DRAGONFORCE: Maximum Overload (MELODIC METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

No, Edguy hasn't already released a new album, only 4 months after his "Space Police: Defenders of the Crown"! While Dragonforce's new album has undeniable similarities with Tobias Sammet's recent records, it stands out by presenting music that is a little faster than the latter. For the rest, the bases are the same: a Power Metal with a symphonic and above all very fast tendency, a kind of supercharged crossing between Edguy and Primal Fear, with a little touch of Vinnie Vincent Invasion.

Obsessed with a constant search for speed that translates into wild tempi, furious sleeve (and keyboard) descents and a cleat drum kit, Dragonforce does not do it in an original way. In addition, the different tracks that make up this sixth album constitute a fairly homogeneous whole and are not far from all being the same.

However, the result is far from being boring and useless because the formation has one major asset: its ability to create and shape compositions that are good. Beyond the quality of the tracks that make up this album, it is its ability to offer modern arrangements and a high level interpretation that saves it. If we can quickly move on to the performance of the supercharged Dave Mackintosh (who has since left the band) who seems to be constantly pursuing the goal of being the fastest drummer of the world at the expense of finesse of execution, there's not much to complain about on the rest.

So certainly, sometimes the vocals push a little too much in the high notes especially on "Three Hammers" but it remains rare enough not to affect the effectiveness of this album. And we must above all note the excellent work of the guitars, which do not miss an opportunity to launch into frantic rhythmic cavalcades or ultra-fast solos, without forgetting to show, from time to time, a little originality as is the case with the unusual "sounds" that enrich the "Extraction Zone" or on the bridge of "Symphony Of The Night". This last track is an opportunity for the band to show us another facet of their repertoire with a more lively and catchy chorus than usual, which gives the whole thing a little light variety reminiscent of the Helloween of the late 80s. It can also be noted that the group is devoting itself for the first time to the exercise of the cover, by appropriating with a certain success Johnny Cash's 'Ring Of Fire' which is being metamorphosed.

With 4 of the 5 bonus tracks ('Power & Glory','You Are Not Alone','Chemical Interference','Fight to Be Free') and 'Tomorrow's Kings' to which we prefer 'Galactic Astro Domination', a short instrumental, this record proves very effective. This "Maximum Overload" is therefore a very good vintage for DragonForce, which manages to avoid the pitfall of redundancy and monotony. - Official website

DRAGONFORCE

MAXIMUM OVERLOAD

VERYCORDS

MELODIC METAL