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Everyone's Replaceable

DRAGONFORCE LOSE SINGER, EVERYONE ELSE GOES ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS

 Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 10:31am by

DragnForce have parted ways with vocalist ZP Theart “due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion.” I’m not sure what qualifies as “insurmountable differences of musical opinion” in DragonForceland; did Theart want the music to get even faster? Slower? More keyboards? Fewer guitar solos? A horn section?

Who knows, and, more to the point, who cares? Metalheads seem to fall into one of two categories: people who hate DragonForce with every ounce of their very being, and people who don’t give a shit about ZP Theart. The singer in DF could not be a less important element of their music if his name were “James LaBrie.” Any eunuch can sing about wizards and video games and dying a virgin; what matters in this band is the ridiculousness of their musicianship, not the transvestite standing near the front of the stage.

In other words: I think DragonForce are gonna make it through this, kids.

-AR

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  • Kuranes

    I don’t know if EVERYONE’s replaceable, but he certainly is.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brendan-Snow/514886363 Brendan Snow

    “In other words: I think DragonForce are gonna make it through this, kids.”

    is there anybody who actually wants them to make it? dragonfarce has been a talentless shitstain on metal since day one, i really hope they break up over this.

    • Stank

      idk how you can exactly call them “talentless”…i doubt you, or your dad could play a guitar like that

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brendan-Snow/514886363 Brendan Snow

        maybe their live show has gotten better, but the last time I checked they were all too drunk to even be able to play in time or in key. I’m all for ridiculous solos and impressive musicianship, but if you can’t duplicate it live then don’t even bother.

        • Alex_P

          Apparently they rule live nowadays, insofar as they can “rule”. Regardless, this is a band I don’t care about one way or another.

        • FrostMechanic

          Their live shows are fucking phenomenal. I saw them with Cynic and Daath and witnessed one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen Agalloch). Apparently, they play with in-ear monitors and shit now.

        • FrostMechanic

          Their live shows are fucking phenomenal. I saw them with Cynic and Daath and witnessed one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen Agalloch). Apparently, they play with in-ear monitors and shit now.

          If a live show is all it will take to convince you that Dragonforce are the shit (on VotD and Ultra-Beatdown, anyways) is to see them pull their music off flawlessly in person, go buy a ticket. You won’t be disappointed.

        • FrostMechanic

          Their live shows are fucking phenomenal. I saw them with Cynic(the reason I went) and Daath and witnessed one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen Agalloch). Apparently, they play with in-ear monitors and shit now.

          If a live show is all it will take to convince you that Dragonforce are the shit (on VotD and Ultra-Beatdown, anyways) is to see them pull their music off flawlessly in person, go buy a ticket. You won’t be disappointed.

        • FrostMechanic

          Their live shows are fucking phenomenal. I saw them with Cynic(the reason I went) and Daath and witnessed one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen Agalloch). Apparently, they play with in-ear monitors and shit now.

          If a live show is all it will take to convince you that Dragonforce are the shit (on VotD and Ultra-Beatdown, anyways) is to see them pull their music off flawlessly in person, go buy a ticket. You won’t be disappointed.

          • FrostMechanic

            So sorry about that. My browser locked up for a second there. Didn’t mean to send that so many times.

        • http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&contributorid=19569360 Garske

          They have for sure cleaned up their live act, although I’m pretty sure Herman Li did a line of coke RIGHT before coming onstage, seeing as he had pretty wicked nosebleed during their first song.

          The band is pretty spot on though, I wasn’t expecting much, I think this band is just kind of a silly novelty, plus I went to the show for Cynic. But I would be lying if I said wasn’t very entertained by DF.

          Also fuck ZP Theart, go find somewhere else to throw water at people.

  • black_polaris237

    … and thats the sound of no one caring

  • brookh

    This made me smile

  • Vakarm

    i don’t mind Dragonforce. I saw them live with Turisas and Powerglove and they were okay. This looks like it can become an anti-power metal thread (not that DF is even power metal)

    • Oden

      I also saw DF on the same tour, it was a fun show. Ripper = new frontman!!

  • RayRay

    This band sucks. guitar hero bullshit

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      What about their pre-Guitar Hero albums? You can’t be prejudiced to Inhuman Rampage and their earlier albums in the same way you can be with their latest release.

  • Harold

    Apart from every song being played at 200 bpm, same arrangement, same tone, same chord progression, same topic…the lead singer sucked.

