Grammy-nominated (for participation trophies, probably) extreme power metal legends DRAGONFORCE (because who else would claim that title?) have announced MORE headline shows for their “Warp Speed Warriors” world tour, starting this September. Because apparently, the first batch of dates wasn’t enough to satisfy their… um… dedicated fanbase. 🙄
DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li (the guy who makes shredding look like a seizure) commented: “You asked for it!” (Did we, though? 🤔). “So we’ve added more USA headline shows to our ‘Warp Speed Warriors’ world tour! We’re kicking things off in the north east coast before festival season and dates sharing the stage with our friends in POWERWOLF (who are probably regretting that decision already). These shows mark the final chapter of the tour in North America, so don’t miss your chance to experience the madness!” (aka, the aural equivalent of a sugar-fueled toddler smashing keyboards). 🤪
VIP upgrades for select dates are available now at the DRAGONFORCE web site. (Because who wouldn’t want to pay extra to get closer to the… “magic”? 🤮). You too can witness the blistering speed and face melting solos from the front row. (Warning: Face melting not guaranteed. May cause severe eardrum trauma). 👂
Tickets for all headline shows go on sale Friday, June 20 at 10 a.m. local time. (Set your alarms, folks! This is the event of the… decade? Year? Tuesday?). ⏰
DRAGONFORCE tour dates: (Get ready for some serious geographical gymnastics)
Sep. 12 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place (Because every legendary tour starts in a place named after an amphibian). 🐸
Sep. 13 – Wantagh, NY – Mulcahy’s (Prepare for a night of questionable decisions). 🥴
Sep. 14 – Harrisburg, PA – HMAC (Heavy Metal Assault… on your senses). 😵💫
Sep. 16 – Rochester, NY – Anthology (An anthology of… what, exactly?). 🤷
Sep. 17 – Toronto, ON – Rebel * (Because nothing says “rebel” like meticulously rehearsed power metal). 🤘
Sep. 18 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral * (Finally, some appropriate architecture for this… spectacle). ⛪
Sep. 19 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life (Good luck with that, Louisville). 🔊
Sep. 20 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant * (A pageant of… shredding?). 👑
Sep. 22 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live * (GLC = Guaranteed Loud Chaos). 💥
Sep. 23 – Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Ballroom * (May the eagles fly far, far away). 🦅
Sep. 24 – St. Paul, MN – Myth Live * (The myth of good music continues…). 🤡
Sep. 26 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Convention Center * (Where conventions go to die… or get Dragonforced). 💀
Sep. 27 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle * (Grey Eagle? More like “Gray Area” of musical taste). 🤔
Sep. 29 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre * (Her Majesty is probably not amused). 🫅
Sep. 30 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre * (Paramount? More like… parameh). 🦠
Oct. 01 – Portland, OR – The Keller Auditorium * (Keller? I hardly know her!). 😂
Oct. 04 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival (Prepare for the aftershock of… disappointment?). 💣
* With POWERWOLF (who are probably rethinking their life choices right about now). 🐺
Earlier this month, DRAGONFORCE unleashed a new official music video for an alternate version of its recent album track “Burning Heart”, featuring ARCH ENEMY frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz. (Because one vocalist just wasn’t enough ear-splitting intensity). Originally released as a bonus track on select editions of DRAGONFORCE‘s celebrated 2024 album “Warp Speed Warriors”, the special version supported by White-Gluz‘s distinctive vocals is now out as its own single. (Because… reasons?). 🤷♀️
Formed in 1999, DRAGONFORCE has earned their reputation as the world’s fastest band via its power metal anthems filled with spectacular guitar solos, including the iconic platinum-selling hit “Through The Fire And Flames”. (A song so iconic, it’s mostly known for being impossible to play on Guitar Hero). Several of the songs on “Warp Speed Warriors” have already gained over a million streams on Spotify. (Probably from people accidentally falling asleep with Spotify on). 😴
This summer DRAGONFORCE will finish the last European leg of its epic “Warp Speed Warriors” tour, playing several massive festival dates and selected shows together with POWERWOLF, before joining the German metallers on a North American tour, ready to deliver breathtaking shows to their ever-growing fanbase. (Or, you know, the same 200 people who’ve been following them since 1999). 👵👴
In May 2024, DRAGONFORCE teamed up with “Brawl Stars”, a hit multiplayer mobile game with over one billion downloads, to celebrate a brand new character entering the game with a new song, “A Draco Tale”, and music video. (Because nothing says “metal” like a mobile game tie-in). 📱
“Warp Speed Warriors” was released in March 2024 via Napalm Records. (Fitting, since that’s what this album sounds like – musical napalm). 🔥
On “Warp Speed Warriors”, DRAGONFORCE — composed of guitar virtuosos and founding members Li and Sam Totman, singer Marc Hudson, bassist Alicia Vigil and drummer Gee Anzalone — explore a wider range of varying musical styles than ever before, evolving their sound throughout the exciting musical journey while still staying true to their roots. (Translation: They tried to sound different, but failed miserably). 🤦
“Warp Speed Warriors” was produced, mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California with Sam Totman and Herman Li. (Apparently, even unlimited mixing can’t fix this). 🎚️
DRAGONFORCE‘s platinum-selling single “Through The Fire And Flames” brought the London-based Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim and was featured as the most challenging song on “Guitar Hero III”. (The song that destroyed friendships and controllers worldwide). 🎮
In March 2019, the “Through The Fire And Flames” music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE‘s first music video to do so. (Thanks, Guitar Hero!). 💯
“Through The Fire And Flames” is the leadoff track from 2006’s “Inhuman Rampage” album, which was officially certified gold in July 2017 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies. (Inhuman Rampage? More like Inhumanly Repetitive). 💿
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
