Herman Li (DragonForce) and Tim Henson (Polyphia) discuss the challenges of being Asian in the metal community

18th November 2022 0 By Jon Deaux

In a recent “Shred Talk”-episode with Polyphia’s Tim Henson, DragonForce’s Herman Li addressed the Guitar.com controversy, setting the record straight about Tim’s “unwaveringly flat tone” and the challenges of being Asian in the metal community:

–Herman Li: “I was reading an article at Guitar.com, and…they kind of said you talk in a flat voice, with no emotion, and things like that – I feel like they didn’t understand your Asian side a bit…I can be pretty blunt and pretty flat tone…”

–Tim Henson: “That’s definitely part of my upbringing…I have a difficult time expressing emotion in general…Now if I’m doing interviews, via zoom, I make sure that I’m ready, presentable, and I turn my camera on, and try to be a little bit chipper. To avoid getting done dirty like that, just for speaking.”

About DragonForce and Herman Li:

Known as the fastest band in the world, Grammy-nominated extreme power metal band DragonForce is based in London, England. Their platinum-selling record, Through the Fire and Flames, brought them international acclaim and was featured as the most-challenging song on Guitar Hero III. Their energetic and humorous live performances have won them fans on every continent.

DragonForce’s latest album, Extreme Power Metal, features uplifting choruses, catchy melodies, and mind-bending guitar solos. Currently on tour in Europe, all upcoming DragonForce dates can be found here: https://dragonforce.com