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Quella che sono in procinto di raccontarvi è la fottutamente true story dei Dragonforce. Il tutto cominciò in un sera piovosa; sbronzi e stanchi dopo una giornata di puro pazzeggio Herman Li e Sam Totman si recarono al Blockbuster per prendere un film demenziale...
Lord Casco (Casco Nero): "Pronti al fuoco: 1, 2... Fermi!!! Cosa è successo, dove sono???"
Col. Nunziatella: "Devono avere dei propulsori su quel coso!!!"
Casco: "E noi cosa abbiamo sulla nostra nave, frullatori???"
Col. Nunziatella: "No Signore!!!
Casco: "Bene, prendeteli!!!"
Col. Nunziatella: "Prepararsi alla velocità luce!"
Casco: "No, no la velocità luce è troppo lenta, dovremo andare alla velocità SMODATA!"
Uno sguardo di intesa tra Li e Totman e nascono così i Dragonforce alias la velocità smodata in ambito metal. E' il 2000 e poco dopo danno alle stampe Valley Of The Damned che riceve ottimi giudizi. In verità io credo che il nome più appropriato sarebbe stato "The Uncoverizzables", ma si sa che il genere power predilige i dragoni. Se poi all'interno di un moniker riesci a usare sia power che dragon, cazzo allora sei a cavallo!
Gli Stratovarius? Decisamente troppo lenti!
La prima volta che ho ascoltato una canzone dei Dragonforce è stata l'opener di Sonic Firestorm "My Spirit Will Go On". Quando già credevo che non fosse umanamente possibile andare più veloce durante la fase di assolo ho assistito impietrito all'aumento di ritmo e la mia bocca mi si è aperta in maniera naturale.
Oggi voglio descrivervi molto sommariamente la loro terza fatica intitolata "Inhuman Rampage". Se possibile i nostri vanno ancora più veloce rispetto al passato. Sezione ritmica semplicemente indemoniata, qualche momento di pausa per accelerazioni dal superveloce al folle, mentre il cantante è sempre costretto a rincorrere strofe che volano via. Ogni canzone è fatta per dare spazio al botta e risposta tra Herman Li e Sam Totman che si sfidano come due fuoriserie in Fast and Furios. Tra le migliori song di questo cd cito l'opener Through Fire and Flames e Cry for Eterity mentre si sfiora l'autoplagio in altri frangenti. Personalmente dopo qualche minuto i Dragonforce mi stancano: troppo simili i riff / assoli e la lunghezza spropositata delle canzoni non gioca a loro favore. Tuttavia, se ben centellinati qualche soddisfazione la possono regalare.
Pur essendo riconducibili al filone power non rischiano di essere confusi con altri gruppi. Con il tempo hanno in parte indurito il loro sound introducendo riff più selvaggi, ma la iper velocità regna sempre sovrana e non riescono (o molto probabilmente non vogliono) comunque a separarsi dagli assoli in scala. Esagerati ed unici i Dragonforce sono una scommessa già vinta destinati ad un pubblico che trova nella loro musica una eccezionale valvola di sfogo. Ormai saranno costretti a fare lo stesso tipo di musica fino a quando i loro tendini non cederanno.
Una piccola parentesi per la sede live. Ho avuto la sfortuna di vederli dal vivo ed è essenziale che il sound sia regolato in maniera magistrale. La loro proposta è estrema non solo in fase di assolo, ma in tutta la sua durata delle canzoni. Il cantante non ha praticamente pause, la sezione ritmica è sempre sotto pressione e delle chitarre abbiamo già parlato. Se il sound non esce particolarmente chiaro e pulito il tutto và, perdonate il termine, a puttane e si perdono quasi le melodie ed i punti di riferimento per potersi divertire.
I Dragonforce sono spesso idolatrati o crocifissi. Io molto vigliaccamente mi celo dietro ad un 2 e mezzo. A piccole dosi per me vanno bene, dopo un po' però rompono e mi annoiano. Comunque da ascoltare almeno una volta per poter tastare con orecchio qualcosa molto vicino al limite umano in termini di velocità musicale.
2 ** e mezzo
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Through the Fire and Flames (07:21)
On a cold winter morning
In the time before the light
In flames of death's eternal reign
We rode towards the fight
When the darkness has fallen down
And the times are tough alright
The sound of evil laughter falls
Around the world tonight
Fighting hard, fighting on for the steel
Through the wastelands evermore
The scattered souls will feel the hell
Bodies wasted on the shores
On the blackest waves in hell's domain
We watch them as they go
Through fire and pain and once again we know!
