The Power Within

Dragonforce | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 17, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Roadrunner Records
• ASIN: B007ALJJ4A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,857 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Power Within is the sound of that refreshed band with a new lease of life. It is the band's most varied outing to date. Featuring both their fastest songs so far no mean feat if you're DragonForce! as well as songs like "Cry Thunder," which see the band bringing their sound into a more restrained territory pace-wise without sacrificing intensity or hooks. DragonForce have thrown out their rulebook, taking a new approach to how they compose and structure their songs. They've refined and distilled what they do, improving and focusing their songwriting skills into an even broader palette.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dragonforce is back! April 17, 2012

By Mete Tanyeri

Format:Audio CD

Dragonforce is a band that's commonly known for videogame metal or the type of band that loves to cram in a lot of noise as possible on their records. That's clearly evident when you listen to their previous records, the noise factor that is, and it may be hard to listen to sometimes. It's hard to soak in their musicial talents, so you'll find yourself often repeating the same songs again and again just to understand their language better and better, not to mention enjoy it more and more with each new listen.

That being said, Dragonforce's The Power Within is a different beast than their previous catalog. Here, they sound like a group that are focused and determined to create an album worth listening to. Sure, you'll get a couple of songs that are fast and full of fire; that's typical Dragonforce. But there are a few songs that are groovy and mid-tempo, something they've never done before. More importantly, they are some of the best songs the band has EVER written. When you start listening to songs like Cry Thunder or Seasons (which should be one of their singles, IMO), you will be quick to realize that they are catchy and will stay in your head within days. Even on the faster songs, they slowed down a lot and proved themselves to be musicians at heart. They only include their trademark sounds when appropriate and they get the job done. As for Marc Hudson, his voice fits like a glove; every song shines more brightly due to his amazing vocal performance. I applaud ZP Theart for what he accomplished with Dragonforce and will always respect him for his work, but what Marc Hudson did here is essentially a grand-slam for the band; they couldn't have chosen a better vocalist to take up the duties of a frontman that exhibits range and power within his vocals. He was the right choice, in the other words.

This is an album worth listening to and worth picking up. Highly recommended!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A welcome return October 4, 2012

By A. Stutheit

Format:Audio CD

After ten whole, respectable years of existence, Dragonforce finally broke their routine of releasing a new album every two years. Indeed, in 2012, the London-based extreme power/speed metal collective kicked out full-length number five, but it was their first record in over four years, "The Power Within." But this lengthy hiatus was necessary because DF lost their original lead singer, ZP Theart, and then recruited a new vocalist in Marc Hudson in 2011 (and recorded said album with him). Fortunately, even though just the guitarists, Herman Li and Sam Totman, are the only two remaining founding members of the group now, Hudson's vocals fit in their Iron Maiden-meets-Judas Priest-meets Helloween-meets-Kamelot-meets-Metallica-meets In Flames sound like a glove. "The Power Within" begins with "Holding On," a prototypical (but still strong) Dragonforce opener where melodic, Bruce Dickinson-by way-of-James LaBrie vocals soar over furious picking and drumming. The above-mentioned axemen rip out buzzsaw riffing, and Judas Priest-y, screaming, shredding solos like it ain't no thing. The blistering-yet-simultaneously tuneful track is also of note for featuring -- in true Dragonforce fashion -- a grumbling bass line, catchy, sing-songy vocal refrain, and keyboard solo near the end. There are a few borderline experimental moments found in this record, though. One example of such is the succeeding "Fallen World," which is presumably the fastest and fiercest thing Dragonforce have ever captured on tape (yet, at least), reportedly clocking in at a whopping 220 B.P.M., and boasting pounding blast beats and brutal, seven-string riffing and Slayer-esque soloing throughout. Another example is song number three, "Cry Thunder," the first ever DF song that is mid-tempo without being a ballad. It is an industrial-strength, chugging stomper, even if it does feature the usual gratuitous amounts of lengthy, ripping, and technical solos and symphonic-sounding keyboard runs. Back on more familiar and traditional ground, "Give Me The Night" is a scorching piece of full-on thrash metal that finds Li and Totman effortlessly trading-off terrific, wrist-spraining solos (few songs have done this so successfully since Megadeth's 1990 classic, "Hangar 18.") And even the bassist, Frederic Leclercq, gets in the action here, tossing in an exceptional bass solo near the end. Other standouts include "Wings Of Liberty," a part ballad/part blistering fast seven-plus-minute-long epic; the propulsive speed metal riffs, thudding thrash beats, prominent keyboards, and fiery, twiddly solos of "Heart Of The Storm"; and the wailing, air-guitar-able solos and soaring, skyscraper harmonies of "Last Man Stands." And, of course, one must not forget to mention the beautiful acoustic strumming and warm, harmonized crooning found in "Seasons," an epically melodic, entirely unplugged ballad that brings the set to a fittingly memorable close.

A welcome return from Dragonforce.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars CRY THUNDER..... April 17, 2012

By METAL MANIAC

Format:Audio CD

I agree with Mete., the first to post the review for this album. In my opinion this is also one of their best albums. They appear to be more technical, and the vocals are much better then the previous one. I hope they'll stay together as a band because the chemistry seems to show a lot of improvements. Cry Thunder should be their best song ever, and the next one should be "DIE BY THE SWORD", which has a great CHORUS part which could be clasified as an anthem song, great for concerts!!! Buy the album, its worth spending the money on it.