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Metal Perspective Review
Hammerfall - "Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken"
[Nuclear Blast, 2005]

Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken

Tracklist:

01. Secrets
02. Blood Bound
03. Fury Of The Wild
04. Hammer Of Justice
05. Never, Ever
06. Born To Rule
07. The Templar Flame
08. Imperial
09. Take The Black
10. Knights Of The 21st Century

I'm simply astonished. Expect from their successive, amazing and I dare to say refreshing for the genre and for heavy metal in general, debut album "Glory to the Brave" back in 1997, this is the second time I enjoy so much a Hammerfall offering. I'm not implying that all the intermediate releases are bad, on the contrary I believe a heavy metal devotee will, beyond doubt, be stuck on them, but for some reason they leave me indifferent. I really can't say why, maybe because I didn't witness at that time any sign of evolution in them, or just because I had something better to listen to, or maybe I was too blind to see. I must defend myself though by saying that I thought of every album as a dull repetition and more important is that I found every next album to be worst than the previous one. Again don't misunderstand me here, I am judging with the standards I set for Hammerfall.

And suddenly a hammer hit, a mighty blow woke me up from my coma. The hammer fell with such force that almost smashed my brain and splashed it on the wall. I don't know where to start here. The band is more mature than ever before and as I foretold this is purely my personal opinion. From the very start of the spin I was excited with the commanding and together pleasant-sounding and catchy riffs, the pounding rhythms and the firm play of the band. Joacim Cans seems to be in perfect form and without any extra push, he manages to make the songs throb with energy, smoothly flowing from the speakers. But the best thing is that except from the usual European power metal and Judas Priest influences, I've also noticed an effort to Americanize their sound. Well, maybe it's only me who sees this, but I don't care. To my ears it sounds much like this and it's fine by me, since I am devoted to American power metal. Now that I think of it, I suppose this is why I find "Chapter V..." amazing. Just listen to the impressive "Blood Bound" (I believe the best song of the album and also their first single), "Fury of the wild", "Born to Rule", "The Templar Flame", "Take the Black" and the epic 12 minutes long "Knights of the 21st Century" (with Cronos from Venom featuring on the evil vocals) and draw your own conclusions.

I hope you get the picture. Hammerfall, as real defenders of heavy metal, (I won't say "true metal" because I don't exactly understand its meaning, please somebody show me what "true metal" is? Am I listening to false one all these years?) are once again swinging their hammers ready to punish any nonbelievers, such as myself. I was going to rate it with 8 but since I believe I misjudged them in the past, I'll give them a rightfully deserved 9, hoping to save myself and to be found innocent on all charges.

Rating: 9/10 Reviewer: Alekos Tagmatarhis Rating Guide
Band info

Genre:
Heavy/Power Metal

Country:
Sweden

Official Website(s):
www.hammerfall.net

Label's Website(s):
www.nuclearblast.de
www.nuclearblastusa.com

Current Line-up
Joacim Cans (Vocals)
Oscar Dronjak (Guitar)
Stefan Elmgren (Guitar)
Magnus Rosen (Bass)
Anders Johansson (Drums)
Discography
Glory to the Brave [1997]
Heeding the Call (EP) [1998]
Legacy of Kings [1998]
The First Crusade (DVD) [1999]
I Want Out (EP) [1999]
Renegade [2000]
Hearts on Fire (DVD) [2002]
The Templar Renegade Crusades (DVD) [2002]
Crimson Thunder [2002]
One Crimson Night (DVD) [2003]
One Crimson Night (Live) [2003]
Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken [2005]
Natural High (EP) [2006]
Threshold [2006]
 
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