Ethereal Metal

Ryan Murray | Co-Owner | Chief Editor | Contributor | Photographer

r.m.music84@gmail.com

When DragonForce storms into town, it’s never just a concert—it’s an adrenaline-fueled spectacle that fuses blistering guitar work with sheer, unrelenting fun. Having covered them before at New York City’s Palladium Times Square, I walked into Toad’s Place in New Haven thinking I had a fair idea of what to expect. But what I experienced that night was something else entirely. In the intimacy of this iconic, tightly packed venue, DragonForce absolutely detonated the atmosphere.

Toad’s Place, a legendary stop for both rising stars and established icons, is far smaller than the sprawling Palladium. That difference in size completely transformed the atmosphere. Packed nearly to capacity, the New Haven crowd radiated so much energy that vocalist Marc Hudson later admitted to me that it reinvigorated his love of playing smaller stages. “The crowd was insane tonight! It made me miss smaller venues. If the rest of the tour has this kind of energy,” he told me after the show, “we’re in for something special.” And you could tell he meant it.

The night wasn’t without its delays. What had been billed as an 8:00 p.m. start time shifted first to 8:30pm, then finally to 9:00. Traffic in and around the city was a nightmare, which certainly didn’t help, but the extra wait only built anticipation, and I was in no rush. While fans packed shoulder to shoulder buzzed with excitement, guitarist Herman Li could be seen sprinting across the stage from one end to the other numerous times, either adjusting last-minute details or simply riling up the crowd. Whatever his mission, it worked. The cheers were deafening before a single note was even struck.

And then, in true DragonForce fashion, chaos and comedy collided before the set even began. As the intro music swelled and the lights dimmed, I felt a nudge in the photo pit. Expecting a security guard, I shifted aside, only to discover it was Herman Li himself, grinning as the audience erupted once again. That kind of playful spontaneity is a DragonForce trademark, and it instantly set the tone for the evening.

When the band finally launched into “Ashes of the Dawn,” the atmosphere inside Toad’s Place became volcanic. Marc Hudson’s vocals soared, guitars shredded in flawless harmony, and Gee Anzalone’s drumming shook the walls. Alicia Vigil, as always, anchored the madness with her driving bass lines and unstoppable energy, while Billy Wilkins, now firmly integrated into the fold, traded riffs with Herman and Sam Totman in a guitar army that felt both technical and theatrical.

The setlist pulled from across DragonForce’s catalog, each track delivered with bombastic flair. “Cry Thunder” had the crowd chanting with fists raised, while “The Last Dragonborn” brought cinematic power that felt larger than the room could contain. “Black Fire,” a throwback from their early days, sent longtime fans into a frenzy as a massive circle pit erupted, while “Fury of the Storm” lived up to its name in sheer speed and ferocity, whipping that pit into a whirlwind of bodies and chaos, with several crowd surfers going up and over.

One of the night’s wildest moments came during “Power of the Triforce.” As tradition demands, the infamous stuffed chicken made its appearance. Launched into the pit and tossed from fan to fan in a blur of chaos. The fun matched the breakneck energy of the song perfectly, a surreal but somehow quintessential DragonForce moment that had both the crowd and the band laughing even as they shredded at lightning speed.

But it wasn’t just the songs themselves that kept the energy sky-high, it was the constant stream of humor and over-the-top exchanges between them. Whether Herman was cracking tongue-in-cheek remarks about their own speed, Sam was dryly poking fun at the chaos around him, or Marc was egging the audience on with exaggerated sincerity, their onstage antics were every bit as entertaining as the music. At times, it felt like the band was half stand-up comedy troupe, half power metal juggernaut, with the crowd more than happy to play along.

“Doomsday Party” turned the venue into one massive sing-along, complete with glittering lights and voices raised in unison. The crowd interaction throughout the night was relentless, but this track in particular blurred the line between audience and band—it felt like one unstoppable wave of sound. And when they pulled out the covers, including their now-famous take on Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams,” the crowd roared with delight, proving once again that DragonForce’s ability to balance virtuosity with humor and showmanship is unparalleled.

By the time they reached “Through the Fire and Flames,” the closer that needs no introduction, the room was at absolute peak intensity. That song, a staple of gaming culture and metal lore alike, erupted with the kind of explosive energy that only years of anticipation and familiarity can create. Every note was met with cheers, every solo with awe, every beat with fists pounding the air.

What struck me most about this performance was not just the band’s virtuosity—though their technical skill is as jaw-dropping as ever—but the sheer joy and connection that coursed through the room. This wasn’t a polished arena performance tailored for thousands; it was raw, visceral, and deeply human. Herman’s antics, Marc’s heartfelt delivery, the way Alicia locked in with Gee’s drumming, and the camaraderie among the guitarists — it all felt amplified by the smaller setting.

As the final notes faded and the band waved their goodbyes, fans spilled out into the New Haven night buzzing with the kind of elation that only comes from being part of something unforgettable. For me, this second time seeing DragonForce wasn’t just louder or faster, it was more intimate, more alive. In the packed confines of Toad’s Place, the band and the crowd became one, proving that sometimes the biggest energy is found in the smallest spaces.

If this show was any indication, DragonForce’s current tour is destined to be one of their most memorable yet. And for those lucky enough to catch them in a venue like Toad’s, prepare yourself: the energy might just carry you straight through the fire and flames.