Through the Fire and Flames , also known as TTFAF for short, is a song written and recorded by DragonForce, appearing as the first track (and single) on their third studio album, Inhuman Rampage (2006). It is widely considered to be the hardest song in the Guitar Hero series.

Because of its inclusion in the game, DragonForce's sales greatly increased following its announcement in the game.^[1]

Walkthrough

The intro is generally considered the hardest part of the song. Many people find that upon its completion, the rest of the song is passable. The intro is all hammer-ons, but its speed results in many players failing at less then 5%. A common method for passing the intro to the song is Tapping, but many find it passable while sticking with one fretting and one strumming hand.

This is often considered to be the hardest song on the PS2 and Wii version of Guitar Hero III and competes for hardest song on the XBOX360 and PS3 versions with "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (downloadable content). It is usually considered the hardest full combo in any Guitar Hero game. The song involves intensive strumming and fret work and includes the "Red Snake" (within the section of the song entitled So Far Away 3 in Practice Mode) which has been calculated at about 26.6 notes per second.

However, this song was Full Combo'ed by IamChris4Life long before The Devil Went Down to Georgia was by Dannyphenom, although this may be due to the fact that more time was devoted to TTFAF than TDWDTG.

Hint

While the listing of song sections under "More Stats" or "Practice" calls the opening passage "They're Hammer Ons," During the real song it is played on the Spanish guitar and in concert on the keyboard. Simply hold down the green button and ignore it, focusing on the melody played on the red, yellow, blue and orange buttons and remember to release them to "pull off" to the green note. Many people prefer to tap this section. A cheat is to put a rubber band around the green note, and attach it with a rubber band for the intro.

Technically, the intro is actually full of pulloffs, since in the game and real electric guitar, the ability to pull off makes the green note automatically play and is what propels players through this intro. Had the first note been green, and then the second red, rather than the reverse, then the whole intro could be termed hammerons due to the notes approaching from left to right.

Appears In

Guitar Hero III (Bonus Tracks) A Master Track is the original recording of a song by an artist. All songs on CD, record, cassette, or any other form of media are based on this recording.

This is necessary for the Guitar Hero series because on a master track all instruments are separate tracks, which is required so the guitar sounds can be separate from the rest of the music.

In Guitar Hero II, a master track is shown by Performed by such as Stop as Performed by Jane's Addiction. In Guitar Hero III, a master track is indicated as "by".

A Full Combo

On June 3rd, 2008, iamchris4life posted a video of his first full combo run of the song. The video is posted below. (Warning: strong language) It is the first recorded full combo of the song. On October 1st, 2008. Baseballkid7 scored the third full combo, which also was the last song he had to full combo. GuitarHeroPhenom has now refced this song is now currently in 2nd place behind Baseballkid7. GuitarHeroPhenom is the youngest person (age 13) to fc this song. He is also the only person to fc the song more than once.

Trivia

• Herman Li, the lead guitarist for DragonForce, failed the song on Hard with 2% completion and has stated that it is impossible.
• This is the only bonus song that does not have to be purchased in order to be played.
• This is also the final encore song, which is playable in the end credits. When played in the credits, this song cannot be failed. There is also no star power or rock meter in the credits.
• On the 360 version of the game, if the song is completed on Expert, the player achieves the "Inhuman" achievement. This is a reference to the DragonForce's album Inhuman Rampage, in which the song is on.
• When you start up this song on Expert (PS2/Wii versions only), the loading screen will always say "Good Luck."
• The first section of the song is titled "They're hammer-ons". But, since the first note is red, they are pull-offs.
• This is the only song contained on the original disc that the "Now That's Impressive" Achievement can be obtained on.
• Supposedly, "Through The Fire And The Flames" on easy is actually easier than the song "'Raining Blood" on easy.

Song Stats

Notes: 3,722

Star Power Paths: 25

Average NPS throughout the song: 8.34

Lyrics

On a cold winter morning, in a time before the light. In flames of death's eternal reign we ride towards the fight. When the darkness has fallen down and the times are tough alright. The sound of evil laughter falls around the world tonight. Fighting hard, Fighting on for the steel through the wastelands evermore. Their scattered souls will feel the hell, bodies wasted on the shore.

On the blackest plains in Hell's domain we watch them as they go. Through the fire and pain now once again we know, So now we'll fly ever free, We're free before the thunderstorm on towards the wilderness our quest carries on. Far beyond the sundown, far beyond the moonlight. Deep inside our hearts and all our souls

So far away, we wait for the day. For the lives all so wasted and gone. We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days Through the Fire and the Flames we carry on.

As the red day is dawning, and the lightning cracks the sky. They'll raise they're hands to the Heavens above resentment in their eyes. Running back from the midmorning light, there's a burning in my heart. Revenge from a time in a fallen land, to a life beyond the stars In your darkest dreams, see to believe our destiny is time And endlessly we'll all be free tonight

And on the wings of a dream, so far beyond reality. All alone in desperation now the time is gone Lost inside you'll never find, Lost within my own mind Day after day this misery must go on

So far away, we wait for the day. For the lives all so wasted and gone. We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days Through the Fire and the flames we carry on.

So now we stand with their blood on our hands We fought so hard now can we understand I'll break the seal off this curse if I possibly can For freedom of every man

So far away, we wait for the day. For the lives all so wasted and gone. We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days Through the Fire and the flames we carry on.

Videos

Expert 100% - iamchris4life

References

1. ↑ Snider, Mike usatoday.com, 2008 http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2008-02-14-guitar-hero-effect_N.htm