Their vengeance is assured.
Classics age like fine wine and that goes doubly so for the bands that forge them in the face of open resistance and adversity. Such has been the journey of traditional metal stalwarts and often lauded forbearers of the 2nd wave of power metal and NWOTHM waves HammerFall.
Having been conceived in the mid-90s when the genre was at its nadir in the public’s eye and blazing an impressive trail to their own worldwide success and that of many others, their adopted theme of crusading knights marching to victory is nothing else if not a fitting one. But even more impressive than their initial ascent to the glorious summit of metal heroism has been their staying power in light of a stylistic approach that has seen very few evolutionary strides over their more than 30 years in the business. The arrival of their latest and 13th studio album “Avenge The Fallen” is thus an expected exercise in business as usual, though in the best sense when considering the quality of work contained within.
To those not initiated in the ways of these veteran proponents of the templar way, accessible songwriting under the stylistic influence of noted titans of the 80s such as Judas Priest, Accept, Saxon, Iron Maiden and Manowar, combined with an added emphasis on melodic fanfare is the order of the day. The riff work laid down by founder and rhythm guitarist Oscar Dronjak (formerly of Swedish melodic death metal pioneering act Ceremonial Oath) tends towards the rustic yet hits with the same impact as when the original axe-slingers of yesteryear first introduced the art to the masses, while longtime lead guitarist Pontus Norgren is far from shy about tearing up the fretboard in a tastefully concise yet technically impressive manner.
The combined battery of veteran bassist Fredrik Larsson and relative newcomer and ex-Stormwind drummer David Wallin is similar to the point but exudes a level of force that few could hope to rival. Yet when all is said and done, the highly distinctive and borderline squeaky clean tenor of frontman Joacim Cans is what routinely steals the show, bringing the band’s lofty shtick of olden tales to life via a veritable bard’s voice.
Arguably the most impactful and unmistakable part of this band’s formula is the mighty gang choruses that often accompany Cans’ voice, and this album exploits this stylistic feature to the fullest. Case and point, the towering mid-paced banger of a title entry and lead-off song “Avenge The Fallen”, which kicks off with a thunderous horn call that is immediately chased by a massive choral chant in response that might as well be a competing brass section. Though among the shorter and more straightforward entries out of HammerFall’s arsenal, it’s definitely one for the ages and could stand toe toe-to-toe with several similarly slower and heavier entries during Manowar’s 80s heyday.
Other entries that trudge a comparably moderate-paced and heavy-as-hell path include the album’s leadoff single “Hail To The King” and the haunting and measured gallop of “Capture The Dream”, which trade simplicity in the riff department with colossal chorus sections that are primed for the many arenas that this quintet is sure to be frequenting in the coming weeks.
Naturally one does not live by radio-oriented bangers alone, and there is a healthy variety of metal expressions to be found among these anthems within this outfit’s stylized format. Those speed hounds that crave the high-octane goodness that typified “Glory To The Brave” and “Legacy Of Kings” are sure to be satiated by the swift and majestic air of “The End Justifies” and “Hero To All”, the former raging the fastest yet featuring a brilliantly placed atmospheric interlude with Cans’ voice bordering on an ethereal croon, while the latter sees Norgren’s lead work flirting with Malmsteen territory.
“Burn It Down” also keeps the tempo raging while going a tad darker and heavier, with Dronjak and Norgren’s riff work occasionally flirting with melo-death territory, while the swift and ultra-catchy cruiser “Rise Of Evil” lays on the hooks like the de facto sequel to 2000’s “Renegade”. The epic blend of keyboards and occasional flirtations with power balladry featured on closer “Time Immemorial” are also noteworthy, as is the folksy yet heavy stomp of “Freedom” and the poignant blend of melodic and mystique of token ballad “Hope Springs Eternal”.
Much like HammerFall’s 2019 fit of majesty “Dominion” and their classic lineup’s 2006 final hurrah “Threshold,” “Avenge The Fallen” is an album that hearkens about as close to their glorious first trifecta of albums as possible without becoming one of them. It comes with a slightly more cinematic feel courtesy of several prominent keyboard-driven segments, and it’s definitely the most massive in terms of production relative to what has preceded it.
Yet when all things are properly considered, this is largely a recap of the same formula that this band has brought to the table since the 90s, distilled into something a bit more in line with present-day studio practices, but otherwise a pure stylistic throwback to what metal was when it had conquered the world in the 1980s. Some tales bear repeating, and with the level of enthusiasm and fervor that HammerFall has continued to bring, it’s a sure bet that.
Released By: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: August 9th, 2024
Genre: Heavy Metal
Musicians:
- Joacim Cans / Vocals
- Oscar Dronjak / Guitars
- Pontus Norgren / Guitars
- Fredrik Larsson / Bass
- David Wallin / Drums
“Avenge The Fallen” Track List:
- Avenge The Fallen
- Burn It Down
- Capture The Dream
- Hail To The King
- Hero To All
- Hope Springs Eternal
- Rise Of Evil
- The End Justifies
- Time Immemorial
Order “Avenge The Fallen” HERE
Renowned as the vanguard of Europe's heavy metal resurgence, Sweden's heavy metal champions, HammerFall bring forth another electrifying release, brimming with the same grandeur and intensity that marked their earliest and most iconic work
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