•
Rating:
There are bands that make technical virtuosity and continuous time changes their trademark, while there are others that use a quite simple yet equally effective formula: repeating the same thing over and over again, always achieving their goal. In power metal, more or less, it works like this. Catchy choruses, a nice upbeat rhythm, a couple of ballads here and there, and a crystal-clear voice as a backdrop.
"Once you've heard one power metal song, you've heard them all!" Oh no, wait a minute. As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, for the first category of bands, there are just as many fans who reject this power genre formula, criticizing the lack of innovation that such a band has in its works, and starting with insults that, if deeply analyzed, turn out to be just a couple of nonsensical statements, most of the time, just because "Hey, listening to complicated stuff is cool, and simple stuff sucks." Or at least, these are the cases I have come across.
Hammerfall fully belong to this category of power bands; they haven't changed their sound one bit in over 10 years of career. Sometimes they've released great albums (Glory To The Brave, Threshold), and sometimes half-baked ones (No Sacrifice, No Victory, Renegade), but on average they have been, and still are, an excellent band. In 2011, the Swedish band released "Infected," an album that tried to change, but not too much, the typical sound of the band, with darker, more elaborate songs, and it had a decent reception, which was also affected negatively by the fact that the very specialized sites that had criticized Hammerfall for never changing, also criticized this work under the pretext of having changed their sound, completely abandoning their roots. Nothing ever seems right for these people, does it?
Not even a year later, however, Hammerfall intended to celebrate 15 years of activity with a live performance planned at an absolutely unexpected place, Dalhalla in Rattvik, Sweden. I said unexpected because this place is not just a simple open spot with a stage; it's an enormous quarry carved into the rock, with a huge body of water as a backdrop. The stage where the musicians play is thus separated from the stands where fans enjoy the concert by this sort of mini stream, a spectacle that, whether seen live or simply from home on the DVD version, is simply breathtaking.
The setlist, of course, is no less. Heck, it's still the 15th anniversary! There are impactful tracks like "Any Means Necessary," "Riders Of The Storm," and "Blood Bound," where despite Joacim's attempt to get the audience to collaborate, they seem completely flat, a real shame, along with more contained songs like the beautiful "Always Will Be" and "Patient Zero." There is also room for a nice drum solo by Anders Johansson, a bit short but good. Strangely the audience seems to wake up from hibernation toward the end of the concert, where in pieces like "Hearts Of Fire," they scream the chorus at the top of their lungs, and rightly so, listening to classics from the first album like "Hammerfall," "The Dragon Lies Bleeding," and "Glory To The Brave." Also effective is the performance of "Last Man Standing," a song included in the group's special collection for their 10th anniversary, which in live settings is a real bomb. Always worth mentioning is Joacim Cans' voice, which never falters but perhaps is excessively clean at times, yet remains enjoyable.
