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Sat November 18, 2023

DragonForce

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DragonForce is a trailblazing force in the realm of extreme power metal. Acclaimed as the world's fastest band, their Grammy-nominated journey has been nothing short of legendary. The catalyst of their international fame came with the release of the platinum-selling masterpiece, "Through the Fire and Flames," which became the ultimate challenge for players on Guitar Hero III - Legends of Rock, solidifying their status as musical pioneers.

In every corner of the globe, DragonForce has earned an army of dedicated fans, thanks to their electrifying and entertaining live performances, infused with infectious energy and light-hearted humour.

Beyond their original and unforgettable epic compositions, DragonForce is celebrated for their signature long, complex, and lightning-fast guitar solos, masterfully crafted by the virtuosic duo of Herman Li and Sam Totman. United by destiny through a fateful classified ad in 1999, they founded the band and set the stage for an illustrious musical odyssey.

A storied discography spanning eight studio albums attests to their creative ingenuity, starting with the fiery intensity of "Valley of the Damned" (2003) and the relentless "Sonic Firestorm" (2004). The unparalleled momentum continued with the chart-topping "Inhuman Rampage" (2006), solidifying their position among metal elites. The Billboard Top 20 hit "Ultra Beatdown" (2008) and the anthemic "The Power Within" (2012) kept the flame burning bright.

In 2014, they unleashed "Maximum Overload," followed by "Reaching into Infinity" (2017) and the electrifying "Extreme Power Metal" (2019). Each album showcases the fusion of classic 80's rock sing-along choruses, uplifting melodies, and fantastical power-metal-inspired lyrics, evoking a sense of triumphant grandeur in every note.

Fuelling their music with a love for the video game world, DragonForce artfully incorporates retro game sounds and melodies into both their studio recordings and thrilling live shows, further enhancing their unique identity.

Ever-evolving, DragonForce is currently on the verge of unveiling their most monumental album to date, poised to unleash an epic world tour that promises to be their most colossal yet. North America will bear witness to the kickoff of this monumental journey on October 20th, 2023.

Prepare to be engulfed in the unyielding flames of DragonForce's sonic prowess, as they continue to push the boundaries of metal and inspire legions of fans across the globe. The saga of DragonForce is far from over; it is an eternal symphony of speed, power, and unrelenting passion for the metal genre.

Get ready for an unparalleled experience! DragonForce is set to bring the most unique stage production yet on their upcoming world tour. Taking it to the next level, the show will captivate the audience like never before. Brace yourself for a groundbreaking fusion of music and visuals that will redefine metal concerts. Prepare to be amazed!

~~~~~~~~~

Known as the fastest band in the world, Grammy-nominated extreme power metal band DragonForce is based in London, England. Their platinum-selling record, Through the Fire and Flames, brought them international acclaim and was featured as the most-challenging song on Guitar Hero III. Their energetic and humorous live performances have won them fans on every continent.

DragonForce's latest album, Extreme Power Metal features uplifting choruses, catchy melodies, and mind-bending guitar solos. After playing just a few shows in 2020, DragonForce is coming back to the US to complete its Extreme Power Metal World Tour in March and April 2022.

Get ready for lasers, giant arcade machines, confetti, dragons and, of course, fire and flames! "DragonForce shows always feel like a party," guitarist Herman Li says, "We're so excited to come back to the US. We've spent the last year making our live show even more epic and insane than ever before, and we can't wait for everyone to see the craziness we have planned."

~~~~~~~~~

Long running Grammy-nominated extreme melodic power metal band DragonForce release their seventh album, 'Reaching Into Infinity', on May 19. Once again recorded with Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Soilwork), the producer extraordinaire who helmed the UK-based group's now three-year- old previous record 'Maximum Overload', it will be available via earMUSIC in Europe, Metal Blade Records in the United States and Roadrunner in Japan.
'Reaching Into Infinity' introduces Italian drummer Gee Anzalone, who joined the band for their first ever 'best-of' collection, 'Killer Elite: The Hits, The Highs, The Vids', released in 2016. It's the third DragonForce album to feature frontman Marc Hudson, whose reign at the mic now enters its sixth year.

"Marc is becoming more and more involved with the writing process, especially in the lyrics," acknowledges guitarist Herman Li. "Mostly, though, these songs came from Frédéric [Leclercq, bassist] and Sam [Totman, guitarist]."

