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Rating:
Power metal: A bizarre offshoot of metal. It consists of the search for a sound that is often melodic, "powered" by the often double-bass drumming.
Over the years, many bands have tried to imitate the patriarchs of this category without bringing innovation, surely creating something banal and predictable.
But for Dragonforce, it's different.
This power band FROM ENGLAND!!! has shaken up all the conventions of power, creating a mix of melody/power/extreme speed.
Their debut best represents the band's musical style.
Valley of the Damned starts with a very unique intro: it's devastating, containing 13 seconds of pure thrashing (at least they didn't do the usual keyboard intro that many other bands do, which, to be honest, I always skip, but I think you do too, right?! (the answer is obvious)
"Valley Of The Damned" is a fantastic song, an excellent opening as is the excellent vocal performance by ZP, reaching very high tones.
Following is "Black Fire". A score? 10/10! Beautiful, fast, and exciting.
"Black Winter Night" is a great track directly translated from the Ep with the demos along with "Revelations".
"Starfire" and "Evening Star" are among the brightest stars of this album (did you get the wordplay?... (: )
And we come to the climax: with the previous songs you will already have felt some spine-chilling shivers but with these two songs the emotion will reach maximum levels!!!!
LET'S NOW SEE TO GIVE AN EVALUATION OF THE ALBUM....
Track 1: not counted (that's better!)
Track 2: 4/5
Track 3: 5/5
Track 4: 4/5
Track 5: 3/5
Track 6: 5/5
Track 7: 4/5
Track 8: 4/5
Track 9: 5/5 (I'd give it a 6 but it's not possible)
overall rating 4/5 very very good listen to it!!!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Valley of the Damned (07:11)
On a cold dark winter night, hidden by the stormy light
A battle rages for the right, for what will become
In the valley of the damned, a warrior with sword in hand
Travels fast across the land, for freedom he rides
And the sign from the master on high
He screams aloud and across hear the cry
For the kingdom of fire and ice
And the power to be alive
Be strong ride on, carry on through the war
Come along carry on, living forevermore
On the wings of death, by the hands of doom
By the darkest light, from the darkest moon
Crossing silent seas, over mountains high
For we stand as one tonight
On the black wind forever we ride on together
Destroying your evil with freedom our guide
When the master will call us
He'll stand high before us
Our hearts filled with splendor
Our swords will shine over the light
In the valley of the damned
Days breaks with golden strand
Over pastures green it glows
To where night returns
In the shadows faces appear
Warriors wearing full metal gear
Join together one and all before the glorious light
Rise up, gather round, come and hear what is said
Use your senses, open your mind, don't you ever forget
On the wings of life, by the hands of hope
By the brightest light from the brightest sun
Crossing silent seas over mountains high
To the valley of the damned!
On the black wind forever we ride on together
Destroying your evil with freedom our guide
When the master will call us
He'll stand high before us
Our hearts filled with splendor
Our swords will shine over the light
-Guitar Solo-
On the black wind forever we ride on together
Destroying your evil with freedom our guide
When the master will call us
He'll stand high before us
Our hearts filled with splendor
Our swords will shine over
The black wind forever we ride on together
Destroying your evil with freedom our guide
When the master will call us
He'll stand high before us
Our hearts filled with splendor
Our swords will shine over the light!
05 Starfire (05:53)
Outside on a winter's night when as rain begins to fall,
There's a chill in the air and a howl of the wolf,
While the rain beats at the door.
Seven kings will ride on the wind up towards the mountains high,
And the only sound that will break the air is the warrior's bitter cry.
When the dawn of a new sun will see the day,
And the strongest hearts grow old,
And the warrior stands on top of the hill in the snow.
Dark night with a glimmering light in the distance up ahead,
In the forest they dwell with a misty spell no one hears what once was said,
And the eagle fly through the clouds while earth bleeds dark and cold,
When the voices of men will ring out again all creation shall unfold.
When the colour of night will fade to light as the mysteries unfold,
And the warrior stands on top of the hill in the snow.
And we're standing one and all fighting 'till we fall,
Hoping for a better day.
Never giving in until we find the words, 'till we find the words to say
'Till we find the words to say.
Burning starfire, shine in the sky
For the lifes of great men, who stand by your side;
When the night falls, on we will rise,
For no lost souls will live on forever.
Dead night on the valley below still the horsemen follow through,
There's a forest that leads to the foot of the hill, that inside the magic holds,
Seven strong they ride on along to the place where sorrow lies,
And the shadows of the night will no longer hide, all their mysteries come undone.
