DragonForce... ?

[Ragehead91]

What, you don't know Yngwie Malmsteen?

[Xelrog T. Apocalypse]

... is that a yes or a no... ?

[Ragehead91]

NO! Yngwie Malmsteen is just the guitarist who made Neo-Classical Metal popular!! He is one of the main influences of guys like Tolkki, Romeo, Turilli, Grapow and everyone who somehow plays Neo-Classical Metal!

http://www.yngwiemalmsteen.com/home.html

[Beast_Pete]

I don't think Tolkki is THAT influenced by him. Sure he might have been influenced by Yngwie, but he is definitely not Timo's main inspiration.

BTW: Yngwie and Jens invented the guitar+synth duel.

[Ragehead91]

I know that he is not his main influence, but everyone who plays Neo-Classical Metal is at least a little bit influenced by Yngwie.

[Iou1Soul]

I thoroughly dislike Dragonforce, I find them repetative and dull. I actually like one of their early breakaways (Southampton-based Power Quest, who are a good laugh if you like glitzy 80's influenced power metal with MASSES of keyboards).

For Stratovarian metal, my recommendation would be early Sonata Arctica (who I am not overly keen on, myself, but their rapidly expanding fanbase begs to differ), or the less heard of Magic Kingdom, from Belgium. Check out their album "Metallic Tragedy."

[Ragehead91]

Symphonity are also Stratovarius like.

[foerg]

i like dragonforce, but the latest serenity album kicks ass!

[hiro23]

I am a big fan of Dragonforce and I agree with the fact that I don't understand why people hate them cause of how they play and because of their success.

Now I accept the legitimate arguments like say Dragonforce just isn't your cup of tea but to hate them because they are successful is just stupid.
You might as well hate every band out there who makes it big, cause every band out there wants to make it to the big time. Besides a band being famous just means that more people know about them, I mean is it so bad that you can mention a band in a conversation and people know who they are?

[icecab21]

They are just playing positive music; it's unfortunate that people are so violent about them.

[Babylon]

Most overrated power metal band next to Helloween. But at least Helloween has talent.

Helloween overrated?

Anyway, what I've heard from Dragonforce, well I didn't really care for it. I don't like the singer and the music seemed like "let's play as fast as we can, it doesn't matter how it sounds". But hey, that's just me. I won't bash them or anything, just don't listen to them.

[Ragehead91]

Most overrated power metal band next to Helloween. But at least Helloween has talent.

Helloween overrated?

Indeed. Why are they overrated? Those guys created the whole genre of Power Metal! I could agree if you say Kiske is overrated, but Helloween isn't.

[icecab21]

I'm not sure I follow comments about the speed dragonfoce plays at. They use plenty of whole notes and longer.

[Xelrog T. Apocalypse]

Whatever neo-classical metal is, if that's what you want to call it, it's fine by me. I haven't cared for what I've heard of Helloween, I downright disliked Angra, Apocalyptica's something of a middleman right now (haven't heard very much of them), and I haven't gotten around to listening to any Sonata Arctica.

[En extremt tråkig pe]

I'm not sure I follow comments about the speed dragonfoce plays at. They use plenty of whole notes and longer.

Maybe it's because they use plenty of half notes and shorter too.

[Xelrog T. Apocalypse]

Personally I think the speed could be equally argued as a good thing. Even extremely simple melodies can be hard as fuck to write and still sound presentable at those speeds - the fact that they manage to pull it off in virtually every song is nothing short of Stratofortress.

Personally I've always enjoyed their slower, ballad-ish titles most of all. Dawn Over a New World and Trail of Broken Hearts, to name a few.

[mayhem-for-all]

I thoroughly dislike Dragonforce, I find them repetative and dull. I actually like one of their early breakaways (Southampton-based Power Quest, who are a good laugh if you like glitzy 80's influenced power metal with MASSES of keyboards).

