Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Dragonforce-Inhuman Rampage, 2006

I checked this out at the library and listened to it once and it was all like a big blur so I listened to it again and tried to really pay attention to what was going on. Now there are a few ways I could approach this review. I could do the Green eggs and ham method and just say "I do not like them, Sam-I-am". That doesn't explain a whole lot though. I could take the inflexible old metalhead approach and say "these whippersnappers don't make power metal like the bands did back in my day!". That doesn't really explain my reasons enough either. So how about I ask a question about this album and that question is "what's the point?". As in what's the point to playing power metal so fast? Now I like some power metal like Helloween and Gamma Ray. The thing is these bands had influences like Iron Maiden, maybe Deep Purple and Judas Priest plus they added their own sounds and they built or added to the genre of power metal. Dragonforce appear to have taken what other power metal bands have done and just speeded it up. A lot of their supporters talk about their talent and I think there is some there, but largely it's just a big whirlpool of sound with a few bits of comprehensive music thrown in. Plus the music goes so fast that the singer just sounds awkward at times trying to chime in and keep up. I tried hard to focus and find something more, but it didn't happen. Back in the 80's there were bands like Death, Possessed, DRI and Napalm Death that started out playing just really fast, but they progressed beyond just speed. Also those bands were playing death, grindcore, hardcore or a mixture of those. I think those styles better lend themselves to playing very fast because it goes along with the aggressiveness of those styles. Power metal is not really aggressive, it's more about anthems and it's hard to sing along when the music is just buzzing past plus this is their third album. I feel that I gave this one a chance and ultimately I have to proclaim it as a stinker. I am glad to see some kind of metal coming out of England, but they are just not that good. There are and have been some good doom and stoner bands like Cathedral, Orange Goblin and the great Electric Wizard who have all hailed from England in recent years. However because Dragonforce have caught on largely due to their novelty of being fast, if somehow hearing Dragonforce gets younger fans to seek out other real power metal bands then this band may have made a contribution in that matter. So it's time for me to return Dragonforce to the library and go listen to some Helloween.

11 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with this, though I have only heard their first two albums. To me, every song sounds the same.

6:24 AM  
Blogger Liz said...

Never was a big speed metal fan. I just never "got it". Not a big fan of death metal either.

So, should I pick up a copy of "A Twisted Christmas" for you?

PS: I'm kidding :)

10:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've heard a few reports that Dragonforce are a sloppy live act. Which makes me wonder what the point is if you can't carry your novelty over to a live setting.

10:43 AM  
Blogger Conquer said...

I saw Dragonforce live a few months ago, they were pretty tight...I am a Dragonforce fan, but I do realize that all of their songs/albums sound the same...I have 'Sonic Firestrorm', and that's enough for me!!

-Laura

11:22 AM  
Blogger Metal Mark said...

T-bone-I thought so too.

Nony-Welcome. I can't believe Twisted Sister released that album. The only thing worse is that they are touring for it and charging $30 a ticket.

Fred-I agree.

Conquer-Welcome. If they progress and start becoming coherant and adding their own sound then I may think something of them.

Ben-Yes and it's not in a tolerable way like AC/DC or ZZ top.

4:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I do not like them Sam-I-Am

Would you like them here...or there?

I would not like them here or there,
I would not like them anywhere,
I do not Dragonforce,
I do not like them Sam-I-Am

Sorry, been reading that one like crazy to the little one. Couldn't resist.

5:22 AM  
Blogger Metal Mark said...

Fred-I have been reading it to my daughter lately as well.

5:27 AM  
Blogger Ray Van Horn, Jr. said...

Funny thing is, this isn't even a speed metal album. It's considered power metal, at least according to my fellow metal journalists. I think these guys are sickeningly talented, but yes, it's all the same, brisk pace, dizzying guitars, uplifting choruses... I am just stunned it caught on with the kids. As I mentioned earlier, the kids in my neighborhood wanted a copy of my promo and I was just knocked over by that.

5:23 PM  
Blogger bob_vinyl said...

I'm glad you reminded me who this was, because they were so memorable I'd forgotten. I found this to be just a display of technique versus actual playing. It's like hot sauce that is just as hot as it can possibly be without worrying about tasting good. There's always stuff out there (in a lot of different genres) that tries to substitute technical skill for songwriting and it never really flies.

5:43 PM  
Blogger Metal Mark said...

Ray-I don't think they are that talented. There a few sparks, but they are really taking from others and blazing through it with little emotion, heaviness, hooks or any of what they need to be memorable.

Bob-I like the hot sauce comparison and it's pretty accurate. If the technical ability is that great then who would know it because it wasted on a gimmick. Helloween are still going after over twenty years, does anyone think these guys are going to be anywhere in fifteen or even ten years?

6:23 PM  
Blogger DPTH International said...

I'll admit I'm a fan of Dragonforce,though Inhuman Rampage is not their best work. The first album is great with speed and melody, but they seem to focusing on their speed novelty then song crafting which is a shame, cause I do think they have a lot of talent.

Oh and c'mon! Twisted Christmas! Is deliciously cheesy! I love it ....

6:33 PM  

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