Customer Reviews

Ultra Beatdown (W/Dvd) (Spec)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is by far Dragonforce's best CD to date. Insane musicianship, great production and catchy choruses (YES, they're cheesey as hell, but they ARE catchy!)

I read a lot of negative stuff on these guys saying that they can't write decent songs (which I totally disagree with) and that the guitarists enhance their parts in the studio with multiple layering and Pro Tools gimmicks, but I have never seen any discussions on the drumming. How in the hell can a drummer play that fast and precise??? I used to be a thrash metal drummer (albeit not a very good one), and I simply cannot fathom the thought of any human being able to play a double kick that fast and handling intricate fills that quickly and perfectly. If anything, I think that the drumming is mostly computer programmed (even more so than the guitar parts)!

I also read a lot that they cannot pull this stuff off live. That may or may not be the case, but also remember that the Beatles stopped touring in '66 because they new that they couldn't re-create their studio stuff in a live atmosphere as well and no one held that against them. I have tix to see them live in November, so I guess I'll find out then.

All in all, I think that these guys are great for the metal community in general. Wouldn't you all rather see a long haired teenage kid in a Dragonforce t-shirt than sporting some lame rap or Emo band nonsense? Returning and keeping the faith!!!

Obviously, Dragon Force has benefited from Guitar Hero. I am not a speed metal fan, but have really enjoyed this CD. The guitars are blazing, the lyrics are a string of fantasy cliches (fantasy as in style of writing), but I love it.

A listen to any sample will likely give you a good idea of whether or not this band is for you. I own Inhuman Rampage as well, but like Ultra Beatdown better.

Turn it up to 11 and rock out...

To be honest I was never really a fan of Power Metal, more of a thrashy, tech-death/progressive type guy. But I got this with a free ticket to their upcoming show so I figured what the heck...so I've never really been into Dragonforce but this album blew me off my chair. I can admire this band for being more down to earth than some of the more overly sophisticated bands like Dream Theater. They don't try to be anything more than a bunch of guys who like to blast away some fast and loud face-smacking music. This is what I feel metal is really about, just letting loose and having a good time.

I like this album, I'll be happy enough to hear the songs at the Astoria concert on Friday (yay!) but this is not yet going to replace Inhuman Rampage or Sonic Firestorm at the top spot.

There are a lot of good reviews of this album here already. I'd like to second a couple of things...

1: Sure enough, these guys seem to have a bag of words like "Warriors, Eternity, Victorious, Freedom, Fire, Storm" and so on, and juggle them up to come up with their lyrics and song titles. I can live with it for now, but for how long can this continue?

2: Ah yes, the drumming. Another reviewer mentions that we all talk about the guitars, but what about the drumming? The drumming - real or machine or whatever it is - is just great on this album.

What I like about Dragonforce is that despite the blazing speed of it all and the general madness that is power metal gone mad... there are still tunes you can hum/sing/massacre, catchy hooks and melodies that would not be out of place in a pop song.

I also love the production and construction of Dragonforce songs... They begin powerfully, move through the song part to the monster solo/instrumental bits with grace, and end with a bang or a flourish.

This album sees Dragonforce trying a few more styles, getting a bit mellow in places, and some of the songs try several different moods along the way. This patchwork quality (which only works if you are writing "Bohemian Rhapsody") is where the album can come a little unstuck sometimes.

What's good here is the production has progressed still further, and the Dragonforce sound is fantastically slick, powerful and clean. The highlights of Ultra Beatdown for me are some of the ripping instrumental sections, choice examples appearing in "The Fire Still Burns", "The Journey Home" and "Inside the Winter Storm".

The fact that Dragonforce have managed to make four decent albums and keep evolving is a wonderful thing in this day and age. I just hope these guys manage to bring a little more sophistication to their songwriting without losing the madness and magic!

They are still one of the most amazing bands on the planet and just inches away from being the most powerful force in the universe.

If you are looking for an incredibley fast and insane album, this is it. If you are looking for Dragonforce to try to be too much like Dragonforce, this is it. I am a big fan of Dragonforce, but this album didn't seem as good to me. Sure it had some sweet solos and all, but some how to me, in a few songs, the singing didn't fit with the music. I feel they tried too hard to live up to their expectations. I am still going to listen to this album cause some songs are good. Maybe the songs will sound better after I get a feel for the Ultra Beatdown they are laying down. I prefer songs off their other albums.

Man, these guys rock. You know a band is getting big when so many people seem to dislike them, but I'll tell ya...I'm not one of them.
This is actually my fave DF album. Cheesey? aw, yeah, but so is pizza and that stuff is great!

Easily Dragonforce's best work. I've been a metal fan since the late 70's and I am thankful that the mess of a decade of the 90's is over and forgotten. It is great to see young bands pursuing a melodic, chorus driven style that was common in the early 80's, and adding to this a new technical prowess bought on by progress and technology. Not since Hammerfall and Rhapsody have I heard a speed power metal outfit of this calibre. It's no wonder these guys are becoming huge. I wonder if they will be able to top this release. Forget the cheese (after all, isn't that what metal has always been about?), sit back, nod your head, and enjoy.

This is not Dragon Force's best album, but it is still good. Their music, I believe, has become influenced by electronic, which is a good thing. They are now kind of like "Techno Metal". Many people have complained that all Dragon Force sounds alike, and I can understand where that comes from. However, If you Listen closely, you can easily notice many differences from song to song. I really like bands that make you think in order to understand their music. I would not recomend this for your first Dragon Force album, Sonic Firestorm is their best, so far. Now, if you are a big Dragon Force fan, then you must listen to this album. It is great and you will not regret it.

Ultra Beatdown is Dragon Force's best album yet. Every song is great and they each draw you in. I wouldn't change a single thing. Dragon Force is the best band ever.

This is one of the best Power Metal bands in decades, probably the most original since helloween and dream theater.
This album is a faster, better, tighter and sleeker version of the first three and sit great in the collection.