More swords and dragons metal, this time from London. With all the power metal bands out there, it can be seem impossible to wade through them all. When power metal is good, it's great; but when it's not, it's truly awful. We at Maelstrom will tell you when something is good and when something sucks, and Dragonforce is good. Really, really good.
Certainly the most important element of a power metal band is the singer, and ZP Theart is as good as they come. The next thing is breathtaking, over-the-top music that is self-indulgent yet a pleasureful thrill to listen to. In this too, Dragonforce succeeds with its irresistible speed, execution and delicious compositions, all held up by an ideal production. What this band pulls off on Valley of the Damned is breathtaking: it's a lot like the speed and density that Rhapsody does, but with a harder edge and much better vocals (and no stupid, annoying guy talking!) Many of the songs' vocal melodies reminded me a lot of Angra's latest album, Rebirth, which is also excellent. And while Dragonforce could get higher marks if they had more originality, the sheer quality of their whole package makes this point easy to overlook. Look, if you're a power metal fan, you can't go wrong. Go get this! (8/10)
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