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Infected is, despite the atypical cover art and new logo, a true Hammerfall album. It is full of big riffs, sweeping solos and the high pitched, Power Metal vocal of Joacim Cans. And, like many Hammerfall albums before it, Infected possesses songs of varying quality.

The overall sound is excellent, as are the performances. The band has been around for nearly 20 years, so no surprise there. The opening song, "Patient One," with its creepy sound effects and slow, driving drum beat is very cool while songs like "Dia De Los Muertos," a speedy, Power Metal anthem, and "I Refuse" and its simple, catchy chorus, are some of Infected's highlights. On the other hand "Send Me a Sign" is a boring ballad devoid of emotion while "Bang Your Head" and "Let's Get it On," the latter featuring ersatz "live" sound effects, are pointless odes to Heavy Metal. The closer, "Redemption," manages to salvage the album by virtue of being quite epic. It almost makes me think Infected would have been better off as an EP.

So there you have it; Infected is an album that shouldn't lose Hammerfall any of their core fans. For those of us who are more casual fans of the band and who have been waiting for something as good as Glory to the Brave or Crimson Thunder, the wait continues.