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DragonForce guitarist @HermanLi analysing the new @avengedsevenfold song Nobody.
Record from Herman's Twitch channel.
DragonForce is a Grammy nominated platinum selling metal band. For over 20 years, DragonForce have toured around the world and shared the stage with many amazing bands including Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Helloween, Sabaton, Nightwish, Powerwolf, Amon Amarth, Hammerfall, Amaranthe, Blind Guardian, Stratovarius, Avenged Sevenfold, Five Finger Death Punch, Rhapsody and many more bands on Nuclear Blast Records, Napalm Records.
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You know your a beast guitarist if the legend himself has one of your guitars
Syn is a far more talented and accomplished musician though you got it backwards
@@Aaron0000014 come on man I've been a huge fan of Syn since 2010 so yeah I pretty much said the same thing I just word it different
@@Aaron0000014 I'm sorry but as one of the biggest Avenged fans out there I had to dislike your comment. Not only is "more talented" kinda subjective but it's pretty disrespectful to comment this under Herman's video. They're both absolutely outstanding guitarists in different ways and I'd be grateful to have half the success and talent of either.
@@Aaron0000014 youre a clown lmao. playing power chords entire career makes him talented? LMAO
dude Herman is thousand times better than Syn
I feel like Brooks drumming is being overlooked. Its literally perfection!
absolutely. but a guitarist is gonna connect with other guitarist.
Yeah but not ever is it good on this shit album
It’s technical but dead. He’s got no life to him.
@@JesseGMan7 Im talking about his drumming, not his fake performance energy. 2 massively different things. Your comment is nonsense.
@@Lor00D I’m talking about his drumming too. You can hear someone’s feel and passion when they play. He’s boring, it’s sounds intricate and impressive but is also dead and boring sounding. It’s a naunce you might not understand it. Playing in bands I’ve definitely picked up on it every instrument. Someone’s personality and confidence comes out in a song. I can tell he has a dry intellectual personality from his drumming
I just love how every album sounds do different. Such a good band.
Everybody has been hating on the new song but I really like it I love that they change so much truly my favorite band of all time
I like this song but I’m getting stage 2.0 vibes. Was hoping for a city of evil return haha
Their evolution is why I've been a fan since Waking the Fallen.
@@newbeginning1510that wont be returning. Matts vocals cant handle it and they are "bored with that style of song writing" according to the band themselves.
@@munchenonyou3774 they’re not bored they just know it won’t hit the same with Matt’s vocals. But I love whatever they do I don’t ever want them to break up anyways
Took me a few listens for this song to grow on me. But I can really appreciate how different it is from their previous work. I like it
agreed, it definitely grows on you, first impressions i didnt like it, then as i listened more and more i started to appreciate it more
Same.
i thought it didnt compare ti some of there other stuff at first but ive grown to really like it
@@skaresimpyy7830i had that feeling with the solo, first impression=trash, now I want to shred that solo by myself 😂
Honestly, there have been 2 A7X songs that had to grow on me. I didnt like The Stage and Nobody on the first time I heard them, then I kept hearing them and started liking them more and more
Sounds like A7X is growing with their audience. Very mature release from these guys!
True, but sadly nothing i would listen to more. I listened to it once and that was it. It feels more like a film score.
@@SuperXD44 Well, to each their own
@@SuperXD44 A7X is growing while you are not
@@muzlee7479 I don't think that's totally fair to say just cause they don't like the song that much
@@KinzokuDrummer Not liking it and thinking it's like a film score (which is objectively not true) is true different things.
Herman Li with the Syn Custom S is pretty damn cool to see!
Herman is a down to earth guy & I love how he appreciates other bands music.
Agreed. If you didn’t know he was a legend he could be any nerd fanboy youtube guy. I mean that in the best possible way.
the guy is dumb, he said mgk was a decent guitar player. lmao no credibility after that.
I love how all the modern guitar virtuosos are just chill dudes 😊
LIBAD is straight fucking fire 🔥🔥🔥💀
The stop motion animation is so pretty. Every frame could be a wallpaper
Herman needs to get Synyster Gates on stream and Fucking Jam!🔥
This needs to happen
Like he did with Tim Henson!
Let it happen!
And the legend himself Papa Gates
City of Evil is one of the greatest albums of all time!
