Riff Tone

Through the Fire and Flames

DragonForce

Guitarmetal2000s

Original Gear

GuitarIbanez EGEN18 Herman Li Signature

AmpEngl Powerball (likely, based on era and band interviews; exact studio amp not 100% confirmed for riff section)

PickupsDiMarzio HLM (Herman Li Model) humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass4.5

mid4.5

treble7

reverb1.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveUnknown Overdrive pedal (model unknown, likely Ibanez TS9 or similar)

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown, digital type likely)

noise_gateUnknown Noise gate (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 2005-2006 for 'Inhuman Rampage'. Gear is specific to the album session, not live. Guitar World lesson and Equipboard confirm EGEN18 and DiMarzio pickups as used by Herman Li for this era.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivehigh-gain saturationarticulate note separationslightly scooped midsaggressive palm mutingbright and cuttingmodern metal clarityfast attacklow reverb for claritycontrolled low end

Difficulty

The riff section requires expert-level speed, accuracy, and stamina, with advanced palm muting and picking techniques at a blistering tempo, making it one of the most challenging metal riffs to play cleanly.

Sources

DragonForce’s Herman Li is one of power metal’s most outrageous shredders – put your playing through the fire and flames with this lesson in his videogame-inspired soloing style | Guitar World DragonForce Members, Gear & Sound | Equipboard

This tone has been researched 7 times by the community

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