''Extreme Power Metal'' is the eighth studio album by British

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

band

DragonForce DragonForce are a British power metal band from London, England. The band was formed in 1999 by guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman, and are known for their long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-themed lyrics and retro video game-influenced ...

, released on 27 September 2019. It is the band's last studio album to feature longtime bassist

Frédéric Leclercq Frédéric Alexandre "Fred" Leclercq (born 23 June 1978) is a French musician and producer, best known as the former longtime bassist for British power metal band DragonForce. He is currently the guitarist and main songwriter in the death metal ...

and the first not to feature longtime keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov, who left the band in 2018;

Epica Epica or EPICA may refer to: * Epica (band), a Dutch symphonic metal band * ''Epica'' (Kamelot album), 2003 * ''Epica'' (Audiomachine album), 2012 * The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) * The Epica Awards (International Adver ...

keyboardist Coen Janssen recorded keyboards for the album while the band searched for a permanent replacement. The lead single "Highway to Oblivion" was released on 30 July 2019. The band embarked on a world tour in support of the album following its release. Music videos for "Troopers of the Stars" and "Strangers" were filmed, but not released until two years later, on 27 August 2021 and 25 October 2021, respectively. In 2022, the band continued touring the album after their last tour's cancelation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 29 November 2022, the music video for "The Last Dragonborn" was released, being the first music video with new bassist Alicia Vigil.

Recording

The band recorded the album with producer and

Once Human Once Human is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, founded in 2014 by music producer and former Machine Head/Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader. On September 4, 2015, the band released their debut album '' The Life I Remember' ...

's bassist Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. Part of the recording was also livestreamed on guitarist

Herman Li Herman Li (; born 3 October 1976) is a Hong Kong-born British musician who is one of two lead guitarists for the power metal band DragonForce. Li has played with the band based in England since it was formed in 1999 by Li along with Sam Totman, ...

Twitch Twitch may refer to: Biology * Muscle contraction ** Convulsion, rapid and repeated muscle contraction and relaxation ** Fasciculation, a small, local, involuntary muscle contraction ** Myoclonic twitch, a jerk usually caused by sudden muscle con ...

Track listing

The Japanese special edition of the album also included a bonus DVD containing professionally recorded footage of the band's performance at

Download Festival Download Festival is a British-created rock festival created by Terrance Gough, held annually at the Donington Park motorsport circuit in Leicestershire, England (since 2003); in Paris, France (since 2016); at Parramatta Park, Sydney (since 201 ...

in 2018.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the band's website. Band members * Marc Hudson – lead and backing vocals *

Sam Totman Ian Samuel Totman is an English-born New Zealand musician best known as guitarist and main songwriter for the power metal band DragonForce. Early life Totman was born in England and grew up mainly in New Zealand. He moved back to England arou ...

– guitars, backing vocals *

– bass, guitars, backing vocals * Gee Anzalone – drums, backing vocals Additional musicians * Coen Janssen – keyboards, piano, orchestration * Emily Ovenden – backing vocals *

Clive Nolan Clive Nolan (born 30 June 1961) is a British musician, composer and producer who has played a prominent role in the development of progressive rock. He has been the regular keyboard player in Pendragon (1986–present), Shadowland (1992–presen ...

– backing vocals * Kalen Chase Musmecci – backing vocals * Steve Francis, Ross Mallon, Josh O'Brien, Paul Roberts, Tim Mekalick – additional backing vocals on "Troopers of the Stars"

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2019 albums DragonForce albums Metal Blade Records albums