Known as Extreme Power Metal, England’s DragonForce are arguably one of the fastest bands around. With lightning fast playing at the hands of Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman, their music often has fantasy themes, but also an old school video game sound. Distinctive to them since they began 25 long years ago, there is really so much more to DragonForce.
Each song comes with grand arrangements that create images in your mind; fast moving images, but brilliant ones. Furthermore, each song is telling a story you should pay some attention to, because there is a lot going on. Then there are the strong leading vocals of Marc Hudson, supported by powerful backing vocals, that sometimes sound like an army marching, but others, like a choir. All of this considered, most of DragonForce’s songs will get your adrenaline flowing, and they are back at it again with their latest album Warp Speed Warriors.
Set for release March 15, 2024 through Napalm Records, Warp Speed Warriors will be their ninth overall studio album and is their first with new Bassist Alicia Vigil (taking over for Frédéric Leclercq). That said, it also marks the second album without Keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov who performed on each DragonForce album from 2003’s debut, through to 2017’s Reaching Into Infinity. A big change, in the wake of it all DragonForce delivered the extremely impressive Extreme Power Metal in 2019, but now nearly 5 years later look to provide even more dazzling musicianship with Warp Speed Warriors.
A long time coming for their dedicated followers, Warp Speed Warriors standard edition features ten songs, including their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams.” The title of their February released EP, the limited-edition press of Warp Speed Warriors offers four bonus tracks; which include “Astro Warrior Anthem,” “Burning Heart,” “Doomsday Party” again, plus “Power of the Triforce.” Think you have heard the bonus material before? You probably have heard some on previous digitally released EPs, but this time the bonus recording of “Astro Warrior Anthem” features harsh vocals from Trivium’s Matt Heafy, plus a guest spot from virtuoso Guitarist Nita Strauss. Footnote, both this version, plus the album version are interesting listens; it just really depends on your mood at the moment. This is while you also get the version of “Burning Heart” with Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz in the mix, plus the previously released “Doomsday Party” single with Elize Ryd of Amaranthe, as well as an instrumental copy of “Power of the Triforce.” Simply put, all of this makes the bonus material well worth investing in, because it offers collaborations that truly add something to the songs.
Looking at Warp Speed Warriors as a whole, including the bonus tracks, let us just say the title of the album pretty much described exactly what you can expect. Breaking it all down, songs like “Doomsday Party,” (both the new Ryd and album version) stick with you and get you moving. This is while others such as “Pixel Prison” blast through with intensity before spreading a spring feeling in the final minutes with the sound of birds chirping, adding to the mood. Then there are cuts with marching, thriving melodies like “Space Marine Corp,” but also a simply dazzling force of energy, such as “The Killer Queen.”
Living up to their name, DragonForce’s Warp Speed Warriors is strong, intense, and full of fast rhythms, thanks to impeccable speed on the guitars and drums (compliments of Gee Anzalone). Matching their exercise in playing skills, the songs are masterpieces despite the haste of each, sticking with you long after the rush. A great album that Metal fans of all types will enjoy, Cryptic Rock gives Warp Speed Warriors 5 out of 5 stars.
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