DRAGONFORCE A PUZZLING BAND

Dragonforce is a technically adept band that harkens back to the ’80s, but still can be considered fresh at OzzFest where hardcore and nu-metal had ruled the…

Roadrunner Records signee Dragonforce was perhaps the most perplexing band on OzzFest this summer. The band is comprised of technically brilliant musicians, and they have an old-school feel. Many who were not around in the ’80s have given the band perplexing looks, having been used to hardcore and Nu-Metal which has dominated the scene for the last ten years.

Dragonforce is both familiar and fresh at the same time, having a substantial underground following. Guitarist Herman Li talked about what people’s reaction to the band has been.

“I mean, we definitely get some strange reactions from some people. They’re kind of a bit confused. They haven’t heard this kind of stuff and they see us jumping around with solos or whatever. But we have our fans there, and we’re winning over new fans on the tour so it’s been great. We have shown from our own headlining shows a couple of months ago that we have a big fan base in the underground. So, it’s great to get a chance to show other people.”

Li said that their fanbase is growing, but the international band does better in the bigger cities in America at this point in time.

“I think mainly the major markets, the major cities, we’ve played shows there before and we know people come and see us. The reaction from beginning to end is good. Places we haven’t played before it takes one or two songs for people to get into it, to know what we’re about, and you see at the last song they’re like, ‘Yeahhhhh!’ That’s how it’s different. The growing kind of thing, and by the first song people know you already.”

Li said that their fanbase is growing, but the international band does better in the bigger cities in America at this point in time.