Valley of the Damned

Valley of the Damned
Studio album by DragonForce
Released	25 February 2003
Recorded	Thin Ice Studios, Surrey, England, Jail House Studios, Denmark, and LamerLuser Studios, London, England. May, July – October 2002
Genre	Power metal
Length	51:48 57:38 (bonus track)
Label	Noise, Sanctuary
Producer	Herman Li, Sam Totman
DragonForce chronology
Valley of the Damned (2003) Sonic Firestorm (2004)
Alternative cover
Demo version cover

Valley of the Damned is the debut album by English power metal band DragonForce. In 2000, while their name was still DragonHeart, a demo version of the album was recorded and sent to Noise Records, subsequently gaining DragonHeart a deal with the label. It was later rerecorded in late 2000 and released as the band's debut studio album on February 25, 2003, following the band's obtainance of the deal with Noise Records. Furthermore, after discovering the existence of another band with the name DragonHeart, it was decided that they would change their name to DragonForce, the new moniker being clearly visible at the cover's top. This album was set to be remastered and released with a bonus DVD on September 24, 2007^[1] but was subsequently delayed and was set for release in the UK on May 24, 2009.^[2] The remastered version of the album along with the rerelease of Sonic Firestorm was released on February 22, 2010.^[3]

Production

The initial demo was recorded on 8 – 12 April and on 27 May 2000 then mixed the following day at Thin Ice Studios with Karl Groom engineering. The rerecording for the album in 2002 mostly took place at Thin Ice Studios in Surrey, by Karl Groom, and at Lamer Luser Studios in London, by Herman Li, from July – October 2002 except for the drum tracks, which were recorded at Jail House Studios in Denmark, by Tommy Hansen, in May 2002. It was then mixed by Karl Groom, Herman Li and Sam Totman at Thin Ice Studios and mastered at Aubitt Studio by Rob Aubrey and Herman Li.

Reception

The Allmusic review by James Christopher Monger awarded the album 4 stars stating "The debut album from U.K. power metal giants Dragonforce is a polarizing affair. Valley of the Damned could be construed as a bloated, Spinal Tap-style tribute to early-'80s fantasy-metal, and in many ways it is; however, it's so well played and so joyously executed that it could very well reignite the entire genre... From the epic title track to the fist-pumping closer, "Heart of a Dragon," the guitar pyrotechnics of Herman Li and Sam Totman light up the sky like a third world war, bending riffs into melodic submission while never overplaying. Vocalist ZP Theart has no qualms about emulating heroes like Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and Michael Kiske (Helloween), but his lupine howls have a character all their own... Valley of the Damned may not be groundbreaking or cathartic, and lyrics like "In the land of desire with your heart filled with fire you live for the right to be free/We will sail on forever more to the land of the evening star" may cross the line into heavy metal parody, but it's undeniably entertaining, expertly played, and endlessly fun."^[4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]
Sputnikmusic	link

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Invocation of the Apocalyptic Evil"	—	Totman	0:14
2.	"Valley of the Damned"	Totman, Theart	Totman	7:11
3.	"Black Fire"	Totman, Theart	Totman	5:47
4.	"Black Winter Night"	Totman, Theart	Totman	6:30
5.	"Starfire"	Totman, Theart	Totman	5:53
6.	"Disciples of Babylon"	Theart	Li	7:16
7.	"Revelations"	Totman, Theart	Totman	6:52
8.	"Evening Star"	Li, Theart	Li	6:39
9.	"Heart of a Dragon"	Totman, Theart	Totman	5:23
10.	"Where Dragons Rule" (Bonus track)	Williams, Theart	Totman, Williams	5:50
Total length:				57:38

Demo track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Valley of the Damned"	Totman, Theart	Totman	6:56
2.	"Revelations"	Totman, Theart	Totman	6:57
3.	"Starfire"	Totman, Theart	Totman	5:45
4.	"Black Winter Night"	Totman, Theart	Totman	6:20
5.	"Disciples of Babylon"	Theart	Li	7:06
Total length:				33:04

Note: The Japanese edition of the demo included a remastered recording of "Where Dragons Rule" as a bonus track. The original demo version of the song is extremely rare, much like the original versions of "Black Fire" which was never released. However, demos for the songs "Evening Star" and "Heart of a Dragon" were released in 2010 as Japanese bonus tracks for the reissue of Valley of the Damned

Bonus DVD

The bonus DVD includes interviews with the band members and producer regarding the Valley of the Damned period and the remix, professionally filmed footage from their first Japanese tour, two commentaries; one from Herman Li and Vadim Pruzhanov and one from ZP Theart and Karl Groom, backstage footage from a live performance in Japan and from the recording, in Denmark, and remixing session for the album.

Personnel

Demo album Band members ZP Theart – vocals Herman Li – guitars, backing vocals, logo concept, artwork Sam Totman – guitars, backing vocals Steve Scott – bass, backing vocals Steve Williams – keyboards, backing vocals Guest musicians Clive Nolan – Keyboards Peter Hunt – Drums Technical staff Karl Groom – engineering Jean Pascal Fournier – logo design

Standard album Band members ZP Theart – vocals Herman Li – lead guitars, backing vocals, mixing, mastering, engineering, logo concept Sam Totman – rhythm guitars, mixing Diccon Harper - bass Vadim Pruzhanov – keyboards, piano Didier Almouzni – drums Guest musicians Clive Nolan - backing vocals, additional keyboards Technical staff Karl Groom – recording, mixing, engineering Tommy Hansen – recording Rob Aubrey – mastering Jean Pascal Fournier – logo design, album cover

References

1. ^ "allmusic - Valley of the Damned: Bonus DVD - Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1206755. Retrieved 2008-08-03. 
2. ^ "Upcoming releases on www.ultimate-guitar.com". http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/dragonforce_valley_of_the_damned_reissue.html. 
3. ^ "Interview with Herman Li on www.ultimate-guitar.com". http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/hit_the_lights/dragonforce_live_playing_through_the_roof_since_having_in-ear_monitors.html. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Monger, J.C. Allmusic Review accessed April 14, 2011

External links

• Valley of the Damned on the official website