With all this craziness and uncertainty going on in the world at present it's comforting to find that not everything changes, and that includes Hammerfall who are still recording the kind of traditional melodic heavy metal that their many fans have been relishing for years. With a robust collection of studio recordings that go all the way back to 1997 the Swedish metal group are returning with album number ten.
There has been change in the Hammerfall camp since (r)Evolution and it wasn't until I viewed a recent band picture that I realised that after some fifteen years drummer Anders Johansson was no longer a member of the group. As a fan of his work with Malmsteen and brother/keyboardist Jens I was happy to see Anders join the band, but as time went on I just felt I would rather hear him in a group where he had more input. I was actually hoping he would make the shift to Stratovarius when the role was vacated but it didn't eventuate. As a result Hammerfall's drummer is now David Wallin (PAIN) and you can hear him on their new album Built To Last.
As expected Hammerfall's fascination with steel continues on Built To Last, and those almighty hammers are raised once again poised to strike a blow. Built To Last is your classic style Hammerfall album as we soon find with the pumping metal opener when they "Bring It!". It's sing along time next with "Hammer High", and the band then delivers one of their best tracks with "The Sacred Vow" as the vocals soar in the chorus. Hammerfall's power metal is fired up for "Dethrone And Defy", the following ballad "Twilight Princess" is quite well done and the metal soon returns as Hammerfall cranks it up again for "Stormbreaker". The very catchy guitar driven title track "Built To Last" is sure to be a hit when performed live, "The Star Of Home" has Hammerfall in full flight once again, and "heavy metal is running through our veins" on the classic metal number "New Breed". The keyboards on "Second To None" are a nice addiction to this epic closing track, whilst it's the guitars that dominate Hammerfall's sound they have had a keyboard input albeit limited in the past, and it's something that I certainty wouldn't object to hearing more of in the future.
Built To Last may not be Hammerfall's most triumphant release to date, nevertheless it's a very good metal album, and I'm sure that fans will be most happy with Hammerfall's latest output.
Track Listing
1. Bring It!
2. Hammer High
3. The Sacred Vow
4. Dethrone And Defy
5. Twighlight Princess
6. Stormbreaker
7. Built To Last
8. The Star Of Home
9. New Breed
10. Second To None
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