Music Banter - Dragonforce - The Power Within (2012)

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Dragonforce - The Power Within (2012)

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Dragonforce - The Power Within is a speed metal CD featuring 9 original songs, 1 alternative version of one, and great speed guitar work. There are two versions of the album, one with 10 songs and a Special Edition version with 13. Expect to pay about $1 a song for either, buying them as an album. I have the 13 song one, and in purchased MP3 format, but I'm just going to review it as the 10 song CD. The other 3 songs aren't worth mentioning - two are alternative versions of songs already on the 10 song CD, and one is purely instrumental. So, I don't feel the need to review them - it's up to you whether you want to spend $2-$3 more on a Special Edition if available. And sure, I appreciate a good alternative version or instrumental song, but there's only so much I can say about these.

01 "Holding On"
This is a positively epic first song. It contains a loveable tune.

02 "Fallen World"
This song contains some great sounds. The vocals are a bit lacking but the instrumental work is fantastic.

03 "Cry Thunder"
This song screams catchiness. Unfortunately, the vocals are a bit mixed, being catchy one moment and sounding in my opinion, rather ugly the next.

04 "Give Me The Night"
A good song held back by medicore vocals. As a bonus though, there is a short sample of creepy horror-sounding music between the middle and end of the song, which was good.

05 "Wings of Liberty"
Starts out slow and turns into a medium speed, upbeat song. This is the longest song on the album, lasting 7:20.

06 "Seasons"
A decent, solid track.

07 "Heart Of The Storm"
An epic track that sounds movie-ish the first half and like video game music the second.

08 "Die By The Sword"
A catchy yet average track. At this point, it feels like I'm listening to the same song over and over. At least it gets interesting the second half of the song. In fact, the second half of the song is beautiful, which makes up for the mediocre first half.

09 "Last Man Stands"
An underwhelming track. However, it makes a good ending type track.

10 "Seasons" (Acoustic Version)
Do I have to review the same song again?

11-13 Bonus Tracks (Special Edition exclusive. 2 you've already heard on the album in an alternative version, and an instrumental song.)

--

Okay so if you don't mind generic sounding rock, which this sounds like even though it's speed metal, and don't mind an album full of songs which pretty much sound alike, this is a great album.

My score: 8.0/10

It really isn't a bad album. It does some things wrong and some things right, like a lot of albums out there. It isn't my cup of tea since it's too fast to contain harmony and also not very powerful or funky enough for me. But a lot of albums I listen to have about 3 good songs on them and this has maybe 5, so that's a plus.

I worship the ground that power metal walks on, but I can't stand Dragonforce. I can't even stand listening to them for just one song anymore. They can't write a song to save their lives. They just go weedly weedly for five minutes then two full minutes of even more boring weedly weedly soloing. If you want actual good power metal listen to Blind Guardian or Helloween. Dragonforce are just a lame stereotype of power metal without substance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord (Post 1312138)

I worship the ground that power metal walks on, but I can't stand Dragonforce. I can't even stand listening to them for just one song anymore. They can't write a song to save their lives. They just go weedly weedly for five minutes then two full minutes of even more boring weedly weedly soloing. If you want actual good power metal listen to Blind Guardian or Helloween. Dragonforce are just a lame stereotype of power metal without substance.

Or Manowar or Virgin Steele or Saratoga and Cain's Dinasty (if you don't mind listening to Spanish vocals/lyrics) or Iron Fire or Heimdall or Gloryhammer or a thousand others. Mind you, I don't share Batlord's hate for Dragonforce, but there are definitely far superior power metal bands to listen to...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paranoid44 (Post 1312210)

I honestly didn't think that there was anyone that thought these guys were really good, till now. I mean, I thought that maybe little boys did, that didn't know any better, like my 13 year old son for instance. I've tried to change his ways about listening to Dragonforce. I told him it's a path that leads to nowhere but extreme ridicule (from me mostly) I've tried deleting everything on his iPod and replacing it with something much better. And have even gone as far as threatening to disown him. With failure under my belt I now accept his taste in music, or lack there of. I am hoping one day that he will come to his senses and have seen the error of his ways.

Now my other son who is 11, told me the other day that he was practicing drums to Slayer's Chemical Warfare. With a proud smile on my face, I told him that he is now my favorite :)

:laughing:

I think your treatment of your children is incredibly fair and laudable. I hope that I can be half the dad that you are.

^

x2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart (Post 1312194)

There's really a band called Glory Hammer? :laughing:

Do they have a female tribute band called Glory Hole, or are they just so nerdy that no female would be seen within a 100 mile radius of one of their gigs?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paranoid44 (Post 1313133)

(fixed)

Why thank you. I feel with parenting you should remove all emotion and base everything on face value, then things can only be fair.

And btw, again, I am not a dude nor their father. For some reason I just don't think you believe me :confused:

You're a mother teaching her children the glories of "Chemical Warfare"? Parent. Of. The Year.

"Last Man Stand" song is HOT!!! Hope this album wil be in Top 40!