Some projects just defy the standard definition of what is understood to be that of a functioning metal band, primarily because there is one central figure deciding not only the songwriting, but also all the arrangement and production decisions. Most bands will tend to mask this dominant tendency and put out some semblance of a joint effort going on, but usually these projects tend to not only exemplify a benevolent dictatorship like Dushan Petrossi's projects in MAGIC KINGDOM and IRON MASK, but also end up carrying said dominant personality's name like in Malmsteen's and Luca Turilli's cases. This is all relevant to the issue of a fairly obscure Japanese Power Metal project called DRAGON GUARDIAN in that a similar situation exists, probably partly since central songwriter Arthur Brave is heavily influenced by all of the classically oriented shredders respectively.