Musically speaking, 'Reaching Into Infinity' continues where DragonForce left off with 'Maximum Overload', the band's faster material becoming even faster still, while the melodic parts head even further in that particular direction. The band offer no apologies for the inclusion of a 1980s rock-style ballad entitled 'Silence' and, at the other end of the spectrum, there's even an 11-minute multi- tempoed monster called 'The Edge Of The World'.
"'The Edge Of The World' is DragonForce's longest ever song," says Li proudly. "In some ways, this album is more epic than anything we've done before."

'The Edge Of The World' is extremely ambitious, channelling growled vocals from Hudson and fusing them with a stunning arrangement that twists and turns like the proverbial dragon's tail. The 'Force go prog-rock, anyone?

"Why not?" Li responds. "Marc's favourite style of music is prog, and I'm a massive fan of Dream Theater, so there's an element of that going on. With each album that we make, the band reveals more and more if its influences, constantly adding to what we can do."

"We have proven that playing fast is something we were good at, so this time I wanted to bring even more diversity into our music," Fred elaborates. "It's great to challenge ourselves instead of staying in a comfort zone, and I really wanted to experiment with Marc's vocals. I think people are going to be surprised at his brutality."

The title corresponds with the album's highly impressive sleeve art, which features a dragon bursting through a wormhole into a hi-tech, futuristic cityscape.

"The dragon represents us - DragonForce - and a form of music that's been around for a very long time, emerging into an outside world that's infinitely more crazy and chaotic than it was ten years ago," Li explains, using considerable understatement. "Everyone is saying that there's no future and there's a lot of fear and uncertainty, especially for younger people, but our music is an escape from it all."

The bulk of the album was laid down at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden, though additional parts were cut in studios around the UK and in California. They had to be - "Since 'Killer Elite' it's been non- stop for us," Li comments.

Adds Leclercq: "We flew out, played a festival, headed back into the studio, then went back out again. It was very intense and tiring. I obviously played bass but also a lot of rhythm guitar, electric and acoustic, and lost my temper a few times - I think we all did at some point, because we wanted to deliver nothing but the best."

Expect many of these songs to become firm live favourites, particularly the super-fast 'Midnight Madness' (feted as the album's second video track), when DragonForce hit the road again. As usual, their itinerary will take them to the four corners of the world.
DragonForce is a trailblazing force in the realm of extreme power metal. Acclaimed as the world's fastest band, their Grammy-nominated journey has been nothing short of legendary. The catalyst of their international fame came with the release of the platinum-selling masterpiece, "Through the Fire and Flames," which became the ultimate challenge for players on Guitar Hero III - Legends of Rock, solidifying their status as musical pioneers.

In every corner of the globe, DragonForce has earned an army of dedicated fans, thanks to their electrifying and entertaining live performances, infused with infectious energy and light-hearted humour.

Beyond their original and unforgettable epic compositions, DragonForce is celebrated for their signature long, complex, and lightning-fast guitar solos, masterfully crafted by the virtuosic duo of Herman Li and Sam Totman. United by destiny through a fateful classified ad in 1999, they founded the band and set the stage for an illustrious musical odyssey.

A storied discography spanning eight studio albums attests to their creative ingenuity, starting with the fiery intensity of "Valley of the Damned" (2003) and the relentless "Sonic Firestorm" (2004). The unparalleled momentum continued with the chart-topping "Inhuman Rampage" (2006), solidifying their position among metal elites. The Billboard Top 20 hit "Ultra Beatdown" (2008) and the anthemic "The Power Within" (2012) kept the flame burning bright.

In 2014, they unleashed "Maximum Overload," followed by "Reaching into Infinity" (2017) and the electrifying "Extreme Power Metal" (2019). Each album showcases the fusion of classic 80's rock sing-along choruses, uplifting melodies, and fantastical power-metal-inspired lyrics, evoking a sense of triumphant grandeur in every note.

Fuelling their music with a love for the video game world, DragonForce artfully incorporates retro game sounds and melodies into both their studio recordings and thrilling live shows, further enhancing their unique identity.

Ever-evolving, DragonForce is currently on the verge of unveiling their most monumental album to date, poised to unleash an epic world tour that promises to be their most colossal yet. North America will bear witness to the kickoff of this monumental journey on October 20th, 2023.

Prepare to be engulfed in the unyielding flames of DragonForce's sonic prowess, as they continue to push the boundaries of metal and inspire legions of fans across the globe. The saga of DragonForce is far from over; it is an eternal symphony of speed, power, and unrelenting passion for the metal genre.

