DRAGONFORCE — Valley of the Damned (review)

DRAGONFORCE — Valley of the Damned album cover Album · 2003 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
After releasing a demo turned EP in 2000 with the same exact album title but then known as DragonHeart, the band changed its name to DRAGONFORCE. Right from the getgo this was a guitar oriented band formed by guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman who amazed and dazzled with their super fast and dizzying guitar solos that evoked electronic sounds that remind of retro video games. This is certainly a controversial band evoking lots of love and probably even more contempt. It's true that power metal has a certain cheesy haughtiness that evokes a fantastical triumph of forces and although DRAGONFORCE is no exception to the rule, the fact is that for me personally I can listen to the music if its good despite having a storyline or lyrical content that is a little shallow and predictable.

A major complaint about these guys is also that the tempo is way too fast. Personally that is one of the reasons I like these guys despite the cheese factor in the delivery of the vocal performance. The reason I can't rate this album any higher is more of sameyness for the most part. As we go through track by track each is performed amazingly well but there is little variation between tempo, cadence or content (with few exceptions like “Starfire” being a ballad in the midst of the speedfest). That alone is the main problem for me with DRAGONFORCE in general. This debut album sets the stage for a pattern that is replicated throughout their career and despite the amazing talent on board, there is a sense of playing it safe throughout not only this debut but the many albums to follow. Still though with all this in mind, it's a decent listen albeit not one that I choose to throw on regularly.
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aglasshouse wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I agree with Khaliq, it doesn't exactly bring out SF's quality, but it is pretty good.
Unitron wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Nice review. I think it's a good album, but it certainly can't compare to 'Sonic Firestorm' which is my favorite album by them.

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