DragonForce Live in Bangkok - Mahisorn Auditorium
Here on a rampage
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British power metallers DragonForce bring their own brand of melodic rock to Bangkok this weekend
English power metal band DragonForce jet into town this week on their second visit and will hit headbangers with a mega-concert on Friday at the Mahisorn Auditorium, SCB Park on Bangkok's Ratchadaphisek Road.
The Nation
British power metallers DragonForce bring their own brand of melodic rock to Bangkok this weekend
English power metal band DragonForce jet into town this week on their second visit and will hit headbangers with a mega-concert on Friday at the Mahisorn Auditorium, SCB Park on Bangkok's Ratchadaphisek Road.
The London-based outfit, who played a promo set at Rock Pub a few years back, features nimble-fingered guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman, along with ZP Theart on vocals, Vadim Pruzhanov on keyboards, Dave Mackintosh on drums and Frederic Leclercq on bass.
And their return has every fan pogoing with joy. Voravit "Pop" Charoneponna-pachai, winner of the second Overdrive Guitar Contest, has been restlessly waiting for another chance to see them. "The show at Rock Pub was amazing, but they've come a long way since then. Especially the Hong Kong-born Herman Li - his guitar solos are just incredible. He's like a swordsman."
Jakrin "Ton" Juprasert, Silly Fools' guitarist agrees. "Actually all the band members are outstanding, but Li and Totman are something else. I've been practising speed picking for many years but I've never achieved that clarity of sound."
Ebola axeman Surapong "Oe" Buapan adds: "After listening to DragonForce's songs, I got really excited about their harmonised solo passages. But when I tried to play at the same speed as Li, I found it impossible to pick the notes about clearly."
DragonForce land in the capital tomorrow and will be giving television and press interviews on Thursday and Friday.
"I find it incredible that a British metal band has appeared on the covers of American magazines like Guitar World and Guitar One," says Overdrive editor Prart Aroonrangsi, who is the man behind the concert.
"DragonForce are different from other rock bands of this decade, most of whom have tended to blend rock with other genres like hip-hop. DragonForce liked to call their music 'extreme power metal', which is reminiscent of heavy metal outfits from the '80s, but faster, stronger and more powerful."
"They've developed their own style since the beginning," adds Music Express editor Piyoros "Touch" Luckcam. "They blend old-school music of the '80s with today's nu metal."
The story of DragonForce started in early 2000, when Li, bored of playing with a succession of underground metal and rock outfits in and around London, decided to form his band. He called it Dragonheart but later changed the name to DragonForce.
In 2003, the band released its debut, "Valley of the Damned" on Noise Records. "Sonic Firestorm" followed in 2004 and earned Li the Dimebag Darrell Young Guitarist Award for Best Shredder at the 2005 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards.
Last year, the band released "Inhuman Rampage" on Roadrunner Records.
DragonForce were invited to play the main stage at Britain's Download Festival 2006, and followed up with three concerts in Japan, including the Loud Park Festival. The went on to promote "Inhuman Rampage" in Australia and the US, while still maintaining a high profile in mainland Europe.
As last year drew to a close, Li and Totman made a strong showing in the annual Guitar World readers' poll, with Li picking up the most votes for "Best New Talent", "Best Metal", "Best Riff" and "Best Shredder".
This year, he performed as a special guest of guitar legend Steve Vai at the Ibanez Jem/RG model 20th Anniversary show in Hollywood, and joined an all-star jam with guitar heroes Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine and Andy Timmons.
"DragonForce's speed picking is faster than most other bands on the circuit - a massive 200-keynote tempo," says Voravit, who played the metal band's "Through the Fire and Flames" and "Black Fire" at last month's press conference.
" 'Black Fire' is particularly hard because it runs for more than seven minutes and uses several sound effects. It also has a striking harmonised solo. But it's a great number and even though it's off their first album, I'm hoping they'll play it at their show."
Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul
The Nation
Tickets for "DragonForce Live in Bangkok" cost Bt1,000 and are available at Thaiticketmaster.com.