Get ready for an unparalleled experience! DragonForce is set to bring the most unique stage production yet on their upcoming world tour. Taking it to the next level, the show will captivate the audience like never before. Brace yourself for a groundbreaking fusion of music and visuals that will redefine metal concerts. Prepare to be amazed!

~~~~~~~~~

Known as the fastest band in the world, Grammy-nominated extreme power metal band DragonForce is based in London, England. Their platinum-selling record, Through the Fire and Flames, brought them international acclaim and was featured as the most-challenging song on Guitar Hero III. Their energetic and humorous live performances have won them fans on every continent.

DragonForce's latest album, Extreme Power Metal features uplifting choruses, catchy melodies, and mind-bending guitar solos. After playing just a few shows in 2020, DragonForce is coming back to the US to complete its Extreme Power Metal World Tour in March and April 2022.

Get ready for lasers, giant arcade machines, confetti, dragons and, of course, fire and flames! "DragonForce shows always feel like a party," guitarist Herman Li says, "We're so excited to come back to the US. We've spent the last year making our live show even more epic and insane than ever before, and we can't wait for everyone to see the craziness we have planned."

~~~~~~~~~

Long running Grammy-nominated extreme melodic power metal band DragonForce release their seventh album, 'Reaching Into Infinity', on May 19. Once again recorded with Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Soilwork), the producer extraordinaire who helmed the UK-based group's now three-year- old previous record 'Maximum Overload', it will be available via earMUSIC in Europe, Metal Blade Records in the United States and Roadrunner in Japan.
'Reaching Into Infinity' introduces Italian drummer Gee Anzalone, who joined the band for their first ever 'best-of' collection, 'Killer Elite: The Hits, The Highs, The Vids', released in 2016. It's the third DragonForce album to feature frontman Marc Hudson, whose reign at the mic now enters its sixth year.

"Marc is becoming more and more involved with the writing process, especially in the lyrics," acknowledges guitarist Herman Li. "Mostly, though, these songs came from Frédéric [Leclercq, bassist] and Sam [Totman, guitarist]."

Musically speaking, 'Reaching Into Infinity' continues where DragonForce left off with 'Maximum Overload', the band's faster material becoming even faster still, while the melodic parts head even further in that particular direction. The band offer no apologies for the inclusion of a 1980s rock-style ballad entitled 'Silence' and, at the other end of the spectrum, there's even an 11-minute multi- tempoed monster called 'The Edge Of The World'.
"'The Edge Of The World' is DragonForce's longest ever song," says Li proudly. "In some ways, this album is more epic than anything we've done before."

'The Edge Of The World' is extremely ambitious, channelling growled vocals from Hudson and fusing them with a stunning arrangement that twists and turns like the proverbial dragon's tail. The 'Force go prog-rock, anyone?

"Why not?" Li responds. "Marc's favourite style of music is prog, and I'm a massive fan of Dream Theater, so there's an element of that going on. With each album that we make, the band reveals more and more if its influences, constantly adding to what we can do."

"We have proven that playing fast is something we were good at, so this time I wanted to bring even more diversity into our music," Fred elaborates. "It's great to challenge ourselves instead of staying in a comfort zone, and I really wanted to experiment with Marc's vocals. I think people are going to be surprised at his brutality."

The title corresponds with the album's highly impressive sleeve art, which features a dragon bursting through a wormhole into a hi-tech, futuristic cityscape.

"The dragon represents us - DragonForce - and a form of music that's been around for a very long time, emerging into an outside world that's infinitely more crazy and chaotic than it was ten years ago," Li explains, using considerable understatement. "Everyone is saying that there's no future and there's a lot of fear and uncertainty, especially for younger people, but our music is an escape from it all."

The bulk of the album was laid down at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden, though additional parts were cut in studios around the UK and in California. They had to be - "Since 'Killer Elite' it's been non- stop for us," Li comments.

Adds Leclercq: "We flew out, played a festival, headed back into the studio, then went back out again. It was very intense and tiring. I obviously played bass but also a lot of rhythm guitar, electric and acoustic, and lost my temper a few times - I think we all did at some point, because we wanted to deliver nothing but the best."

Expect many of these songs to become firm live favourites, particularly the super-fast 'Midnight Madness' (feted as the album's second video track), when DragonForce hit the road again. As usual, their itinerary will take them to the four corners of the world.
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The UC Theatre 25 Upcoming Events
2036 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704

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