Review by Lynxie on April 28, 2022.

I think we can all agree that Hammerfall is one of the most generic power metal bands out there, always playing out to the stereotype. Usually, I’m all for consistency in style but with more riff-dominant bands like Hammerfall, they tend to be a hit-or-miss, depending on whether or not the riffs catch my attention in the first few seconds. I mean, hell, I hold Crimson Thunder and Infected in higher regards than most would. So I guess I find this LP with some decent riffage and soloing. But the rest are still a huge meh.

Their last release Dominion had leaned more on the heavy metal side, while this one is more of a nod towards their Threshold days. And maybe 'No Son Of Odin' and 'No Mercy' could work on Renegade with its speedy riffing. The overall speed has actually gone up, and the riffs are a bit more complicated than the last release. The melodies had gone a shade more upbeat in songs like 'Too Old To Die Young'. Of course, all the chorus are catchy and brainwashing as hell. At least they didn’t apply more synth than usual, as was my fear when their first single came out. And admittedly, I was well impressed with the ballad 'Not Today', the guitar just “sang” most beautifully - this one will beat 'Glory To The Brave' yet. Dronjak’s guitar playing always sits well with me. I always wonder whether or not he is the only reason why I listen to Hammerfall these days, especially on songs like 'Reveries'. Honestly though, Joachim Cans’s vocals still bore me. He plays it too safely for my liking, and although his natural vocal range is pretty high, he just sounds too thin. And don’t even get me started on the flat and merely serviceable drumming.

Now, I’ve come to ignore Hammerfall’s general lyrics. They’ve had their fair share of dragon slaying and demon hunting, plus their typical cheese about pride of being a metalhead. I mean, 'Brotherhood' is supposed to be the ultimate power metal anthem, right? And of course, a Hammerfall album without a song about some sort of hammer or the hammer doing something would most certainly be incomplete. That much I can appreciate, but the chorus on 'Reveries' is the ultimate WTF moment for me throughout my listening of the album. When they started the said track with Na-na-nas, I thought, okay, maybe they expect us to sing along. But then they used it again for the chorus, all I want to ask is one huge “WHY?”. Even the bridge on 'Venerate Me' can’t beat that one. It just gives me the feeling that the band was working to a deadline and ran out of lyrical ideas, so they just filled the chorus with Na-na-nas and hoped the fans would buy it. I don’t.

With all due respect, Hammerfall just doesn’t work. I fear they will always be that band with a few legendary works amidst their mediocre discography for me. I suppose this one actually exceeded my expectations of them- there are some quite banging riffs in the more old school style after all. And I can’t resist such catchy choruses. But those impressive moments don’t amount to much in the end. I can’t, I just can’t.

Highlights: 'No Son of Odin', 'Not Today', 'No Mercy'

Rating: 6.9 out of 10

Review by JD on December 30, 2010.

With all of the Nu-Metal, extreme metal and every other metal out there, it is great to hear metal that is not complicated or watered down. Every now and then, simple straight ahead metal is the way to go and Hammerfall is the band that can and will deliver it.

From the first guitar blast that hails another album, it is clear that this Swedish fivesome have embraced the truest metal and then made it even better than before. The fact that they have had members from a number of notable bands in their ranks (Dark Tranquillity, In Flames) show that they were destined to be the truest saviours of the missing art of straight forward
metal other than what Pantera was.

Tracks like the magnificent 'Blood Bound' to the melodic maelstrom of 'Hammer Of Justice' show that you can be incendiary in sound without trying to out do anyone. Simple and strong melodies with legend building lyrics and the impassioned love of the old school combines to make a uncomplicated yet massively metallic album. Right where the old school and new school of metal collided the crucible of the thrashing big bang... was right where Hammerfall was born.

The Metal Gods are more than simply happy with the Heavy Metal swedes. They are elated. I have a suggestion: make yourself seriously happy too and buy this album (if you already have it- play it). This is just amazingly good metal at its peak and good music in general should be shared with the metal masses.

Get the picture?

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality:9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

Review by Alexi on July 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