That isnt a affirmation, its a fact
facts
City of evil is a top 3 album in my book, and it ain’t 2 or 3…. Lol
That album changed my life
True! Diamonds In the Rough and Nightmare are also phenomenal
That solo was catchy and very fire.
@MEME Supreme I feel like especially at first the solo captivated me the most by far. The solo itself is Grammy winning.
Nope
The song is supposed to convey an existential crisis and make you feel uneasy. I love it
Interesting you say that because I first heard it coming out of a 6 day coma. And you are correct, it hit me hard!
I don’t get people who love feeling bad and excessive dissonance like you. I want to feel healing emotions or let out bad emotions when I listen to music not take on more baggage, I got too much shiz to take care of and too much shiz I’ve been thru for that.
@@JesseGMan7 its because music that gets that way can help many of us connect to it and let some emotions out, but maybe it doesnt work the same way for you.
I actually find it relaxing. Maybe it's Matts voice Idk.
@@JesseGMan7 “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”― Cesar A. Cruz
love Herman telling a story from 20 years ago, like it was last month XD
The first time I heard this song I was “pass” didn’t like it at all. Something made me listen to it again and again. Now it’s one of my go to songs 🤘🤘. I love it
Same man
I think I'm the only one who loved it from the first listen guess there aren't as many Prog fans listening to Avenged Sevenfold or something
@werewolf914 you are not alone, although i wouldn't say i loved it. I enjoyed it thoroughly, nevertheless
i watch it live and im like, "meh", but now im addicted
I’m like meh until a bit further into the song. I liked it but it isn’t like the traditional A7X. Mostly because most of the previous songs were written by the deceased drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, 14 years ago before their Nightmare album came out. Such a musical genius especially when they all came together & made many bangers.
I like how Herman Li played along to Syn’s solo with his face 😂😍
Absolutely lovely how Herman knows his stuff. He called City of Evil a “power metal album in disguise” and a lot of people probably don’t know, Shadows and the rest of the band have name dropped Blind Guardian a lot (Dragonforce too I’m pretty sure!) as a huge influence on their vocal harmonies and guitar playing, especially during that era! Love the analysis for the new song too. June 2nd can’t come soon enough.
So happy to hear Herman say that. I've always thought City was a step removed from a power metal/prog metal album
@@MerkRampage Please dont ever compare power metal with PROG METAL my guy
I feel like that was the first album where they experimented with a few prog elements. Sidewinder ends nothing alike the beginning, M.I.A. is very long, etc.
Yeahhh I was surprised tbh.. he made a few spot on predictions for this song/album, the fan's reactions etc.
That solo is why Sinister Gates continues to be so well recognized. Hoping the rest of the album is just as creatively done. They took a long time so there’s quite a bit of anticipation..
I feel like this entire album is a creative expansion of what A7x did with the song "Exist" on The Stage album. Anyone else feeling this? There are a lot of recognizable techniques and sounds in the Solo here. A lot in the orchestral composition too. I love it and am here for more!
This is how react to a song should be. A real musician reacting analyzing and commenting on fellow musician's art, he know what he's talking about. Unlike most cringe youtubers trying to make money by commenting other people's art whereas in reality they're not even a musician.
Love that Herman is sat with Syn's signature Schecter guitar for this reaction
City of Evil is hands down my favorite album, and my favorite style that they would play. You get tastes of it in later songs like Natural Born Killer from the Nightmare album or St. James from Hail to the King. However, when a band experiments with their styles with every album its fun to listen to it new as you never really know what you're going to get and that's exciting! Not my cup of tea on this first track, but maybe it'll grow on me with the rest of the album they release
I much prefer there older stuff city self titled and nightmare album matt's vocals have alot of grit I much rather get into that. But we all gotta be real tho if the rev was Alive they would never have gone down this road I believe the drummer they have now has influenced the style alot and matt just sounds mono now and it's a shame really imo
Honestly, almost every "awkward" song of them got me in the first listen. They're really growing non-stop their entire career. Such a great band, shame some people will hear one or two songs of a teenage phase and judge an entire artist's catalog from it.
