DRAGONFORCE Announces U.K. Headlining Tour

British epic power metallers DRAGONFORCE will embark on a mammoth U.K. tour this November/December. The band says, "Grab your tin helmet and prepare for the invasion — the mighty DRAGONFORCE will be bringing a full-scale production to a town near you for their military-themed 'Hearts N' Minds' tour! Better yet, we are offering you the chance to get your hands on tickets first in our very special pre-sale!"

The dates are as follows:

Nov. 19 - Folkestone, UK - Leas Cliff Hall
Nov. 20 - Reading, UK - Hexagon
Nov. 21 - Southend, UK - Cliffs Pavilion
Nov. 23 - Southampton, UK - Guildhall
Nov. 24 - Truro, UK - Hall for Cornwall
Nov. 25 - Bristol, UK - University
Nov. 26 - Wolverhampton, UK - Wulfrun Hall
Nov. 28 - Preston, UK - 53 Degrees
Nov. 29 - Bradford, UK - St. Georges Hall
Nov. 30 - Sheffield, UK - Academy
Dec. 01 - Hanley, UK - Victoria Hall
Dec. 03 - Glasgow, UK - Barrowlands
Dec. 04 - Dundee, UK - Fat Sam’s
Dec. 05 - Inverness, UK - Ironworks
Dec. 07 - Middlesborough, UK - Empire
Dec. 08 - Cambridge, UK - Corn Exchange
Dec. 10 - Lincoln, UK - Engine Shed
Dec. 11 - Manchester, UK - Academy
Dec. 12 - Liverpool, UK - Academy

DRAGONFORCE will be back in the U.S. and Canada this fall for the final round of "Ultra Beatdown" tour dates. Support on the trek will come from SONATA ARCTICA and TAKING DAWN.

DRAGONFORCE's reissue of the band's debut LP, "Valley Of The Damned", came out last month via Spinefarm Records. This wonderfully explosive nine-tracker proved that the band's signature style (expansive material, soaring vocals, guitar pyrotechnics) was very much in place from day one, with songs such as "Black Fire", "Disciples Of Babylon" and the title track itself showing a band both ambitious and accomplished beyond its years.

In order to make this 2009 reissue something special, all of the material has been both remixed and remastered (by guitarist Herman Li and regular producer Karl Groom),a bonus DVD has been added and the artwork generally brought up to date. The DVD is especially interesting as it contains a number of different elements, including a live version of "Valley Of The Damned" filmed/recorded in Osaka, Japan, on the band's first-ever visit to that country. Add to this a selection of footage captured and commented on by the guys themselves, and you have an overall package that provides both the musical goods plus an insight into what goes on behind the scenes — which, in the world of DRAGONFORCE, seems to consist of near-constant insults and banter, healthy amounts of "drinking" plus the inappropriate consumption of corned beef!