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King is Rising is the second full-length from Germany's Hammer King and finds them moving away from the Hammerfall-inspired, Heavy/Power sound of their debut into more epic territory. The band's penchant for using the words "hammer" and "king" is in full force but that doesn't take anything away from the mid-paced and thunderous riffing on "King is Rising" and "Eternal Tower of Woe". Hammer King can still dial up the speed and does so with great effect on tracks like "Last Hellriders" and "Battle Gorse". The overall songwriting is much improved over the debut and there isn't a weak track among the baker's dozen on King is Rising (including the bonus "Our Father's Fathers"). The vocals are little underpowered for the sound Hammer King is going for and that holds back a few songs from being truly awesome (to wit; "Eternal Tower of Woe") but if bands like Grand Magus, Visigoth and Atlantean Kodex are playing on your iPod as you prepare for battle, King is Rising will fit right in.