DragonForce

Founded in London in 1999 around guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman, initially under the name DragonHeart, DragonForce established itself in a very fast brand of power metal, informed by speed metal and occasional progressive touches. Their sound relies on twin guitars driven at very high tempo, melodic choruses, lyrics drawn from fantastical imagery and a tone that at times evokes 1980s and 1990s video game music. After an early phase marked by Valley of the Damned (2003) and Sonic Firestorm (2004), the band significantly broadened its audience with Inhuman Rampage (2005), propelled by Through the Fire and Flames, which gained wide exposure through music games. Following the departure of singer ZP Theart in 2010, DragonForce recruited Marc Hudson, who debuted on The Power Within (2012). Subsequent releases include Maximum Overload (2014), Reaching into Infinity (2017), Extreme Power Metal (2019) and Warp Speed Warriors (2024). A regular presence on international tours and major metal stages, DragonForce has shared bills with Iron Maiden, Disturbed and Slipknot, while maintaining at its core the songwriting tandem of Li and Totman.