For Stratovarian metal, my recommendation would be early Sonata Arctica (who I am not overly keen on, myself, but their rapidly expanding fanbase begs to differ), or the less heard of Magic Kingdom, from Belgium. Check out their album "Metallic Tragedy."

Yes Sonata Arctica is a great example of stratovarius kind of metal but with their own style included.
and Power Quest is a good band too for a DF fan. The founders used to play in DF before they recorded Valley of the Damned

[hiro23]

Once again it all goes back to personal tastes, you'd think that someone who was a fan of power metal or neo-classical metal would love all these bands however because of subtle nuances we all love different bands from within the same genre, I mean I have a friend who's obsessed with blind guardian however I know another friend who thinks they suck.

In the end what moves you is going to be the music you listen to.

[NightScreamer]

I've listened to Edguy on YouTube a few times and it doesn't even sound like the same kind of music to me - it sounds like one of those whiny little teen fad bands like Green Day and Linkin Park.

Kill yourself. Now.

[NeonVomit]

Not yet.

Dragonforce are good fun, but the gimmick is getting tired and (to these ears) the novelty wore off about halfway through the third album. They've really gotta think about where the band is going to go next because they're getting a bit tiresome. Good fun, but I can't listen to them for long.

But yes, Edguy are also awsome, and Xelrog, you really need to do yourself a favour and check out Sonata Arctica if you like Strato.

Also check out Yngwie Malmsteen's early work, it was a huge influence on most of the bands you seem to enjoy and I'm sure you'd like his stuff. Jens Johansson used to play with him back in the day, along with his brother Anders (who's the drummer for Hammerfall now).

[NeonVomit]

I don't think Tolkki is THAT influenced by him. Sure he might have been influenced by Yngwie, but he is definitely not Timo's main inspiration.

BTW: Yngwie and Jens invented the guitar+synth duel.

Uh.

Not really.

[icecab21]

Does this mean the keyboard banjo duel is still up for grabs by some savvy inventers?

[hiro23]

I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole

[icecab21]

If I had a ten foot pole, I would touch that.

[Ragehead91]

I've listened to Edguy on YouTube a few times and it doesn't even sound like the same kind of music to me - it sounds like one of those whiny little teen fad bands like Green Day and Linkin Park.

Kill yourself. Now.

Indeed. Even today with they shitty Heavy Rock crap thei're better than the 2 Bands he mentioned.

[Xelrog T. Apocalypse]

I think people are mistaking high-speed guitars with the song's tempo.

Been listening over most of DragonForce's songs recently and most of the 'superspeed' guitar riffs are very brief, if that... they've got a lot of background instruments running and an extremely fast-paced drum sequence, but the majority of a lot of these songs is whole notes and chords. Prepare for War is a good example, especially the chorus and solo.

[Star_Ocean]

Most overrated power metal band next to Helloween. But at least Helloween has talent.

Helloween overrated?

Indeed. Why are they overrated? Those guys created the whole genre of Power Metal! I could agree if you say Kiske is overrated, but Helloween isn't.

Just because they created power metal, it doesn't mean I have to like their music. Other than Keepers Pt. 1, I haven't enjoyed a single Helloween album and consider them one of the most overrated bands. Not saying they don't have talent, of course...I just think they don't write very good songs.

[icecab21]

Just because you don’t like the music does not mean that you should deny the feeling others get from the music or the worth of the music.

[Xelrog T. Apocalypse]

Freedom is awaiting for those who take the path less travelled...

Now do what Stratovarius told you and bash on popularity.

[NeonVomit]

I think people are mistaking high-speed guitars with the song's tempo.

Been listening over most of DragonForce's songs recently and most of the 'superspeed' guitar riffs are very brief, if that... they've got a lot of background instruments running and an extremely fast-paced drum sequence, but the majority of a lot of these songs is whole notes and chords. Prepare for War is a good example, especially the chorus and solo.

Most of DF's songs are around 200bpm though.