Many things can be said about a band like Hammerfall: that they're not innovators, that their choruses are more or less the same, that they should dissolve and make way for others in this day and age, but in my opinion, these are all nonsense. If a band is entertaining and, above all, manages to never fall into banality with each release, even while always presenting the same formula, why should they dissolve? To please those who can't appreciate a song as simple in its execution as it is impactful? Everyone is free to do as they wish and listen to whatever they want, that's for sure. But try to step out of this mindset of looking for excessively technical and complicated musicians/bands, and listen to a band for what it is. Take "Gates Of Dalhalla" for what it is, about an hour and a half of pure fun and no more.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Always Will Be (04:24)
Our sun is set, our day is done, I'm left here wondering
Is this the end, my final words to you
Day turned to night and now you're gone, I'm left here pondering
Can this be true, are we really through
You were the wind beneath my wings, taught me how to fly
With you I lived among the kings, how could this ever die
So I say farewell, I'm yours forever,
and I Always Will Be
We were one, we were all, we were the only
Future full of hope, nothing could stand in our way
But dreams can change, visions fall, I feel so lonely
I would walk through fire for just one more day
You were the angel of my life, taught me to be free
Now I'm a stranger in your eyes, walls are closing in on me
So I say farewell, I'm yours forever
And I Always Will Be
Missing you, in my heart you are The One
And you Always Will Be
When I turn to the east, I see no dawn,
but after darkness comes the light
And when I turn to the west, the silent night hides all
Where is the light that shines so bright
So I say farewell, I'm yours forever
And I Always Will Be
Missing you, in my heart you are The One
And you Always Will Be
Nah-nah-na ... and you Always Will Be
Nah-nah-na ... and you Always Will Be
And you Always Will Be
my Little One you are
And you Always Will Be
03 Riders of the Storm (05:25)
Sight a brand new horizon
Ascending from the hearts of those who couldn't see
The decline of man, the final stage of war
Spectral forces of mankind
We're all trapped inside the core of the machine
Our time has come to find a way back home
We seek our destiny in thee
In the eye of the storm
A genesis is born, reborn
Riders of the storm - one with the wind, defenders of creation
Riders of the storm - aligned with the sun
Phantom powers rule the earth
Descending down, controlling you and me
What is left to see, is it all but a dream
On the inside looking out
Kept within a cage, behind a false facade
They can't keep us down cause our strength is our will
We dream of a genesis reborn
Where our spirits fly free
Let us choose our own destiny
Riders of the storm - one with the wind, defenders of creation
Riders of the storm - aligned with the sun
Speak the word of Nemesis
Call for thunder call for rain
Let us meet our Genesis
Save us from the unholy pain
Riders of the storm - one with the wind, defenders of creation
Riders of the storm - aligned with the sun
05 Steel Meets Steel (04:03)
The hands of time have brought you here
to make a change, to break down the walls
You are the ones and you are the only
trying to live by your own goals
And you all cry for freedom
Raise your fists to the sky
Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the Templars of Steel
Let's spread the word of the sole survivors
with metal pounding inside their souls
The fire burns, and it will forever
blaze for the ones who stands strong
And you all cry for freedom
with your fists in the sky
Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the Templars of Steel
You are the Templars of Steel
Oh, oh, oh ...
Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the Templars of Steel
Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the Templars of Steel
You are the Templars of Steel
06 Glory To the Brave (06:29)
Snow is falling down on this glorious land
Colours fading, turning into white again
To fallen heroes angels sing, they cry their winter tears
Endless mourning days will turn to years
So this is goodbye, I take leave of you and
Spread your wings and you will fly away now, fly away
Now
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
Every solemn moment I will treasure inside
Even though it's hard to understand
That a silent wind can blow the candle out
Taking everything leaving the pain far behind
You call out my name, but your voice is fading
Into the wind, embraced, you'll fly away now, fly away
Now
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
My eyes are closed I feel you're faraway ( so close )
Far beyond that shining star
I know you'll find what you've been fighting for
Far beyond that shining star
Down on bended knee I pray, bring courage to these Souls
Make'em live forever in the heart of the bold
So I say farewell my friends, I hope we'll meet again
When my time has come to fall from grace
So this is goodbye, I take leave of you and
Spread your wings and you will fly away now, fly away
Now
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
YEAAAAAAAA!
Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave
07 Hearts On Fire (04:45)
We saw the writings on the wall
When heathens ruled above us all
Tormented, we still heard the call
You come to bring us down
Wield the scepter, steal the crown
Time on the throne is running out
‘Cause seasons change but we are still the same
Even though the cold winds blow, the fire burns inside
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Burning for the steel
Hearts On Fire
For years shunned by society
Outcasts, condemned for our beliefs
Our legions grew in secrecy
And now, the time is here
I see the Templars everywhere
The Freedom Call is drawing near
We hold our rebel banners up with pride
The colour’s crimson and the Hammer is the sign
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire
Burning for the steel
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire…
Hearts On Fire, Hearts On Fire
Burning, burning with desire…
10 HammerFall (05:46)
Silent screaming, you're on your own
balancing on a blade between
what's right and what is wrong
Don't loose your faith, don't sit there in silence
show your strength, let's hail the metal gods,
bare your heart
All for one, our burning hearts will live forever
One for all, together standing strong
Hammerfall - we will prevail
Hammerfall - let us hail
Hammerfall - we will prevail
Hammerfall - let us hail
We share a dream, the future is ours
a Metal Heart is hard to tear apart, heed the call
we run this race, but we will never crawl,
all hail Hammerfall
All for one, our burning hearts will live forever
One for all, together standing strong
Hammerfall - we will prevail
Hammerfall - let us hail
Just follow your heart, don't listen to the crowed
the wisdom, the voice is calling from inside.