So now we fly ever free
We're free before the thunderstorm
On towards the wilderness
Our quest carries on
Far beyond the sundown
Far beyond the moonlight
Deep inside our hearts and all our souls!
So far away we wait for the day
For the light source so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!
As the red day is dawning
And the lightning cracks the sky
They'll raise their hands to the heavens above
With resentment in their eyes
Running back through the midmorning light
There's a burning in my heart
We're banished from the time in a fallen land
To a life beyond the stars
In your darkest dreams see to believe
Our destiny is time
And endlessly we'll all be free tonight!
And on the wings of a dream
So far beyond reality
All alone in desperation
Now the time has gone
Lost inside you'll never find
Lost within my own mind
Day after day this misery must go on!
So far away we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!
Now here we stand with their blood on our hands
We fought so hard, now can we understand
I'll break the seal of this curse if I possibly can
For freedom of every man!
So far away we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!
02 Revolution Deathsquad (07:53)
Flying over darkened skies the battle will call
Destiny is calling we'll be out of the storm
As the world falls under the starlight
Shining from heavens below
Ride the wings of pain and sorrow searching for more
Gliding on the wings of sorrow like never before
And the stars fall on the horizon
Onwards and up through the pain
Ride the wind and fight the demon, steel shining bright
Standing together forever onwards, flames burning strong
I live in hell of pain and sorrow now and never onwards
We stare into the dawn of a new world
Cry out for the fallen heroes lost some time ago
In our minds they still live on when the sands of time are gone
Rise over shadow mountains blazing with power!
Crossing valleys, endless tears, in unity we stand
Far and wide across the land, the victory is ours
On towards the gates of reason
Fight for the truth and the freedom, Gloria!
Searching through the memories to open the door
Living on the edge of life like never before
When the crowd chants under the moonlight
Facing their fears all the same
Hell is spilling open wide enough for the core
All this time we're allied to the angels before
And the world cries out from the silence
Lost in the voices unknown
I deny the force of evil, cries into the night
Living before in the seas of darkness, now they're all gone
Out from the shadows storming on the wings of revelations
Your soul will feel no mercy behind the door
Hold on for the morning after never to let go
When the fire's burning strong
And the time to try and hold on
Rise over shadow mountains blazing with power!
Crossing valleys, endless tears, in unity we stand
Far and wide across the land, the victory is ours
On towards the gates of reason
Fight for the truth and the freedom, Gloria!
-Guitar Solo-
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Cry out for the fallen heroes lost some time ago
In our minds they still live on when the sands of time are gone
Rise over shadow mountains blazing with power!
Crossing valleys, endless tears, in unity we stand
Far and wide across the land, the victory is ours
On towards the gates of reason
Fight for the truth and the freedom, Gloria!
Gloria!!!
Gloria!
04 Operation Ground and Pound (07:44)
Smashing through the boundaries
Storming through the burning fields
Stand before the Evil One, on towards the morning sun
Falling under skies of pain
Soldiers searching endlessly
Crashing over seven seas
Torture in the winter skies, riding over plains of ice
Shadows in the fields of the slain
Crashing steel and raging fury
Smash the world, destroy the army
Crush the legions of the twilight
Shadows in the fields of the slain
Cry far away, as we reach for the day
Passing our way through the punishment and the pain
Reach for the world, as the sky begins to fall
Rising through the darkened ashes praying that I'll see you all
Far away, will our eyes now see the day
For today, the everlasting eternal sun
Washed away the dreams of a brighter day
Forever hold the dream inside
The chance to fight another fight
The breaking hearts that stand for all our lives
Live tonight
Woh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Watch you die, I watch you die inside
While fear controls your life
Then reject this animosity
That kills so many minds
We feel the power deep within
The fear you hold inside
Just to find the reason for the treason
Now you will be mine
Screams of pain and death descending
Rise again from hell defending
Burn their hearts within the fire
Now warriors of light will be slain
Rise through the pain, like the sun will rise again
Day after day but the memories never change
Stand before the storm, as the last horizon falls
Blinded by the vision and the innocence of our souls
Far away, will our eyes now see the day
For today, the everlasting eternal sun
Washed away the dreams of a brighter day
Forever hold the dream inside
The chance to fight another fight
The breaking hearts that stand for all our lives
Live tonight
Woh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
-guitar solo-
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Far away, will our eyes now see the day
For today the everlasting eternal sun
Far away, will our eyes now see the day
For today the everlasting eternal sun
Washed away the dreams of a brighter day
Forever hold the dream inside
The chance to fight another fight
The breaking hearts that stand for all our lives
Live tonight
Woh-oh-oh-oh!
