DragonForce
Ultra Beatdown
Roadrunner Records
by Salvadore Fernandez
Some albums are described as autumnal and songs are frequently labelled as the soundtrack to various peoples’ summers but British power metallers DragonForce’s latest release, Ultra Beatdown really only fits into Silly Season.
By no means is that a bad thing. If all music was hideously serious and talking about love, loss and desperation without any irony whatsoever or was ridiculously happy and bouncy, we would actually go mental.
DragonForce provide a strange and distinctive middle ground with Ultra Beatdown. It’s a middle ground that is fuelled by virtuoso performances by main protagonist Herman Li but peppered with enough variety and wonderment to keep even the most ADD-addled metaller mentally occupied for an hour.
Incredibly, the super-speed, video game-inspired riffs have been intensified since their 2006 breakthrough album, Inhuman Rampage and the general silliness really does come crashing down in waves.
‘Inside The Winter Storm’ is an 8-bit shredfest from the very start and is completely relentless. Be prepared to concentrate very hard on these riffs. Also note that these riffs are nigh on useless without a full mane of hair. You can’t headbang with a crew cut.
Watch the video to ‘Heroes Of Our Time’ by DragonForce
‘A Flame For Freedom’ is a comforting ballad in amongst the musical melange. While you normally don’t know which was to turn in the labrynthine power metal madness, this track will have you pumping your fist into the air with a sole tear running down your cheek.
You won’t know why but you’ll be screaming for glory. It’s the power of… power metal.
ZP Theart’s cheesy vocals and bizarre lyrics are stronger than ever and the songs are the catchiest they’ve ever written. This is easily the best album of their career thus far. Add the fact that they’re doing pretty well in the US now after some mammoth tours and the future is looking ultra bright for DragonForce.
It’s a clear fact that this is not a cool band. It’s not cool to wear their tshirt. It’s not cool to even admit that you like them. That’s what makes them so appealing. If you’re a DragonForce fan once, you’re a DragonForce fan forever and the quality of this album only serves to consolidate this.
4.5/6
Ultra Beatdown by DragonForce is out now on Roadrunner Records
3 responses so far ↓
1 aejjtd // Sep 18, 2008 at 9:02 pm
ok so u gave AHIG by slipknot 3.5/6…where you gave this 4.5/6…
what are you doing? Yeah they guitar soloes are extreme and everything but once you’ve heard the first song you’ve heard the lot.
Its boring.
2/6 out of sympathy
2 Ryu Foxx // Oct 13, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Its true, yeah, Dragonforce aren’t the coolest band in existance. But c’mon, you have to give they’re guitarists some street cred for being able to shred them chords so fast, amaright?
Personally I’m a big fan of Dragonforce, And as everyone so blaitenly states: All they’re songs are the same.
What do I say? I tell them they need they’re ears testing. Seriously, if you think that one song is all songs, you’ve another thing coming if you ACTUALLY listen to they’re songs.
Guitar Hero: Ledgends Of Rock, with they’re featured song ‘Through the fire and flames’. And then when you listen to ‘The warrior inside’, Then use alittle bit of (-Knocks on head-) Your brains power to actually comprehend the differences, Then you’ll realise.
As for Ultra Beatdown? What more can I say, the Album itself is oozeing glorious lyrics and shredded chords you’ll be drooling at the second song. (I know I was). The music has changed, or from what I can hear, from Dragonforces previous albums. And fair enough you’ll ‘forever more’ find the lyrics repeated in the songs, But who can complain when all these songs are original. Unlike some songs that just get remixed over and over again.
And to all you Dragonforce fans, Buy it. You’ll never regret it. Infact, run to you’re local HMV and bang it into your disk drive as quickly as possible. Then let the soothing sound of this hardcore metal band relax your muscles into a frenzy of joy.
5.5/6
3 DragonForce are still rather fond of guitar solos » My Chemical Toilet // Apr 4, 2009 at 10:42 pm
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