The time long forgotten will soon come again
prepare for the meeting, the Gods of Metal reign
13 Renegade (04:16)
See the outlaw stands alone beneath the burning sun
The raging badlands now is his home
There's no sign of victory, he lost his liberty
and the only woman that he loved
An outlaw chasing outlaws, a runner in the night
By the radiant moon he will strike
The seeker of all dangers has come to take his toll
From the dead of night he will arise
Renegade, Renegade
Committed the ultimate sin
Renegade, Renegade
This time the prowler will win
He stalks in shadow lands, soundless, with gun in hand
Striking like a reptile, so fierce
No chance to get away, no time for your last prayer
When the prowler sneaks up from behind
An outlaw chasing outlaws, the hunter takes his prey
The law of the jungle he obeys
Craving for the danger to even out the scores
Face to face, once and for all
Renegade, renegade
Committed the ultimate sin
Renegade, renegade
This time the prowler will win
On through the night he rides, on his raging horse made of steel
Nothing can save you now, before the renegade you will kneel
Renegade, Renegade
Committed the ultimate sin
Renegade, renegade
This time the prowler will win
Renegade, Renegade
Committed the ultimate sin
Renegade, renegade
This time the prowler will win
16 Heeding the Call (04:38)
A flash in the night, a journey through time
the Templars are back on the streets
Guarded by prowess and the will to survive
all led by the guiding light
Angels of mercy, guardians of time
Shackled and chained through the eternal flame
the hammer will slowly arise
Heeding The Call, one and for all
never surrender, with glory we'll fall
Brothers unite, let's stand up and fight
fulfilling our fate, we are
Heeding The Call
One step ahead, revealing the past
united, together we stand
The call of the thunder, the sign to begin
this final crusade we will win
Angels of mercy, our journey must proceed
With hearts all filled up with chivalry
the lifeblood that we all need
Heeding The Call, one and for all
never surrender, with glory we'll fall
Brothers unite, let stand up and fight
fulfilling our fate, we are Heeding The Call
Oh, oh, oh…
Heeding The Call, one and for all
never surrender, with glory we;ll fall
Brothers unite, let's stand up and fight
fulfilling our fate, we are Heeding The Call
17 Blood Bound (04:15)
Countdown, descending down to zero
Bursting into flames
Can't you see the coming of a hero
On this enchanting day
So stand up and be counted
In the solar glance in the desert sand
No longer the hunted
United we are 'till the day we fall
A chain unbreakable
Every link is allied to our mighty vow
We're Blood Bound - We aim for the sun
The luminous moon will take us high over ground
We're Blood Bound - Collecting the stars
We hold a power that is greater than all
We're Blood Bound
Watch out, the heathen's all around us
Always watch your back
Weґve got a lust for freedom
Whatever they say we know weґll stay
We are indestructible
And no matter what happens we will rise above
We're Blood Bound - We aim for the sun
The luminous moon will take us high over ground
We're Blood Bound - Collecting the stars
We hold a power that is greater than all
We're Blood Bound
Look into my eyes
Tell me what is hidden deep inside
Chains about to break
Itґs the everlasting freedom for us all
We're Blood Bound - We aim for the sun
The luminous moon will take us high over ground
We're Blood Bound - Collecting the stars
We hold a power together
We're Blood Bound - We aim for the sun
The luminous moon will take us high over ground
We're Blood Bound - Collecting the stars
We hold a power together, Blood Bound,
power forever, Blood Bound, power,
We're Blood Bound
21 Threshold (04:59)
There are clouds on the horizon
Shifting colours, heavy rain
High above the roaring thunder
Shooting bullets through your brain
There's something wicked left behind
A baleful sight, a coming
A sinister state of your minds
Behold the skies, the port of heaven
Take the stairway down to hell
The gate is open, lift the curse
We set aside our dreams and visions
We are one we will unite
At the Threshold of the universe we will rise
Late at night they heard the sirens
From a place so far away
Allied forces, mighty brethren
In a vesture of decay
They are the legions of the night
Turning darkness into...
