"The Swordsmen must kneel"

4.5 stars. I first picked up Hammerfall's most recent studio creation "Crimson Thunder" and I enjoyed it, but in no way did it prepare me for the shredding guitar-work that is on this CD. This album reminded me time and again of early Iron Maiden with all the incredible riffing that might recall, but this Power Metal album also has an excellent ballad in "I Believe" which manages to sound emotionally evocative without ever crossing over into the realm of grandiose sappiness. The only average moments on the entire album come in the song "Stone Cold" with its repetitive background vocals and simplistic mid-tempo riffs; and it doesn't help that it clocks in at nearly six minutes long. The tone of the album is not sacrificed, however, in its wake. Without that single track I would have a hard time not giving this album a five-star-rating. The opening three tracks are all superb examples of Power Metal at its finest, with particular notice going to "Hammerfall" with its use of polyrhythms: a slow, but huge chorus floating over a shredding lead guitar. Fantastic! While the final, title track sounds less like Power Metal than a seven-minute Rock Opera, it is nonetheless a fitting end to a great album. This CD is essential listening for any and all Power Metal fans. Highly recommended.

Hammerfall...Let Us Hail!!!

Thie is one of the greatest newer metal albums out there. If you like metal at all, I almost guarentee you'll like this. Also, if you play any mystical or fantasy games, like LOTR, Warhammer, or any fantasy video games, this is an awesome CD for background music; they sing about slaying dragons, going to the promised land, etc. Anyway, this is a must if your a D n' D player, or a Metal Head.

Just a Great Band

Hammerfall keeps going. If you know Hammerfall you must know Glory to the Brave, the song which gives its name to their first album. Both Glory to the Brave and Ravenlord are good songs. It is worth for 5 bucks. But it is hard to find. You will wait to get it.

Like a Quesadilla, Cheesy, but satisfying

This band doesn't write great lyrics in English (they're Swedish), they don't really impress with their playing, and they don't do anything to original. That being said, this band is very pleasing, satisfying, and entertaining.



Although they don't break much new ground, everything they do is so well done you can't help but enjoy the music. Everything on this album is solid, from riffs to drums to bass to Joachim Cans's soaring tenor vocals. Most of the lyrics are all right, but some are too self-conscious. I will admit that there are better lyrics on their second release "Legacy of Kings," but this is the album that cemented Hammerfall as the medieval power metal band to beat, and that makes this release worth buying.



Give this cd a chance and you'll find that it will grow on you like it did me.