DragonForce - Killer Elite (2016)Release ID: 9471
Welcome back to my small series of power metal band compilations from my earlier epic metal taste with new scenarios to fit with the songs, this time it's a compilation from the one band that started my entire metal interest, DragonForce! Their compilation Killer Elite is just like what the subtitle says, "The Hits and the Highs", with the first disc containing successful singles and well-known hits, and the second disc containing songs that are higher level of epic and extreme. There's also a bonus disc called The Vids with every DragonForce music video up to the compilation's release. I can even write some scene ideas for each song. A world of dragons and guitar solos await!
The album kicks off with their most popular song, and the complete start of my entire metal interest... "Through the Fire and Flames"!! If it wasn't for this song, or for my dad and brother both finding it, I wouldn't have been interested in metal, or maybe I would via a different song. Yes, this is indeed my own metal "big bang" (NOT the K-pop boy band, the universal beginning I mean). From the intricate guitar lines and solo plus strange Pac-Man noises to the amazing vocals and fantasy lyrics, this song burned away my horrid radio-pop future and replaced it with a glorious metal one. And I can't believe it was just 8 years ago when it all started. So thank you DragonForce, along with my dad and brother! For that song's scene idea, it would be the main title and opening credits.
The second track "Holding On" is the opener of the band's first album with their new young lead singer Marc Hudson, already heard from the intro with an immense power metal scream that might remind some of Michael Kiske in Helloween's Keeper of the Seven Keys albums. Then the usual power metal comes on with Hudson's vocals. For that scene idea, the intro would be the march into battle, then the battle begins throughout the rest of the song. The single "Heroes of Our Time" keeps up the verse-chorus structure I find boring in most other bands, but for soloing, there are so many random changes that you can't tell what's next. Brilliant! As the heroes fight the enemies, the generals duel each other. The slower but still epic "Cry Thunder" is another one of my favorite DragonForce songs, and my favorite with their new vocalist Marc Hudson! An amazing song worth playing air-guitar until your fingers break and headbanging until you sprain your neck. Its mid-tempo pace (unlike their usual faster songs) reminds me of Irish folk and especially the Skyrim theme. This would fit well for when Thor has his own army to lead him into war and fight. Seriously, it's that awesome!! You can't miss this! It fits well not just for Skyrim or Final Fantasy but also for any MMORPG that has ever existed. I agree with anyone who says this is nice and beautiful. It's really good for when medieval dragons face off against space aliens. An epic hit that has established DragonForce as one of the greatest modern power metal bands besides Alestorm. Well done, DF! There's an epic ride of the reinforcements into the ongoing battle at the last second.
The next song "Black Fire" is another greatly fitting song where the amazing duo Herman and Sam shine with their guitar skills, alongside ZP's amazing vocals. And the chorus is so great! Also, part of the soloing is sampled from a Double Dragon theme. This song fits well for the climax of the battle with the arrival of dragons during the soloing to finish off the enemy army. "Dawn Over a New World" is an uplifting power ballad, though not as great as the first 5 songs of the compilation. The heroes' leader rides a dragon over the lands to the next point of the story. "Fields of Despair" sounds great with lots of unique soloing, but why did they include the live version from Twilight Dementia?! Back then, they downtuned to E-flat tuning for touring which ended up being an epic fail! They should've used the studio version and put it before "Dawn Over a New World". Oh well... The leader's dragon gets shot down by a thousand arrows, result in them both getting killed. The rest of the army know another battle is coming...
A shorter hyperspeed thrash assault, "The Game" is their fastest song at nearly 240bpm. The action kicks off with NES synthesizers, blazing guitars, and a cliché but cool chorus which, if it was at the usual 200bpm, would've been an Ultra Beatdown side. There are also some sick background growls by Matt Heafy from Trivium, the band that made me initially turn my back on power metal for a new heavier modern style of metal. Another battle begins, and the heroes fight the enemies for the former's fallen leader.
"Operation Ground and Pound" is another single and would probably be my 7th favorite song (the first 6 being those first 5 songs and "The Game"). It has excellent verses, an amazing chorus, incredible soloing, and even the music video is awesome! The battle is still raging, but it seems like it might end soon.
"Seasons" is a more mid-tempo song (compared to their usual faster works) that sounds inspired by the radio singles of Gamma Ray and Stratovarius, and also borrows some of that slow tempo from Ultra Beatdown. The battle seems pointless for the heroes to continue without their leader, with the villains' victory being inevitable.
The really kick-A "Reasons to Live" shows creative difference in tempo, writing, and melody. It's so great hearing DragonForce trying something different yet staying true to what they are. Anyone who thinks DragonForce is better off performing what they have done in their first 3 albums should really listen to Ultra Beatdown and this compilation to change their minds. It can be h*lla shocking, but you'll find a fantastic experience as always. The surviving heroes retreat and the bad guys win the battle.
