Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Speedy, March 15, 2004
Considering that Dragonforce are about to fling a new slab of breakneck-paced melodic metal at the world, I figured it was high time I put down my thoughts on the debut, after having a year to take it in. Obviously, the most striking feature is their sheer speed, matching the velocity of most thrash bands, but infusing it with a keen melodic sensibility. These choruses are some of the catchiest I have ever heard. The production is very top heavy; a little scratchy on the ears at high volumes, but I suspect that the material translates well into a live setting. The guitar solos shred so hotly I'm surprised Herman Li's guitars don't burst into flame; but, they can be over the top with the flash and pomp. They can write some great hooks, but the songs are not varied enough to make this a truly special experience; it holds on for a long time provided you don't listen to it too much so that it stays fresh. If they can exert more range in their tempos and dynamics in the future, they could easily top this respectable, but not great, debut full length. I've got my fingers crossed.
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17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the fastest power metal out there!!!, January 31, 2004
I don't think this world has yet seen a faster band....... At least in power metal. First off, I want to state that this band sounds a bit like Rhapsody + Lost Horizon. Valley of the Damned reminds me more or Lost Horizon's first album - Awakening the World. And boy did that CD ever "awaken the world"! There are next to no keyboards on this album (Valley). Many of the songs are about 6:15 long, but the first track is the shortest I've ever heard at 0:13. You are getting your money's worth for 9 tracks. The title track is a wonder - one of a couple over 7 minutes. Revelations was released as a demo when the band's name was Dragon Heart. That song is also pretty good. Every song except for thae ballad, Starfire, is hyper speed. By that I mean about the speed of Father Time by Stratovarius. Imagine the speed of Rhapsody's fastest songs and Skylark's fastest songs with an even faster bass. That's how fast this band plays! So how good actually are these 8 songs? I love 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9. Revelations isn't as good as these, in my opinion. Starfire is so hard to get into because its so much slower than the other songs! I'd say that its an okay ballad. Track 8 is like Starfire in quality. I don't think the production for this album is that great, but the writing talent makes up for it. Think of how we still love Images in Worlds by Dream Theater (is that what its called? Can't remember.......). Its because of how good it is - not the production. I would recommend Dragonforce to about anybody. There aren't any bands who sound like Dragonforce. Some power metal bands I've heard include Hammerfall, Helloween, Brainstorm, Blind Guardian, Grave Digger, Primal Fear, Sinergy, Manowar, and Falconer, to name a few. Nobody sounds like Dragonforce. When you get the time, go read some of my other reviews and say if they helped you or not.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Speed metal with positivity , April 29, 2006
DragonForce's 2003 release Valley of the Damned is an album for music fans who just cannot relate to the primordial screams and inhuman growls that characterize modern metal. Purists, have no fear. There are still relentless double bass drum riffs, pounding basslines, and an unstoppable wall of guitars. However, the six-piece DragonForce is fronted by the sweet, melodic voice of ZP Theart, who sings anthems of positivism and overcoming obstacles. In the midst of dueling guitars and unfathomably fast drumming is his voice of hope, and some melodious keyboard playing as well. The album, though only nine tracks, is over fifty minutes long - a testament to the anthemic nature of the music. The album starts abruptly, fast and furious for a good twenty minutes. Just as Theart's voice cuts through the rest of the noise, one song stands out as different from the others. The album's fifth track, Starfire, is a power ballad more suited to an 80's rock and roll band than to a post-Y2K power metal act. The rest of the album picks up where the fourth track left off, and does not slow down. The sheer speed of the music is overwhelming. As far as production goes, this album is clearly the band's debut. The instrumentals can be a little muddy at times, and the vocals sound much cleaner in the band's more recent work. However, the sheer talent and intensity of the band definitely shine through. If you enjoy this album, check out their newer albums, Sonic Firestorm and Inhuman Rampage for more!
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