IN THE VALLEY OF METAL

DRAGONFORCE

A POWER METAL BAND FROM ENGLAND IS NOT A USUAL PHENOMENON IN OUR DAYS. DRAGONFORCE AFTER THE BIG SUCCES THEY HAD WITH THEIR DEMO, ARE READY TO WIN MORE FANS WITH THEIR NEW OFFICIAL ALBUM. WE TALKED ABOUT THE BAND AND IT'S NEW ALBUM WITH THE GUITARIST HERMAN LI.

1.FIRST OF ALL POINT OUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND'S HISTORY UP TO DATE. WHICH IS THE CURRENT LINE UP?

We are based in london. Started off in September 1999, we recorded our demo after being together for 6 months and release our first demo entitled DragonHeart - Valley of the Damned out on mp3 through the internet for free. Less than 1 year together in 2000, we played a tour with Halford and Stratovarius in England. In 2001, we spend the year headlining our own shows across England, changed the band name to DragonForce and signed a deal with Sanctuary/Noise Records in March 2002. Our demo songs received almost half a million download from the mp3.com site alone with number 1 power metal chart position for over 2 years.Now, our debut album just came out and we arranging a number of shows across the UK, Europe and anywhere else we can get to play. Current line up of the band is: Herman Li - me on guitar, Sam Totman - guitars, ZP Theart - vocals, Didier Almouzni - Drums, and Vadim Pruzhanov on keyboards.

2.YOU WERE FIRSTLY NAMED DRAGONHEART, HOWEVER YOU CHANGED THAT NAME INTO DRAGONFORCE. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANTED TO AVOID CONFUSION WITH OTHER BANDS, BUT WHAT ABOUT WITH LABELS AND MOVIE? HOW COULD ANYONE CONFUSE YOU THIS WAY?

Well, more than 1 metal band with the same name DragonHeart, some people they were getting us confused with one in Brazil, vice versa.

3.ENGLAND IS MAINLY KNOWN FOR ITS EXTREME METAL ACTS MAINLY, BUT YOU PLAY HEAVY/POWER METAL. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR A BAND BASED IN ENGLAND TO PLAY SUCH KIND OF METAL?

These days it is more known for extreme metal acts, 20+ years ago for starting heavy metal. It's not really a problem for us anymore, it was quite hard to get gigs in England when we first started but now have been gigging since year 2000, it is getting better and better for us and it's been building up really well for DragonForce. The UK is actually looking very exciting for us and we are gonna try really hard to get it going once again. Sanctuary are totally behind us for the UK. :)

4.HOW MANY RELEASES DO YOU HAVE THIS FAR? CAN YOU GIVE US SOME GENERAL INFO REGARDING YOUR DEBUT ALBUM "VALLEY OF THE DAMNED"?

We released the 5 tracks, 33minutes demo in June 2000 on the internet which was a great success and still going strong. Our first real release is of course this new album. We believe all the songs are great on the album, all really catchy, melodic and it is the most intense, fastest power metal album. We try to push everything to another level, speed that is REAL speed with insane guitars and really strong loud production that you can feel energy of the band from the CD.

5.WHY DID YOU USE THE SAME NAME FOR YOUR DEBUT ALBUM AS FOR YOUR PREVIOUS DEMO RELEASE?

Because we changed the band name and Valley of the Damned is probably our most famous song. The demo was just a warm up, this album is the real deal and everything is so much better and improved than the songs in its demo state 2 years ago. This closes the first chapter of the band, starting off, getting the record deal and all that.

6.WHAT ARE YOUR LYRICS TALKING ABOUT? FROM WHICH FIELDS DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION? DO YOU PREFER TO TALK ABOUT REAL LIFE SITUATIONS, FANTASY STORIES OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN?

Well, the fantasy theme is just a bridge to bring forward different things we talk about. We let our listenner interpret the songs their own way. Since everyone is different, if people can find the meaning of the songs and relate to their own life experiences, they will feel closer to them and find each song more special.

7.YOU HAVE TOURED WITH MANY GREAT NAMES. CAN YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR EXPERIENCES? WHICH BAND OR WHO HELPED YOU THE MOST AND WAS THE FRIENDLIEST WITH YOU?

Out of Halford, Stratovarius and Virgin Steele, the Halford tour were definitely the best. The band and crew were really nice to us. It was one hell of an experience to be able to open for the Metal God!

8.DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A 5 PIECE BAND AND THAT EVERYONE COMES FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD, HELPED YOU MUSICALLY OR DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO COME FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES TO COPE TOGETHER?

