Power Metal is undergoing a resurgence in the UK, mainly due to the success of Dragonforce. Kids can’t get enough of the supersonic riffs and lyrics exploring the world of warriors, dragons, elves and valour. Dragonforce represent everything that is great about the genre. A total escape from reality. It’s over-the-top showmanship to the power of totally-fucking-ridiculous.

Although Dragonforce are from the UK, power metal is a distinctly European genre. We Brits just aren’t cut out for the spandex showboating required for Power Metal Stagecraft 101. Maiden were always like blokes down the pub who went a bit crazy on stage for an hour. Even the high camp of Priest still had a working class edge to it.

It’s different on the continent. Dragonforce can pop over to Germany and play a bunch of open air festivals to 100,000 leather-clad nutbags, but when they get back to London they’re lucky to fill the Astoria. Weird. The only place all the Brit power metallers get to pump their fists is at the annual Bloodstock Festival, which this year promises to be bigger than ever.

NATALOZ ZENITHERION