Power Metal is undergoing a resurgence in the UK, mainly due to the success of Dragonforce. Kids can’t get enough of the supersonic riffs and lyrics exploring the world of warriors, dragons, elves and valour. Dragonforce represent everything that is great about the genre. A total escape from reality. It’s over-the-top showmanship to the power of totally-fucking-ridiculous.
Although Dragonforce are from the UK, power metal is a distinctly European genre. We Brits just aren’t cut out for the spandex showboating required for Power Metal Stagecraft 101. Maiden were always like blokes down the pub who went a bit crazy on stage for an hour. Even the high camp of Priest still had a working class edge to it.
It’s different on the continent. Dragonforce can pop over to Germany and play a bunch of open air festivals to 100,000 leather-clad nutbags, but when they get back to London they’re lucky to fill the Astoria. Weird. The only place all the Brit power metallers get to pump their fists is at the annual Bloodstock Festival, which this year promises to be bigger than ever.
NATALOZ ZENITHERION
Reader Comments
January 31st, 2007
6:52 pm
oh, the joy of irony. just another version of manowar for a new generation of fashionable hipster jerkoffs.
January 31st, 2007
7:00 pm
This would be perfect music to listen to while playing World of Warcraft or Magic! Fat geeks are the new hipsters!
January 31st, 2007
7:22 pm
DragonForce is the motherfuckin’ shiznit. Have you seen these fuckers live? I never really gave metal that much respect but the live show these guys put out have been one of the best shows I have seen. They’re playing is the theatrics, trust me. It was better show then the last time Iron Maiden pulled off a show in California.
January 31st, 2007
7:35 pm
good, but old news
January 31st, 2007
8:44 pm
I do agree that it sounds like video game music but the soloing is so fucking fast it’s outrageous. At Ozzfest they were one of the first bands that went on the main stage and they tore it up! And what’s fashionable or hipster about speed metal?
January 31st, 2007
9:23 pm
dragonforce fucking own!
January 31st, 2007
11:40 pm
Is this a nostalgia post about last spring? I HATE THIS SHIT LIFE.
February 1st, 2007
1:54 am
dragonforce!
February 1st, 2007
3:10 am
Oooh! A gay version of ManOWar.
February 1st, 2007
3:45 am
Ahhhh settle down.. it’s just music. haven’t you heard? to each their own? ..oohh.. I se you are still wallowing in the devisive public school clique system.. my bad… See ya when you grow up.
February 1st, 2007
7:13 am
BOO! THIS MUSIC ISN’T LIKE THE MUSIC I LIKE. BOO I SAY.
February 1st, 2007
10:06 am
pfft..
anyone can learn to do that shit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb5QaCfm7bg
February 1st, 2007
3:03 pm
bring back opiv!!!!!!!
unity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2007
3:03 pm
bring back opiv!!!!!!!
unity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2007
3:03 pm
bring back opiv!!!!!!!
unity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2007
3:03 pm
bring back opiv!!!!!!!
unity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2007
3:03 pm
bring back opiv!!!!!!!
unity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2007
3:03 pm
bring back opiv!!!!!!!
unity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2007
3:03 pm
bring back opiv!!!!!!!
unity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2007
3:03 pm
bring back opiv!!!!!!!
unity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2007
4:23 pm
Whiny, “edgy” posters on the Vice boards are the new fat geeks. Seriously, no one’s filming your life so stop mugging the camera.
February 2nd, 2007
5:13 am
ugh.
gimme a break.
February 2nd, 2007
6:44 pm
you need to get more up to date
July 14th, 2009
9:19 pm
DTXtZw