Their teenage phase was their best phase they've gone downhill since the self titled album
@@badnasty2153 lol ok
@@badnasty2153 nah
@@flavioanguiano8461 waking the fallen and city of evil were peak A7X self titled album had some decent songs but as a whole wasn't anything special and hail to the king was the most watered down Metallica rip off I had ever heard and made me stop listening to them all together radio attention ruins bands all together happened to slipknot, currently happening to code orange and countless others they get those Grammy nominations and lose all of the edge they had as young musicians
@@badnasty2153 ok boomer. Nah nightmare was peak a7x and the stage is one of the best records of the 2010s alongside it
Oh...I can't wait for a "We Love you" reaction. Honestly my brain is still processing it...but my heart is vibing 😂. They're definitely not afraid to try new things (like we didn't know that already lol).
This solo is a classical/rock solo with key changes that HEAVILY compliments the song. Its a super technical solo thats so different in todays world and it stands out. Super excited for this album. I love how they do what THEY want and still make unreal music. I love this take.
id say its more inspired by blues honestly, syn threw in some very bluesy licks in there
Ain't no way Dragonforce (Herman Li) reacts A7X, this unxpected. What an nice guys (Herman) Respect both they are two are my favorite bands🤟🤯❤️
13:27 avenged in their Trax podcast in which they talk about this song they reference what you're saying. Specifically in the strings and the horns, they wanted a very raw and human sound; tiny imperfections and all. And the solo, originally synyster wanted to do the solo on some weird 7/8 string fretless guitar contraption, but eventually was talked into just playing on a regular guitar. He was apparently really attached to trying to make the weird contraption work and because of that hated the end product solo in Nobody for a while. Anyways, back on track, A7X are perfectionists, but they embrace human imperfections and raw sound
This is how reaction videos are done. Listens silently to a clippet of the song, then analyses, not talking over the song all the time and ruining the music. Would expect nothing from such a proficient musician! Great video as always :) Edit: turns out I meant snippet lmao idk what a clippet is
It’s ok we still love you
@@YanNyeinAung we love you
Even if this song wasn't for you, M. Shadows said in a recent interview that this album doesn't really have "singles" and they just released this before the album because its 2023 and you gotta release a song before the album. Even "We Love You" sounds quite different from Nobody. This is an album that is best listened to in its entirety.
The theme of each album is incredible, and the music works as a concept.
Please keep the reactions going if possible!! Awesome to have a respected and accomplished musician analyzing other bands, love it if you guys have the time
Right off the bat, this song reminded me of old school Rush between the guitar and just the whole vibe… Very Rush.
Got to see them live right before Neil had past away. So fortunate ❤️🔥
interesting comparison. Very early into the jam I have to agree.
i just commented the exact same thing, glad im not alone!
They literally ripped the beginning from Tom Sawyer 😂 not hating but just saying
@@albaaiVn-dc9vi I don’t think they ripped off any particular song but it definitely has that vibe so I would say they have creatively leaned on Rush.
Love your description of this song. I said it in a different reaction. This sounds like a continuation of The Stage Deluxe Edition. Which I loved! So can't wait to hear rest of album.
Love how there sound just keeps evolving. Such a breath of fresh air
The new work is fucking amazing never doubt them.
yesss this was great insight on the new album and song! i hope you react to the whole album wen it comes out
This is awesome, such a great reaction hearing from a musician rather than a youtube reviewer. You can tell he knows his stuff
NO ONE MENTIONS HOW GOOD THE BASS SOUNDS IN THIS SONG!
YEEESSS OMG
Thank you so much for this reaction. I love it.
This song absolutely grows on you. I was facinated when I first heard it but was unsure about its repeat value. After a few listens i was hooked and now its one of my most played of the year so far. I can't wait for this album!!! 😍
Same here!
Same here
No doubt. This song is absolutely awesome after a few listens
This song definitely grew on me after a few listens. Especially when I listened to it through a nice sound system.
The meaning of this song is unreal. The deepest song ive ever heard..it's about being basically Demi-Gods but at the same time we move through this life as slaves, doing regular stuff constantly and wasting time. And in the midst of everything we are actually nobody. Which can be either bad or good depending on how you look at it
I think you’re right, good take. According to the band, this song and the album is about some of their journeys with DMT. I don’t think all of them dabbled but Gates and Shadows did for sure. Using DMT easily could’ve gave them this perspective.
The technical term is, Demi-God.
M Shadows said it's AI made.
@@Leatherface654 That was a joke
@@Leatherface654 Definitely not AI made.
Didn't really like it alot at first, listed to it a couple more times and I absolutely love it now. Definitely grows on you and got me very hyped for the album!
