Grammy-nominated extreme power metal frontrunners DRAGONFORCE have unveiled their new single, “Astro Warrior Anthem”, together with an official music video. The breathtaking opening track from the epic new album, “Warp Speed Warriors”, out on March 15, 2024 via Napalm Records, lives up to DRAGONFORCE‘s reputation as the world’s fastest band — captivating the listener from the very beginning and stunning with guitar solos delivered at an extreme speed.
DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li comments on “Astro Warrior Anthem”: “‘Astro Warrior Anthem’ captures all the elements of DRAGONFORCE‘s music, fused with an explosive music video. I am sure our fans will love it.”
On “Warp Speed Warriors”, DRAGONFORCE — composed of of guitar virtuosos and founding members Herman Li and Sam Totman, singer Marc Hudson, bassist Alicia Vigil and drummer Gee Anzalone — explore a wider range of varying musical styles than ever before, evolving their sound throughout the exciting musical journey while still staying true to their roots.
Herman stated about “Warp Speed Warriors”: “After four years of creative incubation, we are beyond excited to release what we believe to be our most ambitious and grandiose record yet. This album showcases multiple facets of our artistic abilities, and we invite metal aficionados from every corner of the genre to discover something captivating within its layers. We can’t wait to share this chapter of our musical journey with you, it’s going to be EPIC!”
“Power Of The Triforce” keeps the volume high before DRAGONFORCE temporarily slows it down for the ballad “Kingdom Of Steel”. Rapid drum patterns and thrilling guitars carry the catchy “Burning Heart”, while chanting “Space Marine Corp” features a strong and uplifting chorus. Electronic influences on grandiose power metal anthem “The Killer Queen” hypnotize, as singer Marc Hudson‘s vocals reach for the skies. On “Doomsday Party”, 1980s rock influences meet captivating retro video game soundscapes and epic guitar solos in true DRAGONFORCE manner. The last original track on “Warp Speed Warriors”, “Pixel Prison”, is followed by DRAGONFORCE‘s unexpected yet brilliant cover of Taylor Swift‘s “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” as a bonus track that wraps up the epic adventure.
“Warp Speed Warriors” was produced, mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California with Sam Totman and Herman Li. This album is a matchless, innovative listening experience that continues the band’s legacy with songs that will, without a shadow of a doubt, become instant classics in and beyond the DRAGONFORCE canon.
“Warp Speed Warriors” track listing:
01. Astro Warrior Anthem
02. Power Of The Triforce
03. Kingdom Of Steel
04. Burning Heart
05. Space Marine Corp
06. Doomsday Party
07. Prelude To Darkness
08. The Killer Queen
09. Pixel Prison
In November 2022, DRAGONFORCE released a music video for the song “The Last Dragonborn”. The track is taken from “Extreme Power Metal”, which came out in September 2019. Produced in Los Angeles, California by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited, the LP was also recorded, in part, on Li‘s livestream channel on Twitch with participation from the fans.
“The Last Dragonborn” was the first DRAGONFORCE music video to feature Vigil, who first joined the band as a touring member in January 2020.
DRAGONFORCE‘s platinum-selling single “Through The Fire And Flames” brought the London-based Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim and was featured as the most challenging song on “Guitar Hero III”.
In March 2019, the “Through The Fire And Flames” music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE‘s first music video to do so.
“Through The Fire And Flames” is the leadoff track from 2006’s “Inhuman Rampage” album, which was officially certified gold in July 2017 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.
In August 2019, DRAGONFORCE parted ways with longtime bassist Frédéric Leclercq. He has since joined German thrashers KREATOR.
DRAGONFORCE is:
Herman Li – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Sam Totman – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Marc Hudson – Vocals
Alicia Vigil – Bass, Backing Vocals
Gee Anzalone – Drums, Backing Vocals
Photo credit: Travis Shinn