London based Power Metal band DRAGONFORCE was, for much of their early career, known as DRAGONHEART, issuing a demo entitled 'Valley Of The Damned' under this former title. The group would take the spirit of the European mid 90s Power Metal resurgence to new heights by simply quadrupling the intensity of riffs and solos, within a few short years not only finding themselves heading the pack but also cracking the US charts.

The band became operational during 1999 but upfront of signing to the Sanctuary label the band switched to DRAGONFORCE due to the plethora of acts brandishing similar titles. For the band's first rehearsals in October 1999 DRAGONHEART employed a cast of Z.P. Theart on vocals, guitarists Herman 'Shred' Li and Sam Totman, both members of uprooted New Zealand Black Metal act DEMONIAC, New Zealand born bass player Steve Scott and Slovenian born Matej Setinc of DEMONIAC on the drums.

In their former guise as DEMONIAC, the band's guitarists Sam Totman had gone by the pseudonym 'Heimdall', whilst Herman Li simply went by the apt nickname of 'Shred'. Although established in New Zealand, issuing the April 1994 demo 'The Birth Of Diabolical Blood' and November 1994 album 'Prepare For War' through French label Evil Omen Productions, DEMONIAC, promoting second album 'Stormblade', released in September 1996, had relocated to England during 1997 to take part in the 'World Domination' tour of Europe headlined by DARK TRANQUILLITY and ENSLAVED. 'Stormblade's inclusion of the song 'Nigger Slut' prompted dismay and second pressings showed the title revised as 'N. Slut'. Strangely, the song 'Hatred Is Purity' escaped the censors, despite its questionable lyrics extolling "white man stand up for your race."

DEMONIAC's third outing, 'The Fire And The Wind', arrived in 1999. Unfortunately the group landed themselves in further controversy when it was learned the track 'Myths Of Metal' included the lyric "Hitler metal, Sieg Heil". Facing a ban on the album from the German authorities the band issued a swift apology. Denying any racist slur, the group pointed out that Sam Totman was of Maori descent whilt the band's other six-stringer Herman Li was from Hong Kong. DEMONIAC then collapsed, paving the way for DRAGONHEART.

With Setinc's early departure, Peter Hunt briefly occupied the drum stool and the group also enrolled former DOG DAY SUNRISE keyboard player Steve Williams. A demo entitled 'Valley Of The Damned' surfaced in June 2000. These recordings would have the distinction of being produced by Karl Groom of THRESHOLD with Clive Nolan of PENDRAGON repute adding keyboard touches. DRAGONHEART bassist Steve Scott would join competitors SHADOWKEEP during 2000. Diccon Harper, previously a member of PHOENIX filled the vacancy that November.

The band, brandishing an all new line-up, Williams having made his exit, supported both HALFORD and STRATOVARIUS in December 2001. For these shows Vadim Pruzhanov, hailing from the Ukraine, came in as the new keyboard player for the HALFORD gigs with just two days notice. At this same juncture, Steve Williams forged the Symphonic Metal act POWER QUEST, pulling in not only former DRAGONFORCE bassist Steve Scott but also drawing into the fold Sam Totman, the guitarist maintaining a foot in both camps, and personnel from Italian Metal band ARTHEMIS.

The line-up remained fluid and Harper decamped in March 2002. As the debut emerged album in January 2003 the DRAGONFORCE line-up then comprised South African vocalist Z.P. Theart, guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman, keyboard player Vadim Pruzhanov, stand in bassist Adrian Lambert and French drummer Didier Almouzni, previously of ADMORTEM. Sanctuary Records released the album 'Valley Of The Damned' in January 2003. These sessions still featured bass parts from former member Diccon Harper. In customary fashion, Japanese releases hosted an extra song in 'Where Dragons Rule'.

Almounzi exited in June of 2003 just prior to an appearance at the 'Sweden Rock' festival. Christian Wirtl of Swedish act SOUL SOURCE as temporary replacement.

DRAGONFORCE commenced recording of a new studio album in November, enrolling the BAL SAGOTH credited Dave Mackintosh on drums. Japanese dates in January 2004 would see the band supporting veteran German act HELLOWEEN, these concerts acting as a precursor to an exhaustive strategy of touring to ensue. An album release show at London's Underworld on February 13th saw French label mates HEAVENLY as opening act. The band set 'Sonic Firestorm' as the title of their new record, slated for April. Japanese versions added extra song 'Cry Of The Brave'.

European dates in May saw the band as opening act for W.A.S.P. Although drummer Dave Mackintosh dislocated his elbow en route from Paris to the UK, putting him out of action for six weeks, the band displayed a true Dunkirk spirit by completing the rest of the tour with a drum machine. A further mishap came at the band's 'Gates of Metal' festival appearance in Hultsfred, Sweden on 31st July when Herman Li missed his plane, necessitating the band performing solely with Totman on guitar. DRAGONFORCE scheduled a headlining UK tour for October.

The band's 2005 live campaign opened with support shows to ANGRA in Greece during February. DRAGONFORCE then landed a major coup on the live front, being selected as opening act for IRON MAIDEN's European Summer festival dates in Poland, Italy and Greece. A headline UK tour, dubbed the 'Meet the Sonic Firestorm', was announced for September.

