HammerFall are back ... “Long Live Hector”.

If you’re a fan of old, you’ll know that Hammerfall’s last album ‘Infected’ was a much darker and heavier affair than anything the band had worked on before. Talking recently with Oscar Dronjak, Hammerfall’s main song-writer and lead guitarist (see interview elsewhere*), he told me that at the time of that album, he was at a low ebb in his life hence the darker songs he was writing. He is now in a much happier place, which can be seen as soon as you see the cover of the new album because Hector is back (those in the know will understand!).

The songs that make up ‘(r):Evolution’ hark back to the classic Hammerfall sound of the ‘Glory To The Brave’ and ‘Legacy Of Kings’ years, whilst still looking forward to the future. Each of the songs has an anthemic chorus that after just a few listens you’ll be singing along too, while reaching for your plastic sword and shield, bath towel cape and colander helmet (you know you’ve got them), so as to join in with all the Viking Metal your hearing.

Believe me when I say that this album put a massive stupid grin on my face as I played it and songs like the amazing rifftastic ‘Live Life Loud’, first single ‘Bushido’ the throat grabbing ‘We Won’t Back Down’, the killer ‘Tainted Metal’ and the mayhem that is ‘Wildfire’ all demand to be played loud and often. What is also very special about the album is the production by the band and Fredrik Nordstrom; a long time Hammerfall friend who has returned to the desk to provide a mix that makes this release sound big and I do mean big with a capital B. The whole technical side of the album is just stunning and Hammerfall seem to be reveling in this return to the sound and music they truly love to play.

I said in my review of the Nightmare album (issue #64**) that there are many young pretenders to the Metal throne and that the older generation (Nightmare) had just slapped them down. Well Hammerfall have not only slapped them down but knocked them to the bottom of the Castle stairs, casting down their gauntlet and saying “come on you young whippersnappers, let’s see if you can do anything to beat this” in their best Brian Blessed tone. Personally I think it will take something pretty special to do that. Hammerfall are back...“Long Live Hector.”

Ian Johnson

(* Fireworks Magazine #65)
(** ... of Fireworks Magazine)