Extreme Power Metal

Extreme Power Metal is the eighth studio album by British power metal band DragonForce, released on 27 September 2019.[3] It is the band's last studio album to feature longtime bassist Frédéric Leclercq[4] and the first not to feature longtime keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov, who left the band in 2018;[5] Epica keyboardist Coen Janssen recorded keyboards for the album while the band searched for a permanent replacement.[3] The lead single "Highway to Oblivion" was released on 30 July 2019.[5] The band embarked on a world tour in support of the album following its release.[6]

Extreme Power Metal
Studio album by DragonForce
Released	27 September 2019
Studio	Mix Unlimited, Los Angeles
Genre	Power metal[1][2] speed metal[2]
Length	52:50
Label	earMUSIC, Metal Blade, JVC Victor
Producer	Damien Rainaud
DragonForce chronology
Reaching into Infinity (2017) Extreme Power Metal (2019)
Singles from Extreme Power Metal
"Highway to Oblivion" Released: 30 July 2019 "Heart Demolition" Released: 27 August 2019 "Razorblade Meltdown" Released: 23 September 2019

Recording

The band recorded the album with producer and Once Human's bassist Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles.[7] Part of the recording was also livestreamed on guitarist Herman Li's Twitch.[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Highway to Oblivion"	Sam Totman	Totman	6:48
2.	"Cosmic Power of the Infinite Shred Machine"	Totman	Totman	6:36
3.	"The Last Dragonborn"	Totman Herman Li Twitch Chat[9]	Totman Coen Janssen	6:12
4.	"Heart Demolition"	Frédéric Leclercq	Leclercq	5:39
5.	"Troopers of the Stars"	Totman	Totman	5:03
6.	"Razorblade Meltdown"	Totman	Totman	4:45
7.	"Strangers"	Leclercq Totman	Leclercq	4:29
8.	"In a Skyforged Dream"	Leclercq	Leclercq	4:45
9.	"Remembrance Day"	Totman Marc Hudson	Totman	5:10
10.	"My Heart Will Go On" (Celine Dion cover)	Will Jennings	James Horner	3:23
Total length:				52:50

Japanese bonus track[10]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
11.	"Behind the Mirror of Death"	Leclercq	Leclercq	5:32
Total length:				58:22

Personnel

Credits adapted from the band's website.[11]

Band members

• Marc Hudson – lead and backing vocals
• Sam Totman – guitars, backing vocals
• Herman Li – guitars, backing vocals
• Frédéric Leclercq – bass, guitars,[12] backing vocals
• Gee Anzalone – drums, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Coen Janssen – keyboards, piano, orchestration
• Emily Ovenden – backing vocals
• Clive Nolan – 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"[12]

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13]	87
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14]	42
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15]	145
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16]	158
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17]	34
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18]	26
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19]	21
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20]	29
UK Albums (OCC)[21]	93
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[22]	36
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23]	13
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[24]	19

References

1. Lawson, Dom. "CD Reviews - Extreme Power Metal Dragonforce". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
2. Smith, Jonathan (25 September 2019). "DragonForce - Extreme Power Metal (Album Review)". Sonic Perspectives. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
3. "DRAGONFORCE Reveals Details Of New Album 'Extreme Power Metal', Launches Video For 'Highway To Oblivion'". Blabbermouth.net. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
4. "DRAGONFORCE: Frédéric Leclercq lascia la band". metalpit.it (in Italian). 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
5. Divita, Joe (30 July 2019). "DragonForce Announce New Album, Debut 'Highway to Oblivion' Video". Loudwire. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
6. "DRAGONFORCE Reveals Details Of New Album 'Extreme Power Metal', Launches Video For 'Highway To Oblivion'". heavy-metal.it. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
7. "DRAGONFORCE Unveil Epic "Highway To Oblivion" Music Video, Announce New Album Extreme Power Metal". Metal Injection. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
8. Bienstock, Richard (30 July 2019). "DragonForce Detail New Studio Album, 'Extreme Power Metal,' Share First Single". Guitar World. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
9. "[DragonForce] Herman Li & Sam Totman - Lyrics Writing Session on Twitch (2018-12-27)". Retrieved 23 August 2020.
10. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/GQCS-90758?s_ssid=e332355d8bd4cbdfe2
11. "Extreme Power Metal". dragonforce.com. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
12. DragonForce (27 September 2019). Extreme Power Metal (liner notes).
13. "ARIA Chart Watch #545". auspOp. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
14. "Austriancharts.at – DragonForce – Extreme Power Metal" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
15. "Ultratop.be – DragonForce – Extreme Power Metal" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
16. "Ultratop.be – DragonForce – Extreme Power Metal" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – DragonForce – Extreme Power Metal" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
18. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2019-10-07" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
19. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
20. "Swisscharts.com – DragonForce – Extreme Power Metal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
21. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
22. "DragonForce Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
23. "DragonForce Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
24. "DragonForce Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2019.