I never really saw this part as a problem, since we are all used to working with people from other places. We all live in London, so we are so used to meeting people from different countries. This question about the race, nationality and culture difference never really crossed my mind before. I think it's more a strength with the different life experiences and cultural knowledge DragonForce have.

9.WHICH IS THE BIGGEST DREAM YOU WANT TO MAKE TRUE THROUGH YOUR MUSIC? HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED?

Goals and dreams change as life goes on. When a goal is reach, a new one is set. We always set realistic goals, reach them and move to a higher one. We don't want to be static and just say it has to be like this now and forever. As we learn more in music and life, we can make better decisions, so next week my idea might have changed since I realise with the new information I got, that was a bad idea! hehehe

10.STEVE WILLIAMS BELONGED IN THE BAND'S DYNAMICS FOR A WHILE. HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM RIGHT NOW? HAVE YOU LISTENED TO POWER QUEST'S DEBUT ALBUM? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I been so busy with DragonForce, I haven't spoken to him for over a year, only an email or 2. The Power Quest album have a few good songs and it's good for such a new band but they still have a lot of essential stuff to be learn. The one thing that really bothers me is the programmed drum machine on the CD, I can't stand it. They still haven't played live yet and metal is about live music so I hope they will do some shows and good luck to them. Maybe we will do some together one day.

11.YOU HAVE USED THE SAME PRODUCER WITH POWER QUEST AND THE SAME STUDIO (AT LEAST ONE OF THE 3 THAT YOU USED). I AM TALKING ABOUT KARL GROOM (THRESHOLD) AND THIN ICE STUDIOS. WHAT KIND OF PERSON IS KARL GROOM? WAS THERE A TIME THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HE OFFERED A SOLUTION? DID YOU VALUE HIS TASTE AND IDEAS?

Sam and I are the producers of this album, since we made the decisions on the sound. Karl came into the recording after we finished recording the drums with Tommy Hansen. He worked with us closely as the engineer and helped us when we have problems and when Sam and I couldn't agree on how the album should sound! haha! Karl is really cool, so the recording is always in a relaxed fun atmosphere. Of course, we ask him for ideas too when we are stuck. It's good to get an opinion off someone with more experience, who listen and play a different style of music. We hope to work with him again since he's done an incredible job on the album with what we had.

12.MANY TIMES IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAKE UNIQUE QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT WORN OUT. SO, HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR YOU TO OFFER UNIQUE ANSWERS?

I don't offer unique answers, I answer all question truly as I think that moment. I rather not say anything than lie, otherwise the fans aren't really reading an interview with a real person from the band but more of an imaginary person created. I think the problem these days, is a lot of muscians are afraid to say what they REALLY think in interviews. They are afraid to say what CD they think sound shit and what band they don't like. The rebel rock and roll image seems like it has turned more into a day job or diplomatic image. A lot of people say Malmsteen is an asshole, he is just saying what he truely believes in, I don't have problem with that. Aren't we allow to have our own thoughts anymore?

13.MANY ARE THOSE WHO SAY THAT EVERYTHING HAS ALREADY BEEN PLAYED IN HEAVY METAL MUSIC. THIS INSTANTLY MAKES YOU COPY CATS. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS?

I say wake up and listen to how much music have changed through out the years!

14.WHICH WAS THE STRANGEST QUESTION SOMEONE'S EVER DONE TO YOU? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ASKED AND NO ONE EVER DID? ANSWER IT AS WELL.

None strange enough that I still remember. Maybe this one and I just answered it! :)

15.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?

Nothing

16.IF YOUR MUSIC WAS AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Our music reflect more than 1 type of emotion, that's what makes it interesting and exciting :)

17.IF SUDDENLY ELECTRICITY CEASED TO EXIST, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD
HAPPEN TO HEAVY METAL? WOULD IT BE FORGOTTEN OR TRANSFORMED?

I would be more concern about many other things than that!

18.IF YOU COULD BE A HISTORICAL CHARACTER FOR A DAY, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

I am happy being myself!

19.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO HAVE?

Who cares? Cos no one will read it! :) oups LOL

20.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?

Thanks a lot for this email interview :) To the readers, check out the new album, you can download mp3s, videso and loads of other stuff from our web site http://www.dragonforce.com. If you already heard our demo songs from 2 years ago, well the album is much better in everyway, so check it out too! You'll be surprised! Hope to see you on tour this year very soon! Metal!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHRISTINE "azriel" PARASTATIDOY

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