CD Review: DragonForce, 'Ultra Beatdown'

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IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD of DragonForce by now, it's probably not the type of concept that will ever enter your plane of existence; perhaps it's best to try a Juliana Hatfield review or a write-up of The Walkmen instead.

But if you like dressing up in Viking hats and banging your head to songs about medieval battles for the glory of the cosmos, read on.

Dubbed "speed metal," "power metal," "extreme power metal" and dozens of other made-up kinds of "metal," DragonForce is a novelty wrapped in a vintage arcade game played in fast-forward.

Known for its twin guitar solos, electronic-backed melodies and layers upon layers of uplifting vocals, the band also incorporates video game sounds and themes, making it a popular subject of YouTube videos:

In fact, DragonForce got its big break with Guitar Hero III, which features the group's most famous song, "Through the Fire and Flames," also considered the most difficult song in the game, both reflecting and ensuring its place in the hearts of nerds everywhere (not that you have to be a nerd to play video games, or like DragonForce. But it helps).

On its fourth record, "Ultra Beatdown" (Roadrunner), the band knows what works and never strays even a hair from the formula.

DragonForce lyrics are pretty much the polar opposite of those in most rock songs: epic stories with no plot, grand allusions to fighting some unseen power and over-the-top descriptions that sound more like translations from Japanese pop songs. Look no further than the chorus of the first single, "Heroes of Our Time": "We'll all find our sacrifice tomorrow / Our journey on towards a brighter day / Silent tears we left behind, still so far away / Across the endless sands, through the fields of our despair / Free for all eternity, we stand, yeah / Rise above the universe tonight, Starchaser."

Sound like the theme song for a Final Fantasy game? That's probably no accident.

So, in the long-term context of the band's image, the formula works great, since a sudden change in direction would probably turn off its audience, who certainly wouldn't show up to concerts to hear songs about breakups and moonlit beaches.

But in the short-term context of an album, it makes for a monotonous 80 minutes.

The tracks on "Ultra Beatdown" are practically indistinguishable from each other, and the only real standout feature being the technical mastery of the various guitar melodies. Production is flawless, the mixing is spot-on and the songs individually are fun, but you get the feeling that the recordings are just setting the foundation for the tour, since the music no doubt increases in quality and overall awesomeness with a few dozen steins of beer and a room full of screaming fans carrying swords.

It's hard to call a group on its fourth album a novelty act, but calling it a "niche" band might be somewhere nearer the truth. With DragonForce, you get what you pay for, and if you're paying for a larger-than-life fantasy-tinged act with killer guitar solos, you won't be disappointed.

Written by Afton Lorraine Woodward
Photo courtesy Roadrunner Records

» DragonForce plays Rams Head Live in Baltimore on Nov. 28.