CP NEWS: Nightclubs, Meet Power Metal.

[ddm-news]

-Kristen Dunleavy

Before you disregard this review as mindless prattle from a know-nothing broad who wouldn’t know metal if 200 angry pounds of it fell on her head (it has, by the way), I’ll admit this first: Yes, I am kind of a poser. I’m not fierce enough to sport chain mail, or even a wallet chain for that matter (we’ll disregard 8th grade for the time being). But somehow, amidst a gaggle of Sebastian Bach look-alikes at the sold-out Dragonforce show at Avalon, I did not once feel like an outsider. Because, well, that would kind of defeat the whole point, wouldn’t it?

To bring my fellow posers up to speed, Dragonforce is a power metal group from England. Their appearance at Avalon was a monumental one, because the band was denied entry to the States (damn metal detectors) on their last major tour and had to cancel. Fans got to experience their first ever Dragonforce show and I was right in the thick of it, spin kicks and all.

The ‘Force was scheduled with just two other bands, which worked out pretty well considering most of their songs are about 10 minutes long. The first band up, Sanctity, expressed sincere concern for the lack of mosh pit. Confused looking long-haired high-schoolers realized their duty, and began tentatively swinging their manes and punching invisible beings. It was clear that, for about 2/3 of the crowd, this was not only their first Dragonforce show, but their very first metal show ever. On a school night, no less. High school angst isn’t just about acne medication and RPG games, you know.

The next band, Protest the Hero, was significantly less metal. Their shorn locks spoke for themselves. Whereas I yearned to brush the Sanctity frontman’s lustrous hair like a show pony’s, this group just didn’t stir the same emotions in me. While I could understand their plight as disillusioned hipsters hungry for a harder sound (Hungry for Heaven, as R.J. Dio would argue), these guys were exactly what I was pretending not to be. And I think you know what that was.

Finally, after endless chanting and speculations about possible pyrotechnics (half their songs have ‘fire’ in the title), Dragonforce burst out onto the stage around 10pm. The band was all smiles and positive energy as they ripped through songs off their newest album, “Inhuman Rampage.” Acts like Dragonforce are certainly a rarity these days: They’re a band who looks like they’re genuinely excited to be there. It’s no wonder fans patiently awaited their arrival across the Atlantic. With songs about hope, persistence, and flying across the universe at various speeds, it’s easy to understand how my brothers and sisters of metal held out for so long. And Dragonforce is even faster and more impressive live than they are blasting through my earbuds at 9am every morning.

Not only do they have stellar musicianship- they’re totally fun to watch, too. Keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanou’s does crazed synth-swinging acrobatics while he plays. Frontman ZP Theart screams like rabid animal, but remains likeable enough that you’ll want to hug him all the same. And the guitarists require bottle-holders attached to their mic stand for hands-free boozing while they shred. Oh, and did I mention that they’ve intentionally fashioned some of their songs to sound like video game music? What isn’t there to love about these guys?

Dragonforce played for a solid 2 hours complete with encores before graciously joining hands a taking a final bow. And even then, they took the time to high-five several dozen fans and throw out guitar picks and drumsticks that would later be preserved as treasured relics of metal for years to come.

If this show was any indication of Dragonforce’s fandom in the U.S., I doubt this is the last time we’ll be hearing from them.

The force is indeed strong within us all. Even the posers.

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