Heart of a Dragon (Valley Of The Damned - Dragonforce)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Valley Of The Damned - Dragonforce
Date:	28/06/08 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An exceptional power metal album, incredibly fast and supremely fun to listen to.

Disadvantages: I fail to think of any.

I first became aware of Dragonforce when a friend of mine recommended them to me and told me that I'd probably like what I'd hear. Upon this recommendation I got my hands on the bands valiant 2003 effort 'Valley of the Damned' and proceeded to take a listen. I must admit that I was actually more impressed with the music of Dragonforce than I had expected, the friend that recommended the band to me had a vastly different taste in music to myself and I was half expecting to hate this 'Valley of the Damned' album; I didn't though and this actually became one of the most played albums in my collection for absolute months after first hearing it. I still play this album a lot now, nine incredible power metal tracks are featured here and this therefore provides for an excellent 57 minutes of absolute aural delight.

From first track 'Invocation of Apocalyptic Evil' right through to the stonking closing anthem of 'Heart of a Dragon' this album from the band is absolutely exceptional. Right from the very first time that I heard this album I absolutely loved it; the guitar work is phenomenal, and the precision with which the bands members play is just amazing. Tracks such as the 7 minute title track 'Valley of the Damned' and 'Black Winter Night' also never fail to make me smile. Every time I hear the soaring guitar work, powerful drum ethic, and excellent vocal tone of the bands lead vocalist ZP Theart I just can't help but smile.

All of the music here was written by the bands brilliant guitarist Sam Totman, the majority of the lyrics also were written by Sam Totman and the bands vocalist ZP Theart. The bands guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman truly do show themselves to be exceptional throughout this album, the fact that Sam Totman also wrote all the music just helps further add to my personal appreciation of the man. I love an excellent guitarist do be present in a band, and Dragonforce is actually a band which possesses two.

There's just no faulting this album for me, I'm not exactly a power metal maestro; I have however heard quite a lot of bands in the genre over the years and Dragonforce has to be one of my personal favourites. I love this debut album from Dragonforce; I'd highly recommend this release to all those that love power metal, and I would in fact actually recommend Dragonforce's 'Valley of the Damned' to every music fan of the world as there's plenty of enjoyment to be gained here from listening to this fine album from the band. The speed of the music is always here phenomenally fast, this adds energy and excitement to the sound and from start to finish here this 'Valley of the Damned' album is absolutely exceptional. A definite album to add to the collection from the fine force of an English power metal band that is Dragonforce.

Summary: 'Valley of the Damned' is the Dragonforce debut album which everyone should own.