Dragonforce!! Teh Rulez??

Dragonforce, the name on everyones tongue, admittedly on some for the wrong reasons. We all know them from the internet videos of kids playing 'Through the Fire and Flames' on Guitar Hero, but does anyone know much about them?

In order to assuage any derogatory comments I decided to review their new album 'Ultra Beatdown' and decide once and for all.

I personally love a bit of power metal, something about the falsetto screams and guitars on speed that make me ecstatic. The first 30 seconds of the album were no letdown for me, and indeed the first 3 songs are fantastic. Although the highlight of the album is in the second last song, 'Inside the Winter Storm' when the solo kicks in, all of this excellence comes at a great cost.


Listening to the album the second time round I was struck by how badly laid out their songs are. Computer game like sounds are thrown into each song, for no discernable reason, and they seem to find it easier to throw stops into songs to designate each section rather than make music to link the sections. By their own admission Dragonforce have tried to take the emphasis away from the guitars and concentrate more on vocals, but this doesnt work either. The backing vocals sound almost weak and suffer from the poor layout of the rest of the 'extras.'

Overall the album was disappointing but did yield some rather interesting insights, what other band has recently had huge overhype for an album, prominently features computer game sounds and have played in my hometown?? Not only this but have carried out acts of violence towards members of the public (see below)? None other than CC. Are Dragonforce the new Crystal Castles?

Big B