DragonForce’s new era hit the stage for the first time this weekend, but not quite the way fans expected.
The power metal veterans performed at Florida’s Welcome To Rockville festival on Saturday (May 9th), marking the live debut of newly recruited vocalist Alissa White-Gluz, but while many expected the former Arch Enemy frontwoman to share vocal duties alongside longtime singer Marc Hudson, Hudson was absent entirely due to ongoing hearing loss and tinnitus issues (Per The PRP).
Instead, White-Gluz took on lead vocal duties for the set, giving fans their first proper glimpse at what DragonForce’s reshaped lineup might actually sound like in practice.
Ahead of the performance, the band addressed Hudson’s absence in a statement explaining the situation had been developing privately for some time.
‘This hasn’t been a sudden decision, but something he has been managing behind the scenes for quite some time,’ the band shared. ‘After careful consideration, it’s become clear that taking a little break is the best move for his long-term health and recovery.’
Billy Watkins stepping up
DragonForce also confirmed touring guitarist and vocalist Billy Wilkins will continue filling in across the next two live performances while Hudson recovers.
The shake-up comes only days after the band officially announced White-Gluz as DragonForce’s first ever frontwoman, a move that immediately sent shockwaves through the power metal world. While DragonForce have never exactly played it safe musically, bringing in one of modern metal’s most recognisable vocalists feels like a deliberate reset button for the band’s next phase.
Speaking about the lineup shift earlier this week, guitarist Herman Li described White-Gluz joining the band as ‘an expansion of everything we’ve done up to this point.’
‘Having Alissa in the room changes everything,’ Li explained. ‘She doesn’t just sing, she makes all aspects of our music better.’
For White-Gluz, the move also opens the door to a broader vocal palette than many fans might associate with her work in melodic death metal.
‘I am beyond excited to be bringing such iconic music to life with these amazingly skilled musicians,’ she said. ‘It feels great to showcase all the colours of my voice.’
The revamped lineup arrives as DragonForce celebrate 20 years of Inhuman Rampage, the record that launched ‘Through the Fire and Flames’ into metal immortality through Guitar Hero III. At the same time, the band are already working on a tenth studio album featuring both Hudson and White-Gluz.
For now though, fans are watching closely to see how this new configuration evolves once the dust settles and Hudson returns to the fold.
Follow me for more on the Australian and US Metal Scene:
MORE IN News