"Soldiers of the Wasteland" is a true epic! This song was DragonForce's longest song for over a decade at nearly 10 minutes, as opposed to their 7-minute song length. The song has everything DragonForce can do; swift vocals, epic lyrics, some of the longest and most impressive soloing ever done by the band, and a slower midsection that builds up for the soloing and ending to be more epic once you get there. That slower section ends with those grand awesome vocals to prepare you for the epic soloing. The bad guys making ultimate plans to level up their strength, while the good guys have their own plan; finding a new strong leader. Can they do it? Find out in Act 2...
The power metal action of the second disc kicks off in "Valley of the Damned"! It has amazed me for like 7 or 8 years now. You already start to hear the amazing voice of ZP Theart in the first verse that rises from soft and deep to excited and high-pitched. The music has faster speed than Sonic in the exciting atmosphere. The real treat is in the middle of the song when you get the mesmerizing soloing from guitar wizards Herman Li and Sam Totman. They're the greatest guitar duo still intact in the present day, a greater blend of melody and speed than Slayer! After the final chorus, ZP does a majestic falsetto scream that starts a glorious melodic solo by Sam to conclude the song on an uplifting note. Back to the scenario, The heroes have finally found a strong enough warrior to lead them for the upcoming final battle. They are now ready... "Fury of the Storm" is another favorite of mine and other DragonForce fans'. It has a good chorus and the usual shining guitar playing. The heroes begin a friendly practice battle with the villains before the real thing so that they could all be prepared for a fair war. Then we have another awesome song "Revolution Deathsquad", though this one is a bit generic. It's got catchy verses and a glorious chorus, along with background harsh vocals. However, the long guitar soloing could've been better shorter. One of the heroes ends up getting killed in the practice battle. Some of the heroes wanted to start the actual battle right there, but the leader suggested not doing so. They agreed but are still a bit mad.
"Wings of Liberty" is the longest song in The Power Within at the formerly typical 7 and a half minutes, while all other songs in that album are each in an average 5 minutes. To be honest, it actually sounds like a wimpy take on their past material and doesn't have that past glory. It sounds really satisfying though. The practice battle is over, and there's some emotional talking before the real battle.
"My Spirit Will Go On" is another live fan favorite, though not as much as the song following this one in the original album ("Fury of the Storm"). This one is pretty straight with a catchy chorus and a progressive midsection. The vocals are the star there while, of course, have their spotlight. There's a spirit-lifting rousing pre-battle speech to troops.
"Three Hammers" ushers in a rare combo of mid-paced epicness and ultra-fast heavy soloing. There's quite some asymmetry involved, but Marc Hudson's vocals are clean and operatically high to enough shatter glass. They used the live version from In the Line of Fire, but that's OK, that live album is better than the one with ZP Theart, though I still prefer if they used the studio version. The armies make their final preparations, and once the fast soloing begins, the battle is on! "Symphony Of The Night" has a handful of predictability, but there are new symphonic elements to make up for that such as baroque instruments and neo-classical progressions to fill up their stylistic toolkit. As the armies fight, both leaders have a final duel to the death.
"The Last Journey Home" also has different changes compared to their earlier material, including being more mid-paced and progressive. While this is one of the best from Ultra Beatdown, it still can't beat the band's greater hits. The enemies' are all defeated and the heroes march to their homes while fighting monsters in different pathways.
Then we have the ballad "Starfire" (wow, they really named a couple songs after one of the Teen Titans, Starfire and her evil sister Blackfire). It opens with cool atmospheric piano with background rain. I don't usually love a lot of ballads, but I love this! Though not the live version from Twilight Dementia, you know the reason. It's all over. The war has concluded, the heroes won and are back home. All in all, a happy ending to this story... OR IS IT?? Back in the enemies' king's throne, the king regains consciousness and wakes up, hinting at a sequel... "Heart of a Dragon" is an amazing uplifting song that serves as a happy ending to this compilation, but its scene idea is...the end credits.
Whew! Another long story to fit as the soundtrack for this incredible power metal compilation. If you already have the latest two DragonForce albums Reaching Into Infinity (the next album I would review to bridge the gap) and Extreme Power Metal, and you want the rest of their discography but can only afford one more album, then this is the album to get for the best of their first 6 albums. Hope you enjoy the best of what was the best power metal band for me, and its unofficial accompanying story I just made!
Favorites (one per album for each disc): "Through the Fire and Flames", "Heroes of Our Time", "Cry Thunder", "Black Fire", "The Game", "Soldiers of the Wasteland", "Valley of the Damned", "Fury of the Storm", "Revolution Deathsquad", "Wings of Liberty", "Symphony of the Night", "The Last Journey Home"
