Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for DragonForce - Warp Speed Warriors (2024)
What's up, dragon warriors?!? The power metal heroes of the new millennium are back after almost 5 years since their previous album! Well, I wouldn't say everybody would call this band heroes. Some might not like them as much as I and others do. They're basically my heroes because they're the first ever band to get me into metal, and they showed me what power metal should really be; fast tempos and technical soloing added to the genre's usual dose of epic and uplifting melody. The band have just reached album #9, Warp Speed Warriors, and they still have their creativity and speed within.
When lead vocalist Marc Hudson joined the band, some changes were made compared to the ZP Theart era. The songs are shorter and more restrained in length (except for an 11-minute epic), but they've added more adventurous diversity. Warp Speed Warriors sees the band exploring different territories as they did in Extreme Power Metal while not drastically diverting from their usual sound. So expect the usual speed, anthemic power, slight humor, and a cover song more powerful than its original.
The anthemic opener "Astro Warrior Anthem" has the band's signature speedy sound as intended. I'm talking about exhilarating speedy power metal with occasional glitchy video-game noises. Yet another grand album opener that does justice to the band's vision! Then we have the catchy "Power of the Triforce", paying tribute to The Legend of Zelda, mostly A Link to the Past. Having been released as a pre-release album single, longtime fans were considered thinking they were moving further away from their early glory. Nonetheless, it should definitely please the live crowd. "Kingdom of Steel", despite its power metal title, interestingly lightens things up as an 80s rock-inspired ballad.
Then we hit earth-shattering speed in "Burning Heart" with its blazing hammering fury, apart from a retro synthwave bridge. One of the most killer highlights here! Then "Space Marine Corp" takes you on a goofy fun Warhammer-inspired space adventure with gang vocals and a drill sergeant bridge. Also the first ever DragonForce song to have a swear word in the chorus?! Likely so! "Doomsday Party" is the first hint at this album, and a perfect catchy singalong single of disco-metal. LET'S F***ING GO!!!
"Prelude to Darkness" is an under one-minute interlude, which sounds cool but I'm not sure it was necessary to separate from the song it segues into. "The Killer Queen" is a killer (pun somewhat intended) standout of upbeat speed and melody like many other songs by the band. The final part of the non-CD edition, "Pixel Prison" is a true grand experience of every old and new thing the band has done, with some of the most adventurous ideas the band has had to date, all while guided through lyrics inspired by video games in general. EPIC!! The CD edition has a neat metalized cover of the Taylor Swift hit "Wildest Dreams". It still can't beat the previous album's Celine Dion cover though.
The deluxe edition comes with alternate editions of several tracks, the first 3 of which have guests; "Astro Warrior Anthem" featuring Matt Heafy (Trivium) singing the verses and Nita Strauss performing her own solos, "Burning Heart" featuring Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), and Doomsday Party" featuring Elize Ryd (Amaranthe). Talk about a powerhouse of metal guests! And they all perform their roles well. "Power of the Triforce" also appears in the bonus disc, albeit an instrumental version. That's too bad, I was hoping for some guest vocals for that song by Thomas Winkler (Angus McSix, ex-Gloryhammer) and/or Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, ex-Seventh Wonder). I also used to hope for the Beat Saber-exclusive "Power of the Saber Blade" as a bonus track too, but it sounds so similar to "Burning Heart" that it seems redundant and it's fine being left out.
DragonForce still have their strength in the diverse Warp Speed Warriors, but what will happen next? Will their setlist have great updates in their upcoming tour? Will session keyboardist Coen Janssen join DragonForce full-time at the cost of his time with Epica? And will their parody album plan happen? Only time will tell.... Hail the warriors!
Favorites: "Astro Warrior Anthem"*, "Burning Heart"*, "Doomsday Party"*, "The Killer Queen", "Pixel Prison"
*Including guest vocalist editions