And in heavy metal, a similar mentality exists in the power metal revival movement the ’90s and early 2000s saw the rise of many young power metallers who look and sound like they belong in the ’70s or ’80s. One term that is used quite a bit in jazz circles these days is “Young Lions,” which refers to young jazz musicians whose work is a throwback to the straight-ahead acoustic jazz of the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s - a “Young Lion” might have started recording in the ’80s, ’90s, or 2000s, but stylistically, they are quite committed to the jazz of previous generations. Valley of the Damned may not be groundbreaking or cathartic, and lyrics like “In the land of desire with your heart filled with fire you live for the right to be free/We will sail on forever more to the land of the evening star” may cross the line into heavy metal parody, but it’s undeniably entertaining, expertly played, and endlessly fun. Dragonforce plays faster than most bands in the genre - this may be the first speed metal pop group - but the production is precision-tuned and never muddy, allowing the giant Slade and Andrew W.K.-style choruses the room they need to explode. Vocalist ZP Theart has no qualms about emulating heroes like Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and Michael Kiske (Helloween), but his lupine howls have a character all their own. From the epic title track to the fist-pumping closer, “Heart of a Dragon,” the guitar pyrotechnics of Herman Li and Sam Totman light up the sky like a third world war, bending riffs into melodic submission while never overplaying. For a band that collectively cites video game music as one of its major influences - the nine blistering tracks do, on occasion, conjure up images of greasy-haired teens huddled around a Commodore 64 playing King’s Quest - the multicultural sextet is a master of its craft. Valley of the Damned could be construed as a bloated, Spinal Tap-style tribute to early-’80s fantasy-metal, and in many ways it is however, it’s so well played and so joyously executed that it could very well reignite the entire genre.
power metal giants Dragonforce is a polarizing affair. The two studio albums have been remixed and remastered
All this comes in a beautiful lp size box set. Mastered by Eberhard Köhler at Powerplay Mastering.English 4 disc box set featuring an exclusive t-shirt, an inflatable guitar and a card of guitar picks.All guitars recorded at Herman Li's LamerLuser Studios, London, United Kingdom.Recorded and mixed at Thin Ice Studios by Karl Groom.Vadim Pruzhanov: keyboards, piano, additional acoustic guitars.Sam Totman: lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars.Herman Li: lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars.Once in a Lifetime, Lyrics: Totman, Theart, Music: Totman, Length: 7:46 Prepare for War, Lyrics: Li, Music: Li, Length: 6:15 Soldiers of the Wasteland, Lyrics: Theart, Totman, Music: Totman, Length: 9:47 Above the Winter Moonlight, Lyrics: Pruzhanov, Totman, Li, Theart Music: Pruzhanov, Length: 7:31 Dawn Over a New World, Lyrics: Totman, Music: Totman, Length: 5:13 Fields of Despair, Lyrics: Totman, Li, Music: Totman Li, Length: 5:25 Fury of the Storm, Lyrics: Totman, Music: Totman, Length: 6:47 My Spirit Will Go On, Lyrics: Totman, Theart, Music: Totman, Length: 7:54 Note: all songs arranged by Sam Totman, Herman Li, Vadim Pruzhanov, ZP Theart, and Adrian Lambert. Sonic Firestorm was stated as the 2nd best "Battle Metal" album of the last 20 years by British metal magazine Metal Hammer in its 20th anniversary article. All the guitars were recorded at Herman Li's LamerLuser Studios in London. The recording and mixing for the band's 2nd album took place at Surrey's Thin Ice Studios, from October 6th to December 10th, 2003.