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Maximum Overload
by
Maximum Overload Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 17 Ratings

  • Summary: The sixth full-length release for the British power metal band now led by Marc Hudson was produced by Jens Bogren.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. The Guardian
    Aug 18, 2014
    80
    Maximum Overload is as wickedly infectious as their high point from 2006, Inhuman Rampage, and more exciting and substantial than their two subsequent albums.
  2. Kerrang!
    Aug 18, 2014
    80
    The riff were plenty and more focused than ever before. [2 Aug 2014, p.54]
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  3. Alternative Press
    Aug 18, 2014
    80
    The sixth studio album by the international power-metal squad largely makes the positive changes heard on 2012's The Power Within stick. [Sep 2014, p.106]
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  4. AllMusic
    Aug 19, 2014
    70
    They take things just seriously enough that their albums don't feel like a joke, but aren't afraid to have a little fun, making Maximum Overload another dazzling heavy metal romp from the stalwart shredmasters.
  5. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 18, 2014
    70
    Ultimately, there's little on offer to snare a neutral. For the zealot, however, new heights of melody and assurance await. [Sep 2014, p.93]
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  6. Exclaim
    Aug 18, 2014
    60
    In the end, the album loses steam throughout, something that is only accentuated by all the potential bonus tracks.
  7. PopMatters
    Nov 4, 2014
    40
    Alas, the band only hits this sweet spot a few other times on Maximum Overload.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. scottmapex
    Sep 1, 2014
    10
    Best Dragonforce album to date! One of the best Metal albums to date , with much diversity and extremely technical and creative songs.Best Dragonforce album to date! One of the best Metal albums to date , with much diversity and extremely technical and creative songs. Production is flawless , having been produced by Jens Bogren. Three Hammers is the most glorious power metal song I've ever heard , hands down. Other favourites are Power and Glory ( bonus track ) , Symphony of the Night , The Sun Is Dead and Tomorrows Kings. Awesome album!!!… Collapse
  2. YourOnlyFriend
    Aug 22, 2014
    9
    Love it. If your a fan of Dragonforce's previous album, you know what to expect. Fast melodic guitar solos, heavy riffs and harmonic vocals. ALove it. If your a fan of Dragonforce's previous album, you know what to expect. Fast melodic guitar solos, heavy riffs and harmonic vocals. A better continuation of The Power Within.… Expand
  4. NeverDead_Chaos
    Aug 23, 2014
    9
    Maximum Overload is one of the stand-out albums in a year of excellent music. you should know what to expect by now, sheer technical lunacy,Maximum Overload is one of the stand-out albums in a year of excellent music. you should know what to expect by now, sheer technical lunacy, and a lot of it. the album opens with a much more heavy Dragonforce than we're used to and closes with an insane cover of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire with Dragonforce's own stamp on it. the only track i didn't love was the second track 'Tomorrow's Kings' which sadly sounds a little too generic, but that is where the griping ends.

    Every other track has something there to love amongst the lunacy, some personal highlights were the tab solo under a keyboard melody in No More, the harpsichord opening to Symphony of the Night, and the video game/ jazz solo in the middle of Extraction Zone- this is a better album that is in every way better and more refined than The Power Within which i feel was already an excellent album, and is a definite step in the right direction for a band who clearly have plenty of steam left in them.

    To sign off, i would like to leave a little advice- if you are thinking about buying this album, definitely look into the limited edition, as it comes with 5 extra tracks where none of them are any worse quality than the rest of the album, and Fight to be Free (a bonus track) is even one of my top 5 on the album, and a nice throwback to classic Dragonforce.    … Expand

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