The part where he talks about diehard fans being shocked by this really surprised me because its true. I remember watching this premiere live and I didnt aporeciate this song at all until I listened to it atleast 5 times. Now I can appreciate it a lot more.
I love the way you described the song as a painting. I love this song so much
tbh the solo gives me goosebump every time i hear it, it's kinda deep for some reason or something like very tense/sad moment... anyway you gotta hear the life is but a dream teaser, i instantly hooked with that mere 20 seconds song and probably be my most favourite avenged sevenfold of all time (been a fan since 2010 and never stop hearing them) i feel like it's a combination of genres
im late with this comment but after putting on good headphones and fully hearing every element of the song made me tear up a bit in that ending solo, very powerful
Speaking of classic sound, their cover of Wish you were here by Pink Floyd was amazing
Love the song from first time hearing it. Syn's solo as usual delivered with full emotions which makes it so good!
After hearing them premier this song live - its just way better. The tapping stuff is just so hypnotic. I love Metallica’s S&M, so any brass or symphonic stuff is just right up my alley. I have no idea how M. Shadows conjures that voice. Its so guttural. When you look at him you’d never imagine that deep rasp coming from ‘em.
This song changed what I thought about Avenged Sevenfold. Wow, spectacular.
I had the pleasure of seeing both you legends at Ozfest in Mansfield back on that tour. Both bands killed it! I found Herman getting a couple beers and chased him down to shake his hand. A day I'll never forget.
It's for sure grown on me the more I've heard it. Super excited for the new album.
Took a couple times to really like this song! Love it now! Excited to hear the new album in Vegas this weekend!!
Also going to the Area 15 experience! Really looking forward to it!
Oh man! I really want to go but I don’t wanna shell out on a hotel room and get tempted for other vegas shenanigans 😞
Dude you should do a reaction to We Love You now. I was blown away by Nobody, but that one was even more of a crazy ride. Really loved your professional analysis of this song. I'm super excited for the album!
Thank you for doing this video !!!!
For me i love all of their music, each album has its own unique sound and honestly thats awesome!
I love this band and I love this song. The direction they’ve been going in is unique and different. They make great music and I’m excited for the future
Herman Li X Schecter Syn 💪🤘
Thanks for this video, I think that song rocks. They sound so good. I’m excited to hear the white album 🎸🎸😎🍸
Damn....neva imagine Dragon force will react to their videos...thank you for your reaction👍👍👍
The lyrics of the song and the sound of it will make this song go down as an instant classic. Love every second of it and the choices they made here.
yooooo Herman!!! with the Schecter Syn! yall should tour again in the future!
Dude, love your perspective on this song and the band! Thanks for adding your voice to the rock community that you've helped build up for all these years!
Loved the video, i have alot of the same opinions on the song! It was a blast hearing about your experience touring with them. Thanks for the reaction!
The little woo you did after you listened to the solo was hilarious!!! 😂 I have listened to avenged sevenfold since the beginning and I was a little unsure about the song when it first came out, but now I can’t stop listening to it! The more you listen to it the more you hear classic AX7, they have always had theatrical elements to their music and it’s cool they really leaned into that theme on this album.
I liked it, and I keep listening to the song. I can't wait for the full album
When you said it has to grow on you...that's 100% true. Both my buddy and I separately listened to the album and were like "I mean, it's cool and different but nothing GRABBED me." I've literally listened to it dozens of times now and absolutely love it.
honestly I usually am not a big fan of that kinda music but it's a vibe I like it thanks for the intro herman
This is the first song from them that I felt really click inside in a long time. I've been a fan of the first couple albums forever, and this one hit me in the right place at the right time. I'm looking forward to the new album 🤘🤘
This will be blasting from the ride real soon. Thanks
That solo was all Syn. He was in a recent interview and towards the end of them breaking down the recording process and the solo he says it was written as a violin solo and they were going to find a beast youtuber violinist to play it but due to covid and other things it just came to be. He wasn't happy with it, the rest of the band said man just do what you do and lay down a solo. He recorded it and hated it as he wanted it to be a violin solo. But everyone else loved it and convinced him it was good. Great solo and great song. Like many others. I didn't care for this song right away, took probably a dozen listens to really get into it. The droning guitar riff sounds like a synth in a way. The band confirmed it was syn and his guitar. He just found that tone and they all liked it. The drums everyone thought were samples. Brooks played and recorded them all. Yes they are layered and impossible to play entirely at the same time, but it's all organic. EDIT: haha the problem with them and drinking moonshine like water lmao. They went pretty hard back in the day. Now they're all grown up with children. Also love the City of Evil appreciation. Don't agree with it being power metal in disguis but I get your view. It has a lot of elements of many genres which is probably why it's so great.
