gabriel to play the Pond
  8. ^ Friday 07/07/06 Ozzfest 2006, Main Stage @ The Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix Arizona - GIGWISE
Wikimedia Commons has media related to DragonForce.
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