The sonic firestorm of Dragonforce

In short, DragonForce's sound can be best described as a mix of modern melodic power metal with the fury of speed metal, but the band's influence comes from wide across the metal spectrum. Catchy melodies that stick straight into your head, combined with outrageous speed, power and totally over the top dual guitar wizardry are just some of their qualities which separate them from the masses. Most importantly underneath this sonic fury lies the band's indisputable strength, their song writing. Take any of their songs and you will find enough hooks to fill an ocean, enough technical process to satisfy progressive metal lovers, guitar solos to have you playing air guitar combined with catchy melodies and the strong voice of an outstanding metal shouter.

interview with Herman on 22-03-2004

Please give us a short introduction of yourself?
Herman Li, guitarist of London based DragonForce

So what brings you to Amsterdam?
Promo trip to promote the new album, not to just party unfortunately.

Do you like such days? Spending time on promotion or rather play the music?
Promo trips are not bad, you get to meet some cool people and eat and drink like fuck in the evening. Of course I rather be here on tour but we will do that all around Europe in May.

What is the best selling promotion for the band? Multicultural members or the music?
Music obviously, we didn't form the band to be multicultural on purpose, it just happened that way. We live in London you know, nothing unusual if you ask me.

Is it difficult to write music or is it a natural feeling? How do you store your ideas in the middle of the night?
Sometimes it's easy sometimes it's hard, it depends. It's like, just because it's Friday night doesn't mean you always have to be happy. Sometimes you can't write shit and something music just come out so easily. If we are in the good mood, everything is natural.

When writing ever got the feeling you copied some existing riffs? Do you listen to other bands? What other kind of music?
Writing music for us works this way, the writing is not finish until all is recorded on CD and taken away from us. We are always writing the song, during the recording, even during mixing we would add stuff to it. Mixing is also part of song writing along with the production, a different mix would give a different image of the music. If you ask me, Sonic Firestorm is very original in the way the mix of the instruments together. The songs are really catchy, that's why maybe some people will think it's not original. We are not gonna start writing unmemorable songs for them, just because the songs are so catchy doesn't mean it's the same as everyone else's. The mix of the extreme drumming with the speed, guitars, vocals and the arrangements are completely different from all the melodic/speed/metal metal band out there. We are bascially mixing the best out of each style of metal we like, melodic vocals, death metal, thrash metal drumming, shredding techincal melodic guitars etc.

Who did you see and decided to also become a guitarplayer? Did you try to play his/her riffs?
A friend of mine played the guitar, that kinda got me started and than I went into doing my own thing.

Ever met your guitarheroes? Who would you like to meet and what would you ask?
I meet most of them yeah, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Tony MacAlpine, Vinnie Moore, Marty Friedman and loads others. They were all cool.

What is your favorit song to play airguitar? Why?
I play the guitar so I don't have to air guitar anymore haha!

Which riffs would you like to have invented? Why?
Never thought of anything like that, so I guess none.

Try to reach a wide range of audience? Think death or black metal fans can appreciate your music?
If they don't listen to just that than yeah...if they think power metal as usually pussies playing than check us out. We take it much further, the energy, speed and power.

You changed name but still use Dragon. Why is the dragon often connected to metal music?
Absolutely no idea, why is it also often connected to computer games? haha

The band has 5 members of different countries. Were and how did you met?
We all meet in London, in the metal club, pubs. Nothing special really.

Does each member curse in their own language? What is your fav curse they don't understand?
Hell yeah we do! But no pointing telling someone to fuck off if they don't understand it, so we make sure each other do.

Do you also cook homemade specialties? what is your fav food and can you cook it yourself?
It's not hard to make instant noodles, believe me, anyone can do it

Do you tour the motherlands of each member?
Only the UK so far the English members.

What do you have to have reached to stop making music? How must we remember you in 10 years?
No idea, we are still in the beginning, a real long way to go. Things change you know, I can't see 10 years ahead.

How do you become a legend? Will you pose for Madame Toussau?
Fuck yeah! It would be funny..

Say something that make us think twice?
What?

Last rites?
Get ready to get your arses kicked on the Sonic Firestorm Over Europe tour with WASP!