History

DragonForce is somewhat of a rarity, based in London, England they play a style of music that is almost non-existent in the country where they reside. Formed in September 1999 and formerly known as DragonHeart, the band changed their name in December 2001 to DragonForce to avoid confusion with other bands, record labels and movies under the same name.

The band is powered by the twin guitar assaults of Herman Li and Sam Totman, vocalist ZP Theart and keyboard player Vadim Pruzhanov. This established core has recently been joined by bassist Adrian Lambert and drummer David Mackintosh. A standard line-up for a rock band it may at first appear but DragonForce features a uniquely diverse, multi-cultural line-up (Hong Kong, UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Ukraine) never seen before from a young new band.

Early DragonForce can best be described as a mix of modern melodic power metal with the fury of speed metal, since than, the band's style have evolved into a even more distinctive sound of their own. By combining all their favourite aspects of different rock and metal styles they like, ranging from classic/power/thrash/speed/death/progressive metal/hard rock and video games music, played with a high octane energy, DragonForce's sound maybe best described as "Extreme Power Metal".

The supremely catchy and instantly memorable melodies that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some outrageous speed, power, complex twin guitar wizardry and extreme metal drumming are just some of the qualities that separate this band from the masses. This sonic fury in no way hides the bands greatest indisputable strength; their songwriting ability.

Pick any of their songs and you find a plethora of hook lines, enough technical prowess to satisfy lovers of progressive metal, guitar runs that will inspire air-guitarists everywhere and the voice of an outstanding rock shouter.

Well known on the metal-underground for a couple of years, the band started off with a self produced demo (under the name DragonHeart) which attracted over half a million (500 000) downloads from 1 internet site alone. DragonForce had already toured with the likes of Halford, Stratovarius and Virgin Steele as well as headlining their own shows across England without having an album out. Upon release of their debut album, 'Valley of the Damned', metal fans proved they knew something the media, up until that point, didn't, which was proven by the Burrn! Charts in Japan: No 1 Marilyn Manson / No 2 Helloween / No 3 DragonForce. Subsequently, the band was invited for their first tour of South East Asia, headlining their own shows in Thailand, opening for Helloween on their Japanese tour, and performing to an invited audience in Taiwan.

Glowing album reviews and album sales to match followed in Europe, with the band subsequently being booked to play prestigious festivals such as Sweden Rock, Torres Rock in Spain, Young Metal Gods in Germany and Bloodstock in the UK. In Finland, DragonForce was voted in the Top 20 new artistes alongside Beyoncé, The Darkness and 50 Cent.

The follow up to 'Valley of the Damned' is 'Sonic Firestorm', which was released on April 19th, 2004 through Sanctuary's Noise Records label. It succeeded in exceeding the established boundaries of melodic, speed/power metal.

Recorded between October and December 2003 at Thin Ice Studios, England, and guitarist Herman Li's own private studio in West London with producer Karl Groom, the release of 'Sonic Firestorm' saw DragonForce launch into a fury of touring activity with eg. Iron Maiden and Angra.

Third album 'Inhuman Rampage' was released at the beginning of 2006, again on Sanctuary's Noise Records label. DragonForce have gone further over the top than ever before. The new album is faster, bolder and heavier - yet still as boldly stirring and distinctly hummable - as anything they've attempted so far.

(source: the official DragonForce website 2004-2006, edited by AM)

(discography incomplete)