Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown

The British power metal stalwarts and Guitar Hero staples bring the speed, melody and musicianship on their latest CD.

The biggest enemy of bands is indifference. That means they are overlooked, unremarkable and don't cause an emotional response one way or the other. Most successful bands have legions of fans and legions of haters. Dragonforce is quickly reaching that level. The British shredders' following grows larger and and larger with each CD, and so do their detractors.

Ultra Beatdown will continue that ascension. Fans will say it's the best CD in history, and those who dislike Dragonforce will contend it sounds exactly like everything else they've ever done, which has all sucked. The truth lies somewhere in between. It's certainly not the best CD in history, but it is Dragonforce's best work so far.

Like their previous CDs, Ultra Beatdown is jam packed with fast, melodic songs and mind boggling shredding. Dragonforce has the knack for kicking off albums with great singles, and "Heroes Of Our Time" is no exception. There are several songs like that with really catchy melodies and superlative guitar work from Herman Li and Sam Totman.

While they have a very distinctive sound, Dragonforce works harder on this CD to add diversity. There are tempo changes, and even a ballad or two. While the guitarists get most of the attention, Z.P. Theart is an underrated singer. His vocals are strong and powerful with a lot of range.

While it may not be as hip to like Dragonforce as (insert obscure underground band name here), Ultra Beatdown is another over the top dose of audio adrenaline that will inspire people to pick up a guitar or Guitar Hero.