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November 2000
England was the home of the NWOBHM and has given the metal world legendary bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. But the current European style of epic, melodic, symphonic metal is virtually unheard of from an English band...until now. Based in London, DragonHeart plays a brand of metal that combines massive speed, brilliant melodies and blazing guitar solos into music that is more reminiscent of Stratovarius or Rhapsody than of Maiden or Priest. Guitarist Herman Li took a few minutes to tell HMF about the band's music and how they have managed to take the metal world by storm with their very first demo, Valley of the Damned.
 First of all, let me congratulate you on a killer demo! Valley of the Damned is excellent! What's your favorite track on the demo? (Mine is "Valley of the Damned." I love that chorus!!)
I like all of them, but "Valley of the Damned" does really stand out. I really like it. It's powerful, fast, catchy and also shows the great musicianship of the whole band together. I also really like the guitar solos in it, together with the vocal melodies. Everything about it kinda makes me tick...
Which tracks have gotten the best response from fans?
"Valley of the Damned" is most of our fans' favourite track. But we also have a lot of people who have a different favourite track, such as "Starfire" and "Disciples of Babylon."
Is there an official Valley of the Damned demo, or is it available only via MP3.com?
Really, there isn't an official demo out on CD. We intended to make a couple hundred of the demo on CD, but we just can't afford it. We don't have much money, so we just released the songs as mp3 files. Because of the huge demands, we got tons of emails everyday asking how to get the songs on a CD. I decided to let MP3.com to put it out. So only MP3.com sells it, and we sell a couple of CDRs as well in live shows.
DragonHeart is consistently at the top of MP3.com's power metal charts. Are you pleased with the promotion and distribution you receive though MP3.com?
Well, first we started off by letting the people download the songs from our web site. The downloads were going crazy, nonstop every day, and it was killing the web site. This is because the buzz about us around the 'net was already spreading even before the demo recording was finished. So I ended up having to put the songs on MP3.com, and after a few weeks we went to number 1 in the metal chart and power metal chart. We are still number 1 right now in the power metal chart with "Valley of the Damned" since the beginning of July, and with the other four songs following closely. So all the people who first knew about us got the songs, and now new metal heads can discover us too.
What kind of response has DragonHeart received from the international metal community? Have you received any mail from Japan?
The responses has been brilliant everywhere. The word is just getting passed on by metalheads to more metalheads. First it was just the Internet zines and web sites talking about us, and now even the offline major metal magazines are talking about us, which will let us reach fans who don't have the Internet. We have received many mails from Japan as well, including many requests for importing the demo.
 It's amazing that you guys recorded and mixed the demo in only 7 days! How much studio did experience the band have?
Well, Sam and I recorded an album together last year. He had done another two metal albums before that. I have played on a few demos here and there, as well as doing sessions. The other guys all have recording and live experience also.
How did you hook up with Karl Groom (of Threshold) to help with the recording?
Well, Threshold toured with Dream Theater, and I thought we couldn't go wrong going to Karl's studio to record. I heard ShadowKeep's mini-CD which was recorded there, and I thought the sound was good. I also know Rogue (vocalist of ShadowKeep), who told me a bit about the place. Also, I have Threshold's Clone and heard a few Arena albums. I think the production sound of progressive metal/rock is pretty similar to what we wanted for the demo. It was an easy choice, and a good one.
How did you end up getting Clive Nolan (Arena/Pendragon/others) to play keys on the demo?
Thin Ice studio is Karl and Clive's studio. Clive was there at the studio when we were recording, he liked what we were doing, so he said, "Fine! Let's rock!" Also, we didn't have a keyboard player then, so we didn't have much choice. Clive was great, and he helped us with the backing vocals too.
Valley of the Damned sounds very professional and not at all like the first effort of a young band. Were you pleased with the way the demo turned out?
