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Hammerfall is one of those bands that really doesn’t need an introduction or background info since for the most part they are pretty well known (well to metalheads anyway..heh). It seems as though this band has got that love/hate status in metal. Either you really like them (like me) or you really hate them. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground here. The majority of the people that hate the band seem to point mainly to the "cheesy" lyrics (expounding the glory and virtue of metal). I will agree that there is only so much of that I can tolerate as well but the music in my opinion certainly overshadows any misgivings I have about the lyrical content. I have never really cared that much about lyrics anyway since for me it is all about the music. Good lyrics will not make a bad song any better but kick ass music will always make bad lyrics better. So with that said let me finish my rambling and get to the review.

In all honesty I have to say I was rather disappointed with their last album "Renegade". I found it rather boring and repetitive so I was hoping that this new one would bring them back into the excellent songwriting displayed on "Legacy of Kings". Well this album is head and shoulders above "Renegade" it still falls a bit short of the awesome work displayed on LOK. They have however gone back to the very catchy style shown on their first two albums but they have added more of a pure metal feel to the overall songwriting. The vocals and the rest of the musicianship is as far above average as usual but with more of a reliance on infectious riffs that get your head banging without you even noticing you are doing it. It could be my imagination but it also seems as though the lead work is more technical with almost a neo classical feel at times.

Overall an album that shows a return to form in a manner of speaking as well as a new addition to their sound for even more depth. Fans of the band will certainly enjoy this album as well as fans of the power/pure metal genre in general. Highly Recommended.