The band parted ways with bassist Adrian Lambert in October during mid album sessions, pulling in Frédéric Leclercq from MEMORIA, CARNIVAL IN COAL, HEAVENLY and MALADAPTIVE as an intended temporary substitute. DRAGONFORCE made their U.S. live debut on 22nd November with a headlining show at the legendary CBGB's club in New York. That same month the band revealed they had signed a new recording deal with Roadrunner Records.

The group's breakthrough album, 'Inhuman Rampage', was delivered in January 2006, featuring bass parts from both the vacated Adrian Lambert and Leclercq. Japanese versions were boosted by an extra track entitled 'Lost Souls in Endless Time'.

European touring in February 2006 across Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, France, Sweden and Germany found DRAGONFORCE supporting EDGUY. For shows in the UK, the roles were reversed, with EDGUY as the opening act. These gigs once again found Leclercq occupying the bass role as his position was made permanent. 'Inhuman Rampage' was re-packaged in March as a "Special edition" hosting the Japanese bonus track plus DVD footage including promotional videos for both 'Through The Fire And Flames' and 'Operation Ground And Pound' plus a documentary and live performance of 'My Spirit Will Go On' filmed at the London 'Metal Hammer' awards.

DRAGONFORCE then hit Canada and the USA in April and May supported by PROTEST THE HERO and SANCTITY. The band put in a significant appearance at the GUNS N' ROSES headlined 'Download' festival in Castle Donington, UK on June 11th.

'Ozzfest' loomed for the US 2006 summer touring season, the group sharing the festival stages with OZZY OSBOURNE, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, LACUNA COIL, DISTURBED, ATREYU, UNEARTH, BLEEDING THROUGH, NORMA JEAN, A LIFE ONCE LOST, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, THE RED CHORD, FULL BLOWN CHAOS, WALLS OF JERICHO, ALL THAT REMAINS, HATEBREED, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME. Just upfront of these concerts the 'Inhuman Rampage' album entered the national US charts at number 103.

The group set up headline American shows for September, backed by ALL THAT REMAINS and HORSE THE BAND. October and November concerts across Europe would see support going to FIREWIND upfront of UK headliners into December with ALL THAT REMAINS as opening act.

DRAGONFORCE further announced they were to partner with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, CHIMAIRA and HE IS LEGEND for the 'No Fear Music' 35 city North American tour commencing February 21st 2007 at the Atlantic City, New Jersey, House of Blues. To celebrate US sales in excess of 100,000 copies, in March Roadrunner Records issued an expanded version of the 'Inhuman Rampage' album, this double disc set hosting a bonus track 'Lost Souls In Endless Time' plus DVD of live video footage and documentary.

German shows in April had FREEDOM CALL as support. VANISHING POINT secured the support slot on DRAGONFORCE's Australian tour in May. The band also played in Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

That same month Frédéric Leclercq unveiled tracks from his IRON STEEL project featuring and Fran Strine. The track 'Attack' track was recorded in one take on April 7th 2007 at the House of Blues in Chicago, Illinois and boasted guest appearances by members of CHIMAIRA, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and DRAGONFORCE.

Sales of the 'Inhuman Rampage' album were given a sustained boost in both the USA and UK thanks in part to the inclusion of lead track 'Through The Fire And Flames' as the "advanced" level on the top-selling Guitar Hero III computer game. With DRAGONFORCE's profile remaining at a steady high, the 2003 opus 'Valley Of The Damned was re-issued in October 2007 in an expanded, remixed and remastered format. This version included a second disc of DVD footage with interviews, studio film and the band's first Japanese tour.

DRAGONFORCE hit the US touring circuit again kicking off on 9th July at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington as part of the 'Rockstar Energy Mayhem' tour billed alongside DISTURBED, SLIPKNOT, UNDEROATH, WALLS OF JERICHO, MACHINE HEAD, SUICIDE SILENCE, THE RED CHORD, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, 36 CRAZYFISTS, AIRBOURNE, BLACK TIDE and MASTODON through into late August.

The band released the album 'Ultra Beatdown' on August 25th via Roadrunner Records. The record sold over 24,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at no. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart. 'Ultra Beatdown' also entered the UK chart at no. 18 and the Irish charts at no. 47. In Japan the album went top ten whilst in Australia 'Ultra Beatdown' peaked at no. 18.

DRAGONFORCE undertook a tour of the Far East in April 2009, hitting Beijing in China, Hong Kong, Taipei in Taiwan, Bangkok in Thailand and Singapore. The group then hit the road as headliners in the UK with support from DAATH and CYNIC. DRAGONFORCE's debut LP, 'Valley Of The Damned', was reissued on 24th May via Spinefarm Records. All of the material was remixed and remastered by guitarist Herman Li and producer Karl Groom and the set hosted a bonus DVD. 

DRAGONFORCE were forced to pull out of their headline spot on the 29th July 'Kerrang! Week Of Rock' event, at London's HMV Forum due to the "personal circumstances" of one of the band members.

The band played the SAXON, UFO, MOTÖRHEAD and HEAVEN AND HELL headlined August 2009 'Wacken Open Air' festival in Germany.