Yes, it turned out pretty much the way we wanted. There are a lot of things I am not happy about, but then again, those will be fixed when we record the album. For a demo, it's fine, I think. Some people say the production sounds similar to Stratovarius, and it's only a demo, so that shocked me a bit. Of course, we already had a clear objective in mind when we went in to record Valley of the Damned. It was to show not just the songs but also our whole musicianship skills together as a band, and production is part of it.
 Have you shopped the demo to many record companies yet? Any label interest? The buzz about the band seems to be growing quickly...
Yes, there has been a lot of interest from many labels. A lot of them we never even sent a CD. It's just by word of mouth, and they went to download the demo. The buzz is surely out there, and we already have a big fan base.
So how did a Chinese guitarist end up in a power metal band in London? Did you grow up in England, or have you only moved there recently?
I moved to England at the age of 12. I got turned on to rock music at the age of 11 by bands like Iron Maiden, Bon Jovi, and all those that were big back into the 80s with great guitar playing. The thing that got me into rock and metal was those melodic guitar solos which just instantly grabbed me the first time I ever heard them. I played in so many bands before in England, but I kept getting kicked out of bands for playing leads and solos. And I am very demanding, and some people just can't keep up with me. Now, starting this band, no one can kick me out! [laughs]
What's the metal scene like in London and in England? Are there many power metal bands like DragonHeart and ShadowKeep? Things are basically dead here in the U.S., but at least Japan is hungry for metal...
Very much dead here. Power metal is very much underground. The only other power metal band I know in England is a band called Intense.
 When did you start playing guitar? What inspired you to play metal music?
Very late, at the age of 16. Basically everything I liked to listen to inspired me to play. Fast, melodic, heavy, memorable...can't really tell you what...[laughs]
What guitarists were most influential on your playing style and your development as a musician?
In my playing of almost eight years, I was inspired by players such as Richie Sambora in the early days, then I moved toward players like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine, Brett Garsed, and Michael Romeo. And of course, players in bands like Helloween, Labÿrinth, Stratovarius, Luca of Rhapsody, but in different ways and directions. There are always new players and bands out which inspire me.
What kinds of bands were you in before DragonHeart?
Thrash, hard rock, death metal, progressive metal. I did one album with Sam, a bunch of demos, and also guest solo on a guitar instrumental album.
You've known fellow guitarist Sam Totman for a while, right? I think you were in a different band with him before DragonHeart was formed?
Yeah, we've been playing together for a few years, so we know each other's playing really well now. Although it received many great reviews, the album we did together came out with very little support from a label. It was a flop.
How you meet the other members of the band? When was DragonHeart born?
I found Z.P. and Steve Williams (keyboards, who has since left the band) through adverts in a magazine and rehearsal studio. Didier (drums) was recommended by a friend, and Steve Scott (bass, who has since left the band) was originally just meant to be filling in for the band, but somehow he ended up being in it?!
Where did you get the name DragonHeart?
Just out of the blue! People kept asking me if it was from the film, but I didn't even know there was a film with the same name until someone told me.
 How did DragonHeart get the opening slot for the Stratovarius gig in London on 10 November 2000? That will be an awesome show!
A lot of work and hassling people! [laughs] I have met Jörg Michael (drummer for Stratovarius) a couple of times. He is a cool guy and I gave him our demo CD. But big thanks to the people who helped us secure the gig—you know who you are! It's gonna be a big one; we have fans traveling to London from Europe just for the show. I am very excited about it!
 Tell me about the Firefest festival event. What is it and how did you get involved? It looks like DragonHeart is the only power metal band on the bill...
Yeah, all other bands are death, thrash, black metal. John the promoter really liked us and asked us to play. We are looking forward to that, and the contrast between us and the other bands is gonna be huge, especially since a lot of people there may have never heard of power metal. It's gonna be really interesting and a great warm up before the Stratovarius show.
What other gig/tour plans do you have? Are you able to play live in London very often? (Any chance of seeing you in the United States?!)
