DRAGONFORCE: Ultra Beatdown (MELODIC METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

In the world of metal, the name Dragonforce is one of those who do not leave anyone indifferent. Indeed, a few years ago, the British group formed in 1999 was a sympathetic source of condescending mockery from hardcore metalheads, who saw in it a perfect opportunity to denigrate all clichés of the genre, as well as a vague source of interest for others, with a strong penchant for the "ever faster". A track and the video clip that accompanied it had won the prize for ridiculously fast and pretentious: "Through The Fire and Flames".

Paradoxically, this title, chosen for Guitar Hero, had then become the ultimate reference for the (very large) public who loved video games. Under the dismay of its critics, Dragonforce took off in a spectacular way, and its new offering was inevitably expected at the turn. The content of the previous album being based on speed and cleanliness of execution, the question for this album was simple: Would Dragonforce continue in the voice traced by "Inhuman Rampage"? If so, did they still have something to say?

The first listening answers the first question in the affirmative. Indeed, from the introduction of "Heroes Of Our Times", we are in the presence of a caricature of what makes Dragonforce famous in general, and "Through The Fire And Flames" in particular. Extremely sustained rhythms, insane guitars constantly embellished with a lot of harmonics and vibrato. There are plenty of breaks and all pretexts either for mini fast as lightning solos or for epic choirs supported by a grandiloquent keyboard.

On some titles the recipe works without difficulty. "Heroes Of Our Times" is uncompromising, the instrumental part of "The Warrior Inside" ends in a slower, more emphatic epic passage. Let us also mention the second part of "Reasons To Live", where the instrumental parts surprise and where the slower rhythm then allows itself to accompany the emotional peaks of the solo instruments for a more coherent and much more exciting rendering. In the same vein, "Heartbreak Armageddon" has a rather successful clean solo.

Other than that? Not much. And unfortunately to the second question (remember, the two questions at the beginning...) the answer is probably no. All the good times have already proven themselves on "Inhuman Rampage". The vocals feel more and more warmed up, with uninspired lines, and above all a power that is sometimes lacking. The honeyed ride ("A Flame For Freedom") is the highlight of boredom. The tracks are long, too long. The multiple structures make the compositions confusing and difficult to follow.

To top it all off, the drums throw unbearable double pedal plans that break the weak melodies that can be found in the tracks. Herman Li says very wisely "people come to us because they know that we play fast, and that we do something that other bands don't do...". Such a concept is probably interesting, but not enough to justify the production of identical albums, whereas Dragonforce's music seems very promising as soon as the rhythm s.

The situation is not as deplorable as one would expect at the end of the first listening. The few good moments scattered throughout this album exist but are suffocated by these precipitous and indigestible rhythms, and by a drum set that is too dense. Abusing a plastic guitar on the seven minutes of "Through The Fire And Flames" is one thing, swallowing the fifty-eight minutes of "Ultra Beatdown" is another. - Official website

DRAGONFORCE

ULTRA BEATDOWN

ROADRUNNER RECORDS

MELODIC METAL