Extreme Power Metal

Released in 2019, Extreme Power Metal represents a pivotal moment for DragonForce, marking their first studio effort without longtime keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov. To fill the void, the band recruited Coen Janssen of Epica, whose contribution leaned heavily into 80s-inspired synthwave and retro-gaming textures, further cementing the band's 'arcade metal' identity. The album is also the final appearance of bassist Frédéric Leclercq. Sonically, the record is a distillation of the band's career-long obsession with speed, but with a significant infusion of 80s hair metal melodicism, particularly evident on tracks like 'Heart Demolition' and 'Strangers.' The inclusion of a hyper-speed cover of 'My Heart Will Go On' serves as a testament to the band's playful, self-aware approach to the genre. Critics noted that while the formula remains largely unchanged, the execution is more polished and the hooks more immediate than on their mid-career releases.