see i’m both already an avenged sevenfold fan and super into experimental music both classic and modern so this album is a real treat for me
Syn e Herman the pure definition of Technique and Speed ❤❤❤
So cool to see Herman Li reacting to this and analysing it. Both him, Syn Gates and Zacky Vengeance are such great guitarists
Excellent work in Nobody! Im betting some real soul searching took place between man and man, and man and instrument.
For non guitar players.....it's his voice. How every singer sounds different, so do guitar, bass, and drummers. This is high praise to basically someone is able to change their "Voice" after years and years. I love this song and hope this is the direction A7X keeps going.
the older this band is the more i like their music. something i dont say a lot about bands.
Agree heavily with your analysis and loved hearing your breakdown!
Love not knowing what's coming with these guys! Nobody knocked me out of my socks from the first *_VRRRMM._*
City of Evil was my first favorite album and very much guided my musical journey. I'm so glad to see them cranking out some quality music again.
They never stopped brotha
You hit the nail on the head. I've always said city of evil is a power metal album. And all my "true metal" friends hate A7X cause they got popular and have some radio hits. "Strength of the world", "TRASHED AND SCATTERED, "Blinded in chains" amazing songs. Glad to see your a fan as well
Or people just have differing opinions upset you cause they don’t agree with you. I know a lot of metals fans who don’t like a7x I also have a best friend who idolizes them. Both opinions are valid. Stop making excuses calling people gatekeeping it’s just different opinions get over it.
@@derekwilson7990People hating a7x because they are popular? Very solid opinion.
@@noboru5138 those opinion made by "uR JuSt JeAlOuS" or any other like that are stupid af and can't be taken seriously. But avenged sevenfold made differents style of music in lot of album so that's pretty normal. I'm a oldschool metalhead and I hate or dislike some of their song/album like the ones who are totally not hard rock or punk one (hard rockers and punk hate each other in the 90's, often litterally get to fight) when I can like/love some other which are real metal.
Your face during the solo was brilliant!!
Awesome analysis - love hearing how other music pros regard the work of their peers.
Basically everything you said is how M Shadows described it, they really wanted to shake things up and do something different to what everyone else is doing, they’re evolving in their own way and you can hear it in this song and newest one they just put out.
I wasn't big on them on past titles but this song hits hard and I love the riffs and vocals on this song. I have to say it is their best in my opinion. That tone in the background for vocals is the best.
Always love their songs from the start. And you guys are amazing also obviously
A legend taking a look at another legend, what a treat! Love to see you checking out some of there other songs, such as cosmic. Btw, City of Evil definetly is a power metal album in disguised.
Very nice review here and I agree with you!! Much more mature and progy metal here!!
It felt like a blend of new ideas but with some call back to older songs. The strings section very much gave me the vibe of City of Evil and a little same with the solo. But the initial portion of the section with the chorus and arpeggios felt very much like their newer music, the arpeggios reminded me a lot of exist with how it just persists in the background. Matt Shadows really had a much different vocal sound than I'm used to but at the same time still had the signature Shadows sound. It's not my personal favorite but I like the venture into a newer sound from them.
Awesome review, you nailed it!
i loved youre analysis, i hope you do it for every song on the new album
I never thought about it, but now that you mentioned it, I think I agree that city of evil qualifies as a heavy power metal album.
It's so weird watching your vids because I look exactly like you. It's like watching me from the future where I actually did something with my life.
Bro I’ve never heard Herman Li talk before. He’s awesome. Very cool dude.
God that solo is just chills. And also everyone saying how it grows on you. It really does. Now I can't stop 😂
love Herman and i love A7X... so i absolutely love this!
WOW. I always felt that City of Evil was my favorite for many particular reasons that I could cherry pick, and the other albums were missing "something" for me, but I never realized it was that power metal feel. Your words give meaning to a sensation I couldn't put my finger onto.
I’m with you there. City Of Evil is amazing.
THE COLLAB WE NEED 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I totally agree with you Herman... speaking truth I love this song so much, its art.
It really grows on me, Nobody is now on my playlist