    But those musicians can play their asses off!

  • Zoker

    Actually there’s a third category: those who like a few (very inspired, I have to say) songs and can’t quite stand the others. I think ZP Theart was the only really talented member of the band but I really don’t care about him leaving Dragonforce… I’ll just go on listening to Fury of the Storm or Body Breakdown when I’ll feel like listening to some cheesy power metal…

    • cougar party

      I’m with you. I like about 30% of Dragonforce songs and can’t stand the other 70%. Someday they will have an awesome greatest hits album.

  • Fufkin

    Fire and flames are one and the same.

  • Awful Georges

    Dragonforce is such a cheesy band.

  • Viking_xxx

    I like them….. Commence the beating.

    • BEHEMOHAWK

      *beats you*

      • Satch Armstrong

        Make sure to clean up.

  • hi my name is mark

    I was a DragonForce fan until Guitar Hero III came out. Then everyone and their dog went all “LOLOMG I CAN GET FIVE STARS ON TTFAF!!!!!!111″. So I stopped caring.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      That’s the DUMBEST reason to not like a band.

      • http://web.me.com/metalshea metalshea

        Second

        • Grymmbear

          Third.

          • Satch Armstrong

            First.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nigel-Loh/1333358654 Nigel Loh

      effing poser! Thats retarded. So u listen to them because it makes u different? Wheres the musicmanship?

  • http://web.me.com/metalshea metalshea

    I’ve had the pleasure (read: misfortune) of seeing DF twice now. Both times not by choice (Ozzfest and Cynic). I can honestly say that I have never seen Theart showing any semblance of enjoyment with the band both live and in interviews. Frankly I’m not surprised he quit/was fired.

  • http://thenumberoftheblog.com/ groverXIII

    His hair… it’s so luxurious. I want to make a nest out of it.

    • Double D

      A rats’ nest.

  • http://www.last.fm/user/M60Patton Patton

    Maybe he wanted to make some decent music instead of the wankfest they do now ?

  • Ian P

    Dragonforce is the most talented band in metal. That is something you can’t argue.
    What you can argue, however, is that you don’t like what they do with all that talent (200 bpm and eight minute guitar solos).

    • bloodtasteslikeshit

      Ok that is a very close-minded statement. You could possibly say that dragonforce is one of the fastest bands in metal today, but true talent and musicianship goes beyond technical proficiency. The true artist is not the one that exploits his ability to play his instrument to the highest capacity, but the one that uses the knowledge that he has to create the most meaning works of art that he possibly can. For example, I don’t think anyone would argue that yngqwie malmsteen comes close to jimmy paige when in comes to talent, yet he can play a decent amount faster. Speed is nothing but another technique that a guitarist can employ in his songwriting. by the way $200 says that you’re 15 years old.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Coate/1568970461 Emily Coate

      First band to pop into my mind to contradict this is Necrophagist, but fear not that there are many more examples.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Coate/1568970461 Emily Coate

        Not that there needs to be a who’s more talented pissing contest, just you need to do a bit more research before saying generalized statements in a place where there’s bound to be people who know more about a field than you.

    • Discipleofthewatch

      Of course you could argue against that statement. It’s more a matter of opinion.

      • gnarlk

        i’d rather listen to the cramps…

    • Zoker

      Sarcasm, right?

    • meat mincing machine

      hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  • Robert

    Maybe he got tired of being in a band with a bunch of fucking racists.

    • dave

      racists?

      • Robert

        At least two of the guys in Dragonforce were in Demoniac. Demoniac’s 1996 album “Stormblade” contained the song “Hatred Is Purity” which featured these lyrics:
        “Aliens invade this place, white man stand up for your race
        Be proud of your heritage, strong will, all through the ages
        Angered but still with pride, show true feelings with nothing to hide”
        This album also featured the party favorite “Ni**erslut”

        • http://heavymetalinfinity.blogspot.com julian

          I have to admit, this is pretty gnarly.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brendan-Snow/514886363 Brendan Snow

      do elaborate, I’m actually really curious now…

      • bloodtasteslikeshit

        yeah… they believe in the inferiority of dwarves as compared to elves and nymphs… no but seriously how ARE they racist?

    • gojirasaurus

      you realize there is an asian man in the band right?

      • MSalonen

        Are you serious? As if asians (or anyone not white) can’t be racist? Are you kidding me?

  • d.o.g.o.b.g.y.n.

    Maybe now they can replace this guy who looked like Weird Al with the real Weird Al.

