Album Review: DragonForce – Warp Speed Warriors (Napalm Records)

Grammy-nominated extreme power metal pioneers Dragonforce will release their new album, Warp Speed Warriors, on March 15, 2024, via Napalm Records.

If your first reaction to hearing the name of DragonForce is to roll your eyes, be warned, this album isn’t going to be for you. However, if your first reaction is one of glee, then I have mighty good news for you. Warp Speed Warriors is DragonForce through and through, but does find the band experimenting here and there, as they set out in new directions.

Although, if you’ve been following along with the build to this album, you will be very familiar with a lot of it as many tracks have already been released as singles. One such previous single is the opener, Astro Warrior Anthem and tell me if you’ve heard this before… but DragonForce go big and fast here. That’s not a criticism though (mostly) as it’s what we all expect and many love. It’s a big track, both vocally and instrumentally, with plenty of grin-inducing flair, and a chorus that expects you to raise a fist in the air and sing along, as best as possible.

Of course, modern DragonForce have fully embraced their love of video games, and the next track, ‘Power of the Triforce’, is inspired by the Zelda game universe. A fun blast of hyperactivity that is very anthemic. So far, so very DragonForce.

How about something notably different though? Along come’s Kingdom of Steel to really lay the synth on thickly, delivering something daringly poppy, and stupidly infectious. This is an awesome track, and while it’s not a million miles removed from what the band does, as they’ve done plenty of ballads, it does stand out.

The frenetic speed and power are back with aplomb for Burning Heart, a track with cinematic flair. Before Space Marine Corp turns the dial up on the creative elements outside of the main instrumental section of DragonForce. Again, the latter is a fun track, really leaning into the inspiration, and offering up many moments that you’ll just want to sing and shout along to.

A short atmospheric and very synthy intermission called Prelude to Darkness then leads into the album’s ‘heaviest’ track, The Killer Queen. That overly familiar DragonForce feel is extremely present here, and the end result is something uninspired and uninteresting.

There’s a bit of a recovery with Doomsday Party though. An anthem of excitability, infectiousness, and rich energy. A great example of both the old and new sides of the band, the synth is very catchy, but it lacks a spark that makes it stand out from the crowd. Not a bad track, but not a great one either. Which also applies to the final original track, Pixel Prison, even though there are some imaginative moments here and there.

So, how do DragonForce finish off their new album? By covering Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dream in the only way they know how. Hey, it’s different and they certainly add their own touches to a beloved pop song. No disrespect to Taylor Swift at all, she’s a phenomenal artist, but you’re going to have to be a fan to really like this.

We’re not done though! Are you a big enough DragonForce fan to pick up the deluxe edition? If so, you can enjoy four more tracks. Specifically, variations on four of the album’s tracks, and three of which feature stellar guests.

First, there is a rendition of Astro Warrior Anthem that features Trivium’s Matthew K. Heafy and guitar virtuoso Nita Strauss. Then there is a version of Burning Heart that features Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz. Before Amaranthe’s Elize Ryd joins DragonForce on a version of Doomsday Party. All fun variations, but certainly not necessary listening. Which also applies to an instrumental version of Power of the Triforce. Though it’s certainly ‘bang for your buck’.

Warp Speed Warriors is a good album, let’s make that clear, and it shows just how important synth and cinematic elements are becoming to the DragonForce sound. That makes for an exciting future, but, when they slip into type, the album is often found lacking. One of the biggest criticisms of DragonForce is that every song sounds the same, and while that is mostly absurd, there is some truth to the fact that their frenetic playing can become repetitive. This album is less egregious, but those elements do exist, regardless. That does mean this album is unlikely to win over any detractors, but it might gain them plenty of new fans.

DragonForce – Warp Speed Warriors Track Listing:

1. Astro Warrior Anthem
2. Power of the Triforce
3. Kingdom of Steel
4. Burning Heart
5. Space Marine Corp
6. Prelude to Darkness
7. The Killer Queen
8. Doomsday Party
9. Pixel Prison
10. Wildest Dream (DragonForce’s Version) – Bonus Track (Taylor Swift Cover)

Bonus Tracks:

1. Astro Warrior Anthem (feat. Matthew K. Heafy, Nita Strauss)
2. Burning Heart (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
3. Doomsday Party (feat. Elize Ryd)
4. Power of the Triforce (Instrumental)

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