Fantasy has long been a genre of books, games, and even music that has been popular for centuries. Tales of knights, castles, and dragon slaying have been topics of interest in the forms of games like Dungeons and Dragons, gatherings such as the Renaissance Festival, and in recent years, a phenomenon called LARPing, a shortened version of the term Live Action Role Playing.
As fantasy has become more mainstream in the not-so-distant past, particularly thanks to the popularity of the HBO series Game of Thrones, the genre has also penetrated the music industry. On the local level, one Colorado band, Siege Perilous, has become synonymous with these kinds of epic tales, and has just released its most epic tale to date, an album called Becoming the Dragon, and is taking the story on the road.
Siege Perilous is a self-described “epic Power Metal band,’ and on March 27, 2026, unleashed the group’s first full-length studio album, Becoming the Dragon, upon the world.
Becoming the Dragon is a concept album that takes the listener through an epic journey, telling the tale of a protagonist fulfilling a quest to engage in battle and slay a dragon, with a surprising twist.
The story is told through galloping drums and basslines from drummer Mark Girard and bassist Eric Fischer, a rhythm section that answers the question, “what would Iron Maiden sound like if they began in the 21st Century?” With their indelible precision and virtuosity, the drummer and bassist lay down nothing short of a solid foundation for the story.
The record also highlights the skills of guitarists Scott Hancock and Ryan Flanagan with impressive leads from Hancock throughout, accompanied by Flanagan’s equally impressive rhythm playing.
The mythical tale of dragon slaying and adventure is narrated by vocalist Shaughnessy McDaniel, a powerhouse singer with a range that sees him, at times, roaring like a lion, screaming like a banshee at others, all while keeping the listener engaged through the sonic storybook.
Siege Perilous will be telling this epic tale alongside Wicked Vixen and Starwraith at the release show for Becoming the Dragon at the Moxi Theater on April 4th.
