Dragonforce – 15-08-2014

Interview with: Herman Li
By: Sabine van Gameren

Dragonforce has their new album “Maximum Overload” out and we had the chance to question Herman Li some questions about the release.

It is by now the second album the band releases with singer Marc Hudson. Some time to get worked in you would say, even though the band had taken a long time to decide Marc would be part of the band anyway as they wanted to be sure all would work out. Herman says: “If after a while it turns out that it does not work out, it is too late so you better make sure to make the right choice upfront”.
Obviously the whole was much easier with the making of this release. When the band is getting ready for the studio and create all the material the band feels more at easy finding Marc’s strongest qualities to embrace them as Herman explains. After touring the world with the band they got much more aware of each other.

When that is said we wonder where are these special features that come out most with this new release and Herman tells that the album is still a typical Dragonforce album but that they have been looking for a more new additions to the sound and found these in different ways. To bring something new seems important to them and also a quite logical step “In some way you need some change, you don’t have to always do the same”, according Herman.

The band chose Jens Bogren as the producer for their album and perhaps the band worked a bit different this way. Recorded in Sweden, in a rather remote place they could completely concentrate on the album. “We trusted Jens as he is an experienced man and we focussed just on the playing rather than having those thoughts of production over it”, Herman says.

As we are speaking about what is new on this release we quickly come to the cover the band has included. Johnny Cash- Ring of Fire got covered by the band and it turns out that it is the first cover the guys have recorded. Herman tells they always had their preference for their own material but when the idea came up the whole band was into it instantly.
Besides a cover the band also has a featuring with Matt Heafy(Trivium) included. The band toured together and when asked he jumped in immediately to record his vocals.

To support the new album Dragonforce has a couple of shows in United Kingdom planned. This time the band looked for the intimacy of some smaller venues than usually and we wonder what to expect from that. Not many artists give high up about the UK venues so we wondered what his view on this would be and it turns out he thinks those who have such comments are having too much of a diva behaviour. “You must be happy people want to come out and see you play. That the clubs want to have you, simply go out and do it. You are there for the fans”.

And so we end our conversation. The band has a whole lot more upcoming and after the interview was done the band has announced Gee Anzalone to be their brand new drummer, which is why we have not questioned him about this. With “Maximum Overload” out and the dates of the tour planned it is now worth to see when the band is near you and make sure you have your tickets in time, especially if you like to see them in a smaller venue to see the intimacy the band seem to value so much.

Links:
Dragonforce Official