The world’s fastest band speeds up and into its biggest, boldest and most electrifying era to date: DragonForce have announced Alissa White-Gluz as their newest member and first frontwoman. In a momentous union of two storied and unstoppable forces, the preeminent pioneers of extreme power metal will now be joined by one of metal’s legendary vocalists, unleashing both an intrepid evolution of the genre and the start of a seismic year ahead.
Alissa made her live debut as a member of DragonForce on Saturday, May 9th, at Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL. In addition, frontman Marc Hudson was not on stage due to hearing loss and tinnitus issues that have increasingly affected his ability to tour. Billy Wilkins stepped in for Hudson at the show.
Fans should note this is only a temporary break for Hudson. He is due to return to the line-up soon.
“Alissa joining the band is an expansion of everything we’ve done up to this point,” says DragonForce co-founder and lead guitarist Herman Li. “Twenty years is a long time to do anything, let alone survive the music industry and still be so inspired to continue doing what we love. Together we will honor what made Inhuman Rampage matter, while showing people exactly where we’re going next. Having Alissa in the room changes everything. She doesn’t just sing, she makes all aspects of our music better. And she sounds incredible live! I can’t wait for the fans to see her and hear what we have been working on.”
Through her work with everyone from The Agonist to Kamelot, Arch Enemy and her newly launched Blue Medusa, Alissa White-Gluz has become an icon synonymous with strength, independence, versatility and creative fearlessness, representing a new standard for women at the highest levels of heavy music. Over two decades spent on the stage, blending ferocious and melodic theatricality with lyrical themes of philosophy, psychology, ethics and the human experience, she has built a history spanning 15+ hours of recorded music, 60+ music videos, 40+ collaborations and 2,000+ concerts across a myriad of subgenres.
On her new partnership with DragonForce, and pairing her vocal prowess with the band’s time-warping precision and live show spectacle, Alissa White-Gluz says, “I am beyond excited to be bringing such iconic music to life with these amazingly skilled musicians in such a fun and inspiring environment. It feels great to showcase all the colours of my voice and utilize all my singing styles in technically challenging, deeply energizing, highly addictive songs. I am so thankful for the amazing support I have been lucky enough to receive from the metal world over this wild career I’ve built; I want to keep pushing my boundaries and delivering exceptional music and live experiences to the fans that I cherish so much.”
Check out the official music video for DragonForce’s recent collaboration with Alissa White-Gluz, “Burning Heart”:
Founded in 1999 and based between Los Angeles and London, DragonForce have rewritten the rules of heavy metal, while redefining the possibilities of their respective instruments. Since the release of Inhuman Rampage and its signature anthem “Through The Fire And Flames” – the notoriously unbeatable final boss of Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock – the Grammy-nominated band have continued to blow the minds of musicians and gamers everywhere. They have been heard in Despicable Me 4, Fortnite Festival, Brawl Stars, Asphalt Legends and beyond, and seen on the covers of dozens of magazines. They have played for millions of fans and shared stages with Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Slipknot, Metallica and many more, but one thing has always been certain: the fastest band in the world will not slow down.
DragonForce is:
Herman Li – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Sam Totman – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Alissa White-Gluz – Lead Vocals
Marc Hudson – Lead Vocals
Alicia Vigil – Bass
Gee Anzalone – Drums
(Photos by Travis Shinn)
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