Turning the dark into light
Behold the skies, the port of heaven
Take the stairway down to hell
The gate is open, lift the curse
We set aside our dreams and visions
We are one we will unite
At the Threshold of the universe
Solo: Stefan
Behold the skies, the port of heaven
Take the stairway down to hell
The gate is open, lift the curse
We set aside our dreams and visions
We are one we will unite
At the Threshold of the universe
22 The Dragon Lies Bleeding (04:25)
Ride through the valley in thunder and rain
the battle is raging, redeem this domain
The Castle of Eden lies silent above
darkness surrounded us, away we must go
I look through the eyes of the world
I see there's a Stranger among us.
Awaiting a sign from above
to conquer the power and the glory
Enter the battle, our will to enchain
bringing us forward, defeating the pain
into the meeting with swords made of steel
we're standing together the secret reveals
I look through the eyes of the world
I know who's the Stranger among us
Awaiting a sign from above
to conquer the power and glory
Come across to the Promised Land
close your eyes, I will take your hand
Through the river of steel we'll go
When the dragon lies bleeding
Above the glory we'll carry on
now the time has come to return back home
The setting sun illuminates the dead
the battlefield field is shining red.
Silent lies Eden on top of the moor
we're fighting with honor protecting our Lord
The last one survivor lies bleeding. I kneel
into his heart I settle the steel
I look through the eyes of the world
there is no stranger among us.
We march to the end of the world
in search for the power and the glory
Come across to the Promised Land
close your eyes, I will take your hand
Through the river of steel we'll go
When the dragon lies bleeding
24 Crimson Thunder (05:05)
We are the voices in the dark
Inside the fire we are the
Eternal Spark that will guide the way
We are the stars up in sky
We gather winds so you can fly
We are the light when you're sleeping
All your dreams can come true
Where do we go?
We're just a heartbeat away
Follow the signs of the Crimson Thunder
We will stay by your side
Let our voices be there to guide you
We are forces in the rain
Inside your heart we are the
unending answer to all your fears
So take a step towards the light
The crimson sky fulfills the night
The revelation is near
All your dreams can come true
Where do we go?
We're just a heartbeat away
Follow the signs of the Crimson Thunder?
We will stay by your side
Let our voices be there to guide you
All your dreams can come true?
Follow the signs of the Crimson Thunder?
26 Fury of the Wild (04:48)
Sighs - The fury has electrified my mind
Sighs - The hatred burns inside by the mark of vengeance I will grind
Sighs - The sound of metal falling to the ground
Sighs - By blood we will unite by blood we are forever bound
Vengeance calling me
Oh, please set me free
The Fury of the Wild
Locked up in this cage
Can't you feel the rage?
The Fury of the Wild
Sighs - Your silence will not sanctify your crime
Sighs - When revolution calls I will be the first in line
Vengeance calling me
Oh, please set me free
The Fury of the Wild
Locked up in this cage
Can't you feel the rage?
The Fury of the Wild
Now as you stand on your own
With the future, face to face
Take a look at me now
Feel the fury, taste my rage
Come taste my revenge
Unbent - Unbowed - Unbroken
Vengeance calling me
Oh, please set me free
The Fury of the Wild
Locked up in this cage
Can't you feel the rage?
The Fury of the Wild
Loading comments slowly
