We’ve all had that moment when we hear a new single from a band we love and think “well, maybe that’s just the worst song from the album!” In the case of “Doomsday Party,” I could not afford DragonForce and Warp Speed Warriors such optimism. Sure, Napalm Records releases are often heralded by absolute stinkers in an apparent gamble at mass appeal, but with the British power metal wanksters’ ninth record arriving on the heels of what was easily the band’s worst showing to date, my thin hopes for a makeup album quickly disintegrated. The annoyingly tuneless and pandering second single “Power of the Triforce” sealed my pessimism. For many, DragonForce entered “lost cause” territory the moment Marc Hudson joined the band, and while I’ve always given their newer records the fairest possible shakes, I’ve found my sentiments in recent years leaning that way as well. There’s just no reason for me to care about new DragonForce music anymore.
… Or at least, that’s what I thought until I actually heard Warp Speed Warriors in full. By and large, and against all odds and expectations, this thing is an absolute blast. Not only does half its runtime find DragonForce confidently engaging at max speed, but they do so with palpable conviction, and with Ultra Beatdown levels of instrumental flair and production opulence. Opener “Astro Warrior Anthem” sees longtime guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman firing off micro solos between every individual phrase of each verse, leading up to a cleverly tiered chorus with an explosively triumphant latter half. The guitar shenanigans reach a fever pitch in the solo section of “The Killer Queen” 1, which is whimsically acrobatic on a level not heard since Inhuman Rampage. This material is well structured to boot, with the bridge sections of “Burning Heart” and “Pixel Prison” invoking melodrama with bridges that pivot in slower, proggier directions. I’m pleased as motherfucking punch with around two-thirds of Warp Speed Warriors, and its best cuts are some of my favorites since The Power Within.
Of course, we’ve gotta address that other third, consisting of the two aforementioned singles as well as “Kingdom of Steel.” I’ve actually come around on “Power of the Triforce” a bit thanks to its driving verse and engaging lead guitars, and I have to admit that both the bridge and solo sections of the Eurovision-ready “Doomsday Party” are legitimate poppy fun. These songs are not devoid of value, but there is no saving their choruses. DragonForce has always had mixed success in crafting compelling choruses since the departure of original singer ZP Theart, but these two songs might feature their worst refrains yet, with ineffectual hooks that lazily mosey up and down the scales. The real tragedy, however, is “Kingdom of Steel.” Its infectious “woah-oh-oh” verse transitions and old school synth work make it the best post-Ultra Beatdown ballad (not that the bar was above floor level), but the chorus is just as aimless as Warp Speed Warrior’s other offenders, and marks a performative lowpoint for the ever-worsening Marc Hudson.
Yes, the ever-divisive and nasally Marc Hudson continues to decline release over release and sounds less convincing than ever here (his last note in “Astro Warrior Anthem” is honestly painful to behold), but I’ll give credit where it’s due for “Space Marine Corp2.” The gruff, cockney accent Hudson adopts for the song’s verse is legitimately hysterical, providing a brand of earnest yet knowing levity that is a perfect fit for a band as ludicrous as DragonForce. “Space Marine Corp” would be my pick of the album regardless, an intensely catchy battle hymn that proves that DragonForce’s mid-paced material can excel when properly inspired. As per usual, Warp Speed Warriors finds the band’s engineering dialed in with legitimately solid tones underneath all those glossy coats of production polish. The drums and bass have been granted more “oomph” here than on the preceding Extreme Power Metal, but I still wish that new bassist Alicia Vigil had been given more time to shine outside of a lone bass solo on “Burning Heart.”
Warp Speed Warriors is the most I’ve enjoyed a DragonForce record upon release since Maximum Overload dropped a full decade ago, and it pains me that I can’t further embarrass myself by granting it a higher score. Its weakest cuts have glaring deficiencies that not even the reasonably fun and silly cover of Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version (DragonForce’s Version))” can make up for. Even so, assuming one can stomach its missteps, Warp Speed Warriors is worthy of investigation for those who are, or who ever were, a dork for the ‘Force.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: n/a | Format Reviewed: Stream
Label: Napalm Records Official | Bandcamp
Websites: dragonforce.com | dragonforce.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/dragonforce
Releases Worldwide: March 15th, 2024
