Hammerfall - Steel Meets Steel

Swedish quintet’s 10-year summary

Thirty songs, mostly old and some new, chart the six-album rampage of the Viking hordes, kicking off with the fresh instrumental Abyss and typically Europe-go-power metal of Last Man Standing. A revamped version of Hammerfall follows, and the pace rarely flags. The chaps, led by singer Joacim Cans and guitarist Stefan Elmgren, churn riff after catchy riff and sing-along chorus after… you get the plastic-battle-axe waving picture. Among the many highlights are the Gamma Ray-like title track, the rattlingly good Heeding The Call and the raking Legacy Of Kings. Templars Of Steel is more akin to Scorpions in full-on rock mode, while fans of Iron Maiden will also be cheered by the likes of Riders Of The Storm. And that’s just the first disc. Its companion tees up the likes of the chantathon Hearts On Fire, the martial Hero’s Return and double-tapped Secrets, replete with monastic chants and harpsichord. Fuelled throughout by the Rising Force-informed drumming of Anders Johansson, the pace rarely lets up, though Never Ever is a lighters/mobile phone aloft moment, before the sweet Restless Soul and three belting live knocks and a video clip.

Nuclear Blast | 27361 19352

Reviewed by Tim Jones
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