    • http://thenumberoftheblog.com/ groverXIII

      FUCK YEAH. That would be great. I mean, DragonForce is already sort of a parody band.

  • Austin

    What’s with this consistent LaBrie bashing? Dude’s really talented and a big part of Dream Theater’s sound. The only problem is that these days they only write solos and pretty much everything else suffers from it, LaBrie’s influence included. Listen to the older stuff and tell me he’s pointless.
    Take Lie for example:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qso-Hn9rnQI

    LaBrie sounds badass in this song and this isn’t even a great indicator of his range. Please refrain from bashing the guy in the future MS.

    -Concerned fanboy

    • MSalonen

      Except it’s been ages since LaBrie’s written anything at all, including his own vocal parts (if the music credits in the liner notes/album booklet are any indication)

      He’s pretty much the only one in the band not credited, at all. Even Rudess and Myung have more. Obviously Portnoy and Petrucci make up the vast majority.

    • CYN1C

      I agree. There’s so much more crap out there well deserving of the bashing LaBrie doesn’t deserve. Please redirect it to those shitstains of the universe.

  • http://heavymetalinfinity.blogspot.com julian

    I’m actually really excited for this. The vocals have been the weakest part of the band forever, and now Dragonforce has an opportunity to get someone who will actually add to the insanity of their music. I’m hoping for the best.

  • http://www.twistedcritic.wordpress.com Chris

    “due to insurmountable differences of musical opinion.”

    Int. Dragonforce Headquarters – 2:17pm
    ZP: (popping in tape) Hey guys, check out this new tune I’ve been working on.
    Band: Cool man, what game will this be featured in?
    ZP: Uh, no game. It’s just, you know, a song
    Band: …..

    Ext. Dragonforce Headquarters – 2:19pm
    ZP gets thrown out on his ass.

  • Exploiting Paranoia

    I think I fall into a third category… people who don’t hate OR give a shit about Dragonforce. The musicianship is great, but… fuck this band.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Wolfson/557092638 Dan Wolfson

    imagine brutal dragonforce

    • cougar party

      I believe that band is called dethklok.

      • afrost

        I was thinking Brain Drill

  • Bill Ted

    The argument of “all of their songs sound the same” is bullshit. I’m not a huge Dragonforce fan, but I do enjoy them. I love Necrophagist, but all of their songs sound the same. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. But the fact of the matter is: no other band in the world sounds like Dragonforce. If you disagree, prove me wrong!

  • Steph

    THROUGH THE FIRE AND THE FLAMES WE CARRY OOOOOOOOOOOON… without the lead singer.

  • Captain Wookie

    I’m going to group myself into the group that thought they weren’t bad before they were on ozzfest and guitar hero which was when things really started to change. Anyone saying that all their stuff sounds the same hasn’t listened to Sonic Firestorm or Valley of the Damned, but Sonic Firestorm is the better of the two IMO. Is it cheesy Power Metal, yeah but what else were you expecting? Grinding Wiggerslam? Inhuman Rampage is good too but their latest album (drawing a blank on its title at the moment) sounds a lot like it. Maybe a new singer will make their next offering sound different from their recently implemented formula but I’m not going to hold my breath on that one.

  • Grymmbear

    And, in one fell swoop, Lord Worm is now DF’s new vocalist.

    • Isaac

      I would pay large quantities of money to see that show.

  • Isaac

    Wow. I’m a longtime fan of Dragonforce and even I don’t give a shit.

  • Nick

    I actually happen to love this band, and ZP’s voice is a big part of that love. Dragonforce sans ZP will be like Helloween with Andi Deris… no one will give a shit about them now. sad day.

  • SourDeez

    I might actually give DragonForce a second chance if they get a decent singer. That guy is a joke.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Francesco-Lo-Presti/501978388 Francesco Lo Presti

    Fuck man, ZP was the voice of DragonForce! I definitely don’t think he’s replaceable… but I’m gonna have to make an audition tape now anyway LOL.

  • http://www.myspace.com/somethinglikesweet CJ

    Fuck dragonforce.

  • wata

    One less hot chick in metal.

  • killthepunks

    Loving Dragonforce’s music has always been a guilty pleasure of mine and so I’m not afraid to admit that this PISSES me off. ZP, Sam, and Herman were the only three members on their last tour that had actually been around since the badns inception and I think they’ve just lost a major part of their integrity.

