#Dragonforce valley of the damned series

It actually sounds like dudes playing instruments, not a product made in a lab (which is funny considering how terrible they were live). The production quality of this album really reminds me of early Blind Guardian, it's nice and unpolished. But that hardly accounts for their whole sound. Sure, Judas Priest had the harmonized guitar leads, and Queen had harmonized vocals. And even still Powerquest aren't this over-the-top. Other than their countrymen, Powerquest, who debuted right around the same time, I can't see where their influence comes from. The quickness of the drum beats, the tremolo picking, guitar harmonization and noodly leads, and the choir vocals that sometimes harmonize. Looking back even today, I cannot firmly nail down who exactly their influences are. Silly memories aside, this album really has it's upside, and the majority of tracks stand the test of time. The blazing pace and noodling guitars really separated it from stuff like Iron Maiden. Dragonforce stood out to me for playing melodic music at a blistering pace. Up to this point my only real exposure to metal was Slayer, Iron Maiden and Megadeth. Ironic that this band would arguably become one of the most visible pure power metal bands in the world. I discovered this album back in the days of MP3.com (I actually think that was before the release of the album), and it was this, Shadowland by Nocturnal Rites and Evilized by Dream Evil.

#Dragonforce valley of the damned series

Continuing the unofficial series of albums and bands I liked in 2003 - Valley of the Damned.