Like any right-minded person, I detest Michael McIntyre. However, the floppy-haired tit was right about one thing: All other shops had taken a look at Argos and gone “no, not so much”.
Maybe the same thing applies to music? Because, I am telling you now, I listen to a lot of stuff and there ain’t nothing that sounds like Dragonforce, baby. Nothing.
Somewhere, about a decade ago, Dragonforce stopped being a Power Metal band. And became a Power Metal band – on steroids. Like Manowar, although, they’ve never shined a laser at me for taking a picture at a gig like Manowar did, the bellends. But way better.
Basically, Dragonforce stopped giving the remotest shit, and took the hand brake off.
What that means is music like “Astro Warrior Anthem” and “Power of the Triforce” gets made – and that’s what you expect from Sam, Herman and the boys. Slashing solos, million miles-an-hour gallops, and about Christ knows what, but it also means slower, more mature, epic balladry like “Kingdom of Steel” does too. It’s what “The Voice” by John Farnham would have been if that was a metal song.
I defy anyone – and we’ll do this as a challenge if you like – to listen to the likes of “Burning Heart” without feeling the urge to thunder your fists in the air and buy a battle jacket. Stack harmonies so high that Justin Hawkins is on the phone, its glorious stuff.
No one here is taking it too seriously. Let’s be clear, everyone involved understands that “Space Marine Corp” is ludicrous, it is not news.
“The Killer Queen” loses bonus points for almost having the same title as Queen, but at least it’s not a cover of the massive nuisances – and it gives us a chance to give a massive shout out to drummer Gee Anzalone, who must be the hardest worked stick wielder around.
“Doomsday Party” stomps about like it wants to fill dancefloors. Like an Alestorm song, but not about pirates, as far as I can tell. It might be a late entry for Eurovision given how camp it is.
If the rest of it has been fast, furious and fun, then I am not sure what “Pixel Palace” is beyond an attempt to break the land speed record and cram as much as you can into seven minutes.
It ends with a Taylor Swift cover. Fair play, I imagine this is fun for all concerned. I’ve never heard the original of “Wildest Dreams” but I imagine we can say that Dragonforce have made it their own?
So we’ve had some fun reviewing this, of course we have. Let’s be real about it, its crackers. But there is one thing to say that is deadly serious. Dragonforce are brilliant. No other band does this, that’s clear, but is there anyone that honestly could pull this off? No, to be honest. Dragonforce have the market cornered, even if you don’t know what the market actually is. These “Warp Speed Warriors” are in a class of their own.
Rating 9/10