    But I agree, what qualifies as “insurmountable differences in musical opinion” is hard to figure out.

    And to the haters…you can’t look anyone in the eye and tell them that Dave Mackintosh isn’t one o the most impressive drummers in metal. You can’t. Just think of it that way, at least they have a brilliant drummer.

    • Steve O

      If you stack Mackintosh next to George Kollias (sloppy as he is), Romain Goulon, John Longstreth (check out his work with Gorguts before judging), Brann Dailor, Flo Mounier, David Gray, Tomas Haake, Jon Karel, Gene Hoglan, Derek Roddy, Bobby Jarzombek and Hellhammer your statement falls apart like a house of cards

  • Scotty

    I saw these guys supporting Virgin Steel in Camden in 2000 and he was a Douche then.
    He acted like he was gracing us with his presence – actually walking off stage (which was like 2 foot high) when he wasn’t singing. cocklord.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/TJ-Fuller/50107015 T.J. Fuller

    I actually do like the way the vocals sound in That One And Only Dragonforce Song Anyone Cares About, particularly leading up/in to the chorus.

    @Stank: I played your mom like that; be glad you don’t have pre-zygote brain damage from the bangbangbangin’ rockin’. /sarcmark

  • killthepunks

    @ Scotty- Really? That sucks! In 2009 he was never offstage when I saw him. He was either goofing off with everyone else or tossing a crap-ton of water bottles to us. I even shook his hand from the stage, he was a blast.

    See, that’s nine years ago that he acted like that. The problem with Dragonforce isn’t their music, its that they gave most people a TERRIBLE first impression, and then in Grasspops 2006 they proved that they can’t play while wasted. If only they’d started off with the same vitality that they have now, they could have made it a lot bigger than just guitar hero notoriety.

  • Phro

    I personally love DragonForce–they’re the band that got me into metal. (No, I’m not 15, but I’m also clearly not a life long metal listener fellow.) And I’m kinda bummed that ZP isn’t in the band anymore, as I really liked his vocals but…I’m also fairly certain that said vocals could be easily done equally well by any number of other people.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Koch/100000785018253 James Koch

      incoming bashing on this kid

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-A-Byrnes/1216521343 David A Byrnes

    ZP Theart is amazing. He is one of my favorite singers. Anyone who says he sucks is probably from America and listens to metalcore.

    Metalcore is icky and gross. Metalcore I hate most! To me, Metalcore is for more cheesier then power metal.

  • Dave

    Dragonforce sucks!! Typical speed metal band with little talent. I did like the drummer and keyboard player, They run around kicking each other in the nuts,drinking beer and jerking off water bottles. The singer was ok..nothing special. Who cares….they suck!!!!

  • rick

    many people can say that they have no talent of musicianship, true. but you go on stage and attempt to play through the fire and flames perfectly, then you have a right to talk. very few bands even think about doing what their doing, so they at least deserve a little respect. dragonforce is a hell of a good band and the only one that people actually know, like the majority. lets face it guys, metal is dying out. rock is falling as well. all this rap and pop mainstream bullshit is all just about everyone cares about now. mettalica isnt making a comeback anytime soon, havent heard anything from iron madien in awhile, megadeath, powerglove, 5 fingered death punch, nothing. personally, im getting tired of hearing about how much riannah loves being lied to everytime i turn on the freaking radio. so if dragonforce (oh and slipknot) are the face of metal today, thats fine with me. at least they’re keeping it alive. i want to hear more from them instead of fucking miley cyrus. so i love hearing all the over the top solos, cheesy lyrics, and otherwise crazy antics of dragonforce. there really isnt much to hate about them unless you just hate metal. and yeah, zp theart was a bad ass i thought. he was a hell of a good singer (in studio) and he’ll be missed. however, they’ll hopefully find a singer that can do both. and herman and sam are just some of the best guitarists alive today, no joke. dave and vad are great musicians. so is fred, he needs some more limelight. all in all, they are a really good band. few people see that because they think they’re just a stupid speed metal band that cant do anything besides play fast music

    • Reis Jones

      well said mate. they are different. admittedly only found out about DF because of guitar hero, but i would say i am a huge fan and so glad i listen to their music. got every single album, so gutted i havent seen them live tho. was going to go to a gig they played in Southend a while back, but already had tickets to a gig on the same night :(. part of the charm of DF is the vocals, they are non offensive, catchy and damn right inspiring. everyone will have a different opinion, im just glad we have the right one :D