MetalBite Review by Alexi on 7/15/2005
Each genre of metal has bands whose sound never changes. Black metal has
Marduk and
Dark Funeral, death metal has
Unleashed and
Morbid Angel and even doom metal has
My Dying Bride. When a band does change styles, they often risk gaining or losing a fan base. On one hand,
In Flames and
Soilwork have both received a great amount of criticism for their - dare I say - “evolving” sound. On the other hand,
Dark Tranquillity has received great praise for the change in their music. Change is risky business.
Power metal bands are often given a bad rep because they do not change their sound. Case-in-point,
Hammerfall has always remained true to their sound and have become the Swedish gods of power metal. From the band’s first recording,
Glory to the Brave,
Hammerfall has successfully made power metal masterpieces with each of their releases and have gained a new force of fans worldwide.
Hammerfall’s latest effort,
Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken, from beginning to end, is another link in the power metal chain. Lead guitarists, Stefan Elmgren and Oscar Dronjak pick up right where they left off on the band’s previous release,
Crimson Thunder. The two create an unstoppable, veritable, riff machine going back and forth – not only with their leads and rhythms – but with their backing vocals, also. Lead vocalist, Joacim Cans, once again delivers a full-on assault to the listeners’ ears, displaying his soaring voice and super-sonic and subsonic vocal harmonies. Drummer, Anders Johansson, delivers a classic, power performance behind his mountainous kit, which as some may know, is set atop four bass drums.
With producer Charlie Bauerfeind behind the controls, the sound of every instrument fits the power metal criteria. Otherwise, on a few songs such as, “Never, Ever,” the guitar parts seem too extended, which in turn leaves the listener bored. Also, for
Hammerfall, there is an insufficient amount of lyrics pertaining to dragons, wizards and saving princesses.
If you are a power metal fan, this album needs to find its way into your collection.
Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken, is another classic power metal album released by an immortalized band. Furthermore, if you enjoy
Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken and crave more, more, more, look no further than anything from
Hammerfall’s back catalogue.
Categorical Rating Breakdown
Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 9
Originality: 7
Overall:8
Rating:
8.4 out of
10