When the colour of night will turn to black,
and the weaker hearts go cold,
And the warrior stands on top of the hill in the snow~,
And we're standing one and all fighting 'till we fall,
Hoping for a better day.
Never giving in until we find the words, 'till we find the words to say,
'Till we find the words to say.
Burning starfire, shine in the sky,
For the lifes of great men, who stand by your side;
When the night falls, on we will rise,
For no lost souls will live on forever.
And we're standing one and all fighting 'till we fall
Hoping for a better day
Never giving in until we find the words, 'till we find the words to say
'Till we find the words to say...
Burning starfire, shine in the sky
For the lifes of great men, who stand by your side;
When the night falls, on we will rise,
For no lost souls will live on forever;
No lost souls will live on forever.
06 Disciples of Babylon (07:16)
Can you imagine that it's all up to you?
Evil embrace of powers unnatural
You're left in silence nothing more to behold
You close your eyes and visualize the day you'll get away
It's here, it's near
I see it all so clear
Tonight your flight will take you higher
It's here, it's near
You live a life of fear
Tonight is the night that will inspire
Crying alone at night your destiny unknown
You're every being full of rage and hate
Seems like you're running but you just can not hide
It's in a raging fear all solitude is left behind
It's here, it's near
I see it all so clear
Tonight your flight will take you higher
It's here, it's near
You live a life of fear
Tonight is the night that will inspire
Can he comfort thee?
And fill your life with ecstasy
Through the darkness
And the pain
Will you be the ones again?
Disciples of Babylon
It's here, it's near
I see it all so clear
Tonight your flight will take you higher
It's here, it's near
You live a life of fear
Tonight is the night that will inspire
Can he comfort thee?...
It's here, it's near
I see it all so clear
Tonight your flight will take you higher
It's here, it's near
You live a life of fear
Tonight is the night that will inspire
Can he comfort thee?
And fill your life with ecstasy
Through the darkness
And the pain
Will you be the ones again?
07 Revelations (06:52)
Coming down the mountain on high
Towards the battle we go side by side
Our hearts are filled with honour and pride
Cause we know our time has come
Silent voices down from below
Rising up through the ice and the snow
Ancient angers cast upon all
Through the land of the slain
Through the dark night and through the rain
Fighting machine we are risen again
Striving forever more...
We will survive
Stand and fight!
Join the light!
Into the battle with power and might
Sound the guns!
Raise the cannons of war
With the north star to guide us
We ride on the sky
Blazing up through the heavens
Like eagles we fly
And the horsemen shall come
They will judge all your lives
Revelations will now be unveiled
Darkened night set to swallow the light
All is lost there's no one left to fight
Overpowered by the glory and might
Of the ones who stand tall
Fallen heroes scattered around
Deafened ears opens up to the sound
Painful cries rising forever more
From the victims of life and of war
Through the dark night and through the rain
Fighting machine we are risen again
Striving forever more...
We will survive!
Stand and fight!
Join the light!
Into the battle with power and might
Sound the guns!
Raise the cannons of war
With the north star to guide us...
No more hope of freedom
Our dreams are washed away
The second age is coming
It's the dawn of a new day
Judgement stands before us
The second king will rise
Our swords will shine with honour
Hatred fills the sky...
Hatred fills the sky...
With the north star to guide us...
08 Evening Star (06:39)
We will sail on, forever on to the land of the evening star...
Into the endless we ride
Unveil the darkness behind
Abandoned glory hidden, castaway we ride
Now will the sky surrender
Forever through the never
A silent whisper echoes through my restless heart tonight
I will see the glory rise
We'll be one tonight
Don't you shut your eyes in silence
Tonight gather near, come and live your fear
In a land of desire your heart filled with fire
You live for the right to be free
We will sail on, forever on to the land of the evening star
In a land of desire your heart filled with fire
The land of the evening star
Now and forever after
Asylums filled with laughter
Suspicion haunts my dreams
An echo through my mind
This starlit gaze reminds me
Are you so blind you can't see?
The winds of change my friend
Will blow for you in the dead night
I will see glory rise
We'll be one tonight
Don't you shut your eyes in silence
Tonight gather near, come and live your fear
In a land of desire your heart filled with fire...
In a land of desire your heart filled with fire...
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Other reviews
By StayMetal
A group often criticized for their lack of originality (of which they are fully aware) and for their bad (or good, for the die-hard fans of high-level speed power) habit of exaggerating the speed of execution of almost all pieces.
'Black Fire' is a headache-inducing song from the first second of play, while 'Starfire' is a relaxing ballad with celestial vocals and soft instrumentals.
