ALBUM REVIEW: Warp Speed Warriors – DragonForce

God bless DRAGONFORCE and their steadfast refusal to let go of the cheese they have clung onto with a vicelike grip since their very beginnings. The power metal icons from London by way of New Zealand have officially been shredding their way through life for a full quarter of a century and, while their star may have dimmed a notch or two since their mid-to late 00s heyday – where they supported IRON MAIDEN and achieved global fame thanks to the Guitar Hero franchise and biggest hit Through the Fire and Flames – the five-piece have never been anything less than themselves when it’s come to recording and releasing new music. It’s a trend that continues with Warp Speed Warriors, their ninth album and first in five years, released on March 15th by way of Napalm Records.

So yes, if you didn’t like DRAGONFORCE before now, you’re not about to have your mind changed any time soon. Warp Speed Warriors is, once again, a furious maelstrom of pummelling drums, squealing guitar solos and, on occasion, the sort of lyrical content that would make Homer Simpson shout ‘NEEERRRRRRDDDDD!’ out of his car window so loud you’d hear him in Shelbyville.

Case in point: Power Of The Triforce, which is a full-blown tribute to the Legend Of Zelda series that sits nicely alongside the band’s previous videogame-inspired ditties like Symphony Of The Night (Castlevania) and The Last Dragonborn (Skyrim). It follows Astro Warrior Anthem, a track with some seriously sci-fi-esque keyboards that makes you wonder why DRAGONFORCE have never found someone to permanently replace Vadim Pruhzanov; the soaring chorus and symphonic middle eight are also things of beauty.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that a couple of tracks don’t quite hit the spot, even when you take DRAGONFORCE‘s wild and wacky range into consideration. Kingdom Of Steel suffers from placement more than anything – there’s no reason for a mid-paced power ballad to be third in ANY track listing – but it’s also in competition with songs from the back catalogue like Dawn Over A New World and Trail Of Broken Hearts, which are just far superior in their impact and craftmanship.

Space Marine Corps is another culprit and may just be the first time DRAGONFORCE have gone TOO cheesy, with the lyrics already quite cringe-inducing before it’s tipped fully over the edge by the laughable, faux military manoeuvre chanting. Thankfully, there’s enough around these to keep smiles on face, from the lead bass showcase of most recent member Alicia Vigil on Burning Heart to the SABATON-like build in Pixel Prison… and that’s all before Wildest Dreams (Dragonforce’s Version), where the band’s penchant for left-field covers gives us this bonkers version of TAYLOR SWIFT‘s reworking of her gem from 2014’s 1989 record.

Love ’em or hate ’em, DRAGONFORCE aren’t going anywhere any time soon, and Warp Speed Warriors is the sound of a band who are still absolutely loving every moment of being together. Even when they get a little too much, the sheer infection and vibrancy of their music powers through, ensuring that anyone who listens will be left with a smile on their face and a fist of joy extended towards the stars.

Rating: 7/10

Warp Speed Warriors is set for release on March 15th via Napalm Records.

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