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
05 Body Breakdown (06:58)
Silent screams and shattered dreams of what we left at seventeen
Still lost within the misery and pain that lies inside
Here alone the fight to breathe still searching for the truth to be
Blackened by the burning fire held deep inside my mind
Far beyond the lost horizon standing on the shore
Across the seas their hearts will bleed this life we're waiting for
Taste the steel in pain you kneel for glory we defend
Our fallen souls will rise to fight again
Stay here with me this night we'll be together
Future in our hands we'll fight with freedom drawing near
Stand here with me for we will live forever
Tonight we stand and face it all
Falling rain will hide the pain that lies beneath the burning flames
All hope is gone so carry on before the world will fall
Rise again to die in vain now life can never be the same
Our own salvation drawing nearer hear the darkness call
Skies are falling thunder storming stand before the world
We're banished now to barren wastelands fight the demon whore
Riding on through blackened darkness cross the endless sands
We sail away our victory at hand
Stay here with me together we'll be stronger
Side by side we've conquered lands and stormed across the seas
Die here with me we feel this pain no longer
For now and ever we will be
In my heart in my soul I am out of control
Fly across the mountains and towards the distant sun
Tears evermore,we cry like before
Feel the breakdown of my body
Set me free
In my heart in my soul I am out of control
Fly across the mountains and towards the distant sun
Tears evermore,we cry like before
Feel the breakdown of my body
In my heart in my soul I am out of control
Fly across the mountains and towards the golden sun
Tears evermore,we cry like before
x2 Feel the breakdown of my body
Just scream set me free
08 Trail of Broken Hearts (05:55)
Here we are, far beyond the distant sky
Seen all the world and how the story will be over
Through the snow and tainted mountains we have climbed
Now we have found the light that guides us over
Through the falling rain we traveled far and wide
And through the blackest darkness, stars above shining bright
Through the sun and winter rain will fall
All our lives we all were waiting for a sign to call
We're walking hand in hand in dreams of endless time
How do we know when we will leave this life behind?
Stare at life through eyes of mine
The hate, the fear and the pain
There's a feeling held deep inside
When life you live is in vain
(When life you live is in vain)
Fly away down the lonely roads of yesterday
We close our eyes to see the light of brighter days
And all alone we'll be where time can never heal
With the trail of broken hearts flying free
Once again we walk this lonely road
There are times that we were wading through the rain and cold
We're lost in memories of what we left behind
Relive the dreams, the endless screams of pain inside
Lives are filled with emptiness
The fear returns once again
Searching endlessly, now we will see
Drown your mind in the pain
(Drown your mind in the pain)
Fly away down the lonely roads of yesterday
We close our eyes to see the light of brighter days
And all alone we'll be where time can never heal
With the trail of broken hearts flying free
The last temptation will be all that's left for me
When I see those tears you cry
When I hear those lies you lie
When I feel all creation now falling down on me
Is this the reason to be?
Fly away down the lonely roads of yesterday
We close our eyes to see the light of brighter days
And all alone we'll be where time can never heal
With the trail of broken hearts flying free...
The trail of broken hearts flying free
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Altre recensioni
Di Matt7
Tutto il progetto pende dalle mani mostruose di Herman Li, maestro della sei e sette corde, ma solo tecnicamente.
Il power è altro, e consiglio ai fans del power di tenersi lontano da questo disco.
Di kissarmy
"Il disco del quintetto si apre con 'Through Fire and Flames', canzone dall'alto tasso di violenza nel suonare gli strumenti e con un alto tasso di tecnica."
"Herman Li e Sam Totman stanno rivoluzionando a tal punto il mondo della chitarra che Yngwie Malmsteen ha dichiarato: 'Herman Li è un ottimo giovane e in un prossimo G3 gli cederò il mio posto'."
