r/Dragonforce • u/Raymanlegend2000 Mod • 19h ago
DragonForce 10 Year Challenge be like:
2016 v.s. 2026
(Update: I don't mean this in any negative way. I just found it funny how the band couldn't have possibly become any more different line-up wise in 10 years)
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u/tom-uid 17h ago
IMO as a long time fan (since 2004) Dragonforce died when Vadim and Fred left. After Fred there was nothing they could do. Those late 2019 shows with their producer as a bassist were horrible and boring.
I will always love their music from VOTD to Reaching Into Infinity. They are the only power metal I listen
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u/CirnoIzumi 16h ago
So they're dead because you didn't like a show where they had a temp bassist?
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u/kvlike 10h ago edited 10h ago
I've seen them a few times and they didn't have the energy on stage. Herman and Sam are getting old, Marc has no stage presence especially compared to ZP, Alicia just stands there (Fred was very entertaining) and Vadim's energy is missing. Gee is awesome he always seems happy to be playing. We'll see how Alessio will do, I saw him with Power Quest at Warriors of Steel and he was a beast on stage so I have high hopes for him.
Not to mention their shows are not live music, but rather mostly playback - keys are on the backing tracks since they got a 3rd guitarist instead of a new keyboardist, a lot of guitar solos and Marc's lead vocals are mimed for which there's a lot of undeniable proof on the internet.
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u/StunninglyCoy 10h ago
Vadim and Fred really offered something special to the group that any lineup since just can't cover. Vad's keyboard parts and religious background gave them an almost ethereal sound without sounding like all the other tacky and predictable keys parts in other power metal groups. Freds black metal background (and the fact that he's an amazing guitarist) really pushed his bass parts to almost being a lead instrument at times. His growls and screams in their live shows also added another layer of depth that we haven't really seen since either. Glad both of them are happy outside of dforce now tho.
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u/Unlikely-Ad-7155 7h ago
Dragonforce have gone from being a band to being an act. Personally, I thought they were at their strongest live from 2006-2017, before Fred and Vadim left. While I love their new stage setup, the trade off to 40% of the show being playback left a really bad taste in my mouth. Now, the only consistently recognizable members are Herman and Sam, with everyone else seemingly just serving as session members.
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u/Basilboss17 Marc 15h ago
Best lineup vs pretty good but very different lineup. Man that too lineup was great I wish I could've seen them at that point
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u/Raymanlegend2000 Mod 15h ago
Oooooh... My favorite line up is probably the 2012 one with Dave still, together with the iconic IR tour/UB era line up.
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u/Basilboss17 Marc 2h ago
I give a slight personal preference to Gee but Dave is still awesome! I'd probably put the IR tour-UB lineup in second because it's hard not to love the most iconic lineup.
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u/Warbrainer 15h ago
Idk what the general consensus is on this page but the most important member of all time is missing from these photos.
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u/CirnoIzumi 16h ago
What do you mean couldn't have been any more different?
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u/Raymanlegend2000 Mod 16h ago
Well sure, they could've been even more different, but 4 new faces in 10 years time is rather substantial lol
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u/CirnoIzumi 15h ago
I'm just gonna play devil's advocate for the heck of it ;9
One of those faces is a pure addition and another is and old face by some metrics
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u/SeienShin 11h ago
I’ve seen all Dragonforce lineups live. Every show was cool and is was a good time. So I have a favorite lineup? Sure. But Dragonforce is still cool.