Dragonforce to reissue first two albums with bonus content
British extreme epic power metallers Dragonforce will have their first two studio albums - "Valley Of The Damned" and "Sonic Firestorm" - reissued on January 25, 2010 via Spinefarm Records U.K.Both titles will now be available with updated packaging and bonus audio/DVD content, some of it exclusive to these releases.
Formed in 1999, Dragonforce issued their "Valley Of The Damned" debut in 2003 - an impressive nine-track showcase for their accomplished power metal forays. Containing a host of songs that still rank amongst the most popular of their output, the likes of "Black Fire", "Evening Star" and the title track itself, "Valley Of The Damned", has now been remixed and remastered to allow every aspect of the recordings to make maximum impact.
"Fans who have heard the original mixes many times might find that the songs sound a bit different now," observes guitarist Herman Li, "but that's how we always wanted the original songs to sound. We just didn't have the time back then to make everything the way we wanted."
The studio track "Where Dragons Rule" has now been added to the audio side, and there is a bonus DVD featuring never-before-seen live footage ("Valley Of The Damned", filmed in Japan), behind-the-scenes material (also from Japan), video commentaries, plus in-studio interviews and clips (shot in Denmark and the U.K.), all of it lovingly assembled by Li himself.
2004 saw the release of follow-up album "Sonic Firestorm", which gave the band the chance to hone their skills and push their fast-lane tales of fantasy to a whole new level. They were happy with "Sonic?" at the time and remain so to this day, which is why the mixing and the mastering have been left just as they are; however, the packaging has been upgraded, an extra track added ("Cry Of The Brave" - a song the group felt uncomfortable taking off first time around), and - as with "Valley?" - a bonus DVD added, this one featuring live footage from Japan ("Fury Of The Storm"), video commentaries plus freshly recorded interviews with the band members themselves.
As a way of celebrating the recordings that effectively launched Dragonforce's international career, both reissued albums will be included in a limited-edition box set along with exclusive band merchandise and various collectible items.
Dragonforce will play a 19-date U.K. headline tour from November 19 to December 12, 2009, with support coming from Sabaton, Sylosis and Glamour Of The Kill.