It was difficult for us to get live shows in London at the beginning, but it's getting better now because people are starting to know us and can't believe there is a power metal band here! The States? Japan? We will see after the album comes out, but I am working on that.
Your bio indicates that you are in three other bands/projects at the moment? Are these just "side projects" or is it anything serious?
DragonHeart is my main band and takes priority over everything else. One of the projects I am involved in is with Aldo of Secret Sphere and Guilio of Treasure Land. It's gonna be similar to Cacophony or Symphony X, with lots of crazy guitar and keyboards playing guaranteed.
 You performed a guest guitar solo on Igor Belsky's instrumental CD Road Tested. How did you get involved with this project, and have you made any other guest appearances for other bands?
He's been a good friend of mine for quite a while, so he asked me to do it and I said, "Hell yeah!" That's all I have done so far. It's a great guitar instrumental album and I am very glad to be on it. You have to check it out!
So what's next for DragonHeart? Another demo? How about a full-length CD?
Our debut album is currently being worked on, so you can expect a full release from us in mid-2001.
Can you tell us about any new DragonHeart songs? Titles, styles, lyrical themes...
We will be playing one or two new songs, but I can't tell you any more. We want to keep it for the album. The songs are in the same vein of what you already heard so far on the demo, but seriously, I think the new songs are even better.
Sam wrote four of the five tracks on Valley of the Damned. Is he the main songwriter for the band, or will there be more collaboration from the whole band on future tunes?
There isn't a main song writter for the band. Me, Steve Williams, Sam, and Z.P. all take part in the writing. There are loads of music already being written, but it just takes time to arrange them. We started with Sam's ones so they got on the demo, we are now working on mine and Steve's (keyboard). I been too busy with all the other stuff like booking, promotion, and production that I haven't had time to show my songs, but now it's the right time.
Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of the band? What's your "day job""?
Hmmm, no? Music mainly, and computers I guess. During the day I work with computers...Linux, Unix, all that stuff. But most of the time I sit there listenning to music and do no work! [laughs] I hope my boss won't read this!!!
Does DragonHeart ever play any cover tunes, at practices or during live performances? What songs?
Sometimes we just play one or two covers for fun without actually rehearsing them, like during tune up or something. Iron Maiden, Death, Metallica, Megadeth, stuff we used to play when we were kids!
 What CDs/LPs have you been listening to lately? Do you have any favorite new bands?
- Symphony X — V
- Labÿrinth — Return to Heaven Denied / Sons of Thunder
- Children of Bodom — Follow the Reaper
- Helloween — The Dark Ride
- Rhapsody — Dawn of Victory
My favorite "newish" band must be Labÿrinth! I love their Return to Heaven Denied album, and Olaf (Thorsen, guitar) is a great guy. I met him at Wacken Open Air this year.
What are your five favorite albums of all time, from any genre?
- Megadeth — Rust in Peace
- Steve Vai — Passion and Warfare
- Tony MacAlpine — Maximum Security
- Symphony X — The Divine Wings of Tragedy
- Dream Theater — Images and Words
Something like that? Well, you know what? The list changes all the time! [laughs]
I know this will sound silly, but I have to ask...how much longer are you going to let your hair grow? It's amazingly long right now!!!
As long as it wants to grow!! [laughs]
That's all from me, Herman. Thanks very much for the interview. End with any comments you'd like, and be sure to send a message out to the Japanese metal maniacs...
Well, thanks a lot for checking out DragonHeart and for the interview. I am really looking forward to releasing our first album and going on tour in Europe, USA...and of course Japan will not be misssed out! I look forward to meeting all our fans personally, those who have supported us and have also been a driving force behind the energy of DragonHeart! Cheers!
— Interview by Chris Kells, November 2000
Visit the DragonHeart's official web site for pictures, video clips, band biography, and more. To listen to tracks from the band's demo CD, check out the DragonHeart MP3.com page. Be sure to send Herman some e-mail and let him know what you think!
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