DragonForce - Extreme Power Metal (2019)

Marking the return of the most exciting Power Metal to ever come out of the UK, today we have DragonForce and their latest opus “Extreme Power Metal”. Featuring a leaner sound and a leaner line-up, the band delivers ten solid tracks that showcase their signature style paired with superbly catchy songs and a very playful vibe. Delivering over 52 minutes of high-octane music, the band never disappoints when it comes to expertly crafted guitar acrobatics and catchy music.

The lush “Highway to Oblivion” track opens with a certain 80’s vibe that seems to be the concept around this release. Immediately Herman Li and Sam Totman take over with their playful guitar interactions as Marc Hudson’s vocals settle the listener into the band’s elaborate songs. The album still features Frédéric Leclercq on bass and backing vocals, as one can hear from his bass guitar lines on tracks like “Cosmic Power of the Infinite Shred Machine” and the playful “The Last Dragonborn”.

The album’s concept is perfectly delivered in the retro sounding “Heart Demolition”, which sets the band’s typical sound in a Stranger Things-esque context. As the album progresses, tracks get more intense, like the pummeling “Troopers of the Stars” and our favorites “Razorblade Meltdown” and “In s Skyforged Dream”. These two tracks are full of dramatic vocal arrangements and ravaging guitar work, making them superbly catchy and exciting to listen to.

After the hard rocking “Remembrance Day”, the album closes with the video game-esque ridiculous (in a good way) cover of “My Heart Will Go On”. If you ever wondered what Celine Dion on speed might sound like, this is definitely one possibility. Overall, “Extreme Power Metal” is a pretty solid release full of amazing guitar work and intricate songwriting. While featuring less original members, DragonForce has managed to deliver a high quality release that should please most of their fans.

Label: Metal Blade Records

Release: September 27th, 2019

Genre: Power Metal

Country: UK