Dragonforce

Dragonforce was established in 1999 in London by guitarists Sam Totman and Herman Li, alongside singer ZP Theart, initially adopting the name DragonHeart. After realizing another band was using the name DragonHeart, the group permanently became DragonForce in 2002. They released their debut single “Valley of the Damned,” which was successful on MP3.com, charting as the most downloaded song for two weeks. In 2002, the band signed with Noise Records and began recording their debut album, “Valley of the Damned.” This period also saw lineup changes, with Diccon Harper performing bass tracks before his departure, and Adrian Lambert and Dave Mackintosh joining for their second album, “Sonic Firestorm” (2004).

The band gained wider recognition with their third album, “Inhuman Rampage,” released in 2005 after signing with Roadrunner Records. The album’s lead single, “Through the Fire and Flames,” became their most widely known song, featured in video games such as “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” and licensed as downloadable content for the “Rock Band” franchise. This single achieved gold certification in the USA and Canada. In 2008, their fourth album, “Ultra Beatdown,” saw its lead single, “Heroes of Our Time,” nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. This song was also included in video games like “Skate 2” and “NHL 10.

Throughout their career, Dragonforce has undergone several personnel changes while maintaining a consistent output of studio and live albums. Notable collaborations include co-writing the Babymetal track “Road of Resistance” and having members serve as Babymetal’s backing band at the 2015 Metal Hammer Golden Gods. In 2023, DragonForce signed a worldwide contract with Napalm Records for their upcoming album, “Warp Speed Warriors,” released in March 2024. They also collaborated with the mobile game “Brawl Stars,” releasing the single “A Draco Tale” in 2024 to promote a new character.