It's been more than 25 years since the Swedes of Hammerfall have been spreading the good word of metal, and apart from a small incursion with "Infected" in 2011, they have never deviated from their path, with Hector holding high the banner of melodic metal. Braving the fashions, the band continues to offer solid albums with notably the latest one, "Dominion", delightful and with a communicative freshness. It is a band sure of its strength that we find on "Hammer Of Down" with a Hector shining of thousand fires on the cover.
The dynamism and the deployed energy strike at once, the musicians showing a huge desire to have fun. Hammerfall offers several tracks made for the stage with their direct side. With their strong melodies, 'Brotherhood', 'Hammer Of Dawn', 'Venerate Me', 'Live Free Or Die' and 'No Mercy' are the best tracks of the record. The Hammerfall recipe is perfect, the choruses are neat and effective giving desire to raise the fist. Joacim sings as well as ever and on the guitars, Drojnak and Norgren are in perfect communion and offer high quality riffs and solos in a pure melodic speed metal style.
Hammerfall also offers more discreet tracks in comparison, but very pleasant nevertheless: 'Reveries' and 'Too Old To Die Young' deliver a lighter, more melodic and very positive tone, not far from the spirit of Freedom Call; these happy metal songs have a pleasant federative side through simple and self-effacing choruses. Hammerfall does not deprive itself to offer a classic ballad ('Not Today'), airy, melancholic and carried by a very light chorus, which can be listened without displeasure in spite of a very conventional side.
"Hammer Of Dawn" is a pleasant melodic metal album without any weaknesses. It is certainly very classic and without surprise but it accomplishes its work with effectiveness and in a good mood. And in these dark times, it is very appreciable.