Artist: Dragonforce
Title: “Inhuman Rampage” (Special Edition)
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release Date: 3/13/2007
Genre: Super Sonic Power Metal
Rating: 4.5/5
My original review of “Inhuman Rampage” by Dragonforce ran something like this:
“Faster than a speeding bullet” seems to no longer solely define pop culture’s “Man Of Steel”; as now it stands incredibly true of the UK’s Sonic Power Metal sensations DRAGONFORCE! You really cannot explain the band all that easily, while the music holds its core origin in Melodic Power Metal, they mix elements of Thrash much like Annihilator did in their early years. The end result is very simply a brand of Metal that requires you wear a seatbelt as you listen. Normally with fast paced Metal you owe it all to consistent rhythm runs on the guitar while the drummer does blast beats of quick syncopations that are similar. With Dragonforce, the shredding is the combined might of Herman Li and Sam Totman who don’t just play quick rhythms but instead choose to push the limits of science with their leads during the solo breaks and across the length of the bands songs. Underneath their riveting riffs is the drumming of Dave Mackintosh, a quality player thundering along with some great double bass on practically every song. Playing this band too loud in your stereo might cause heart palpitations based on Dave’s playing level. Vadim Pruzhanov on keyboards adds an interesting high tech video game/progressive feel to the band while Fred LeClerq chases the guitar riffs with the bass. They are clearly musicians who enjoy not only pushing the envelope on what they can do and how fast, but to have fun as they do. As you listen to the album there is a good chance that you will feel that this approach as well. Of course a band like this needs a singer who can not only keep up with everyone but also command the charge into Metal glory. Dragonforce has such a presence in lead singer ZP Theart, whose melodic and powerful range suit this band to perfection; when you hear him sing there are moments you feel he is constantly pushing himself to the limit to be as fast as his band mates. He has a high vocal range and the other members of the group provide some great backups making the overall sound of the band a lot fuller than you would normally expect from a Power Metal band of this type.”
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