25/11/02

HAMMERFALL / CRIMSON THUNDER

This is Hammer Fall’s 4th CD and all is well in the Hammer Fall camp, this is Power Metal in the strictest sense of the word and they take all their leads from Helloween and Iron Maiden and pull it off well.

Hearing "Angel Of Mercy" for the first time you would think that it was the Irons, even down to the patent Steve Harris bass line, you half expect Bruce to come screaming in an even the vocals are similar, still they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I wouldn’t say it was harder edged than Renegade but it is more polished and better focused and leaves you wanting more. Whether this wins new fans remains to be seen but "On The Edge Of Forever", "Hero’s Return" and the title track will keep the fans happy for a long while.

There is a limited edition, (as usual) which features a very good cover of the Yngwie Malmsteen song "Rising Force" and they even kept the interplay between the keyboard and guitar in, well done.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 52 mins + 12 TRACKS (limited edition) 11 TRACKS normal