HAMMERFALL
Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
Nuclear Blast
6/10
Over the course of the career of this prominent power metal ensemble, the band has shown an affinity for crafting some of the most majestic sounding metal around. Hammerfall’s overall deeply sound is rooted in the European stylizations from which the genre originated and on their latest effort, the band shows little signs of slowing down, as they have created another solid album of driving music which is, well, powerful.
Often, Hammerfall seems to be holding back a little bit from their true potential in order to make for a smoother production. No doubt, these tracks will go over very well in a festival setting, with memorable, arena style sing-along choruses that are atypical of this style of music in songs like “Secrets” and “Fury Of The Wild”. But occasionally, Hammerfall sound a bit dated. Their riffing, however listenable is reminiscent of eighties bands and for whatever reason, they stick to this format throughout the record, never branching out or expanding the boundaries of the art form.
The production on this record is slick and tight, aiming for a compact, classic metal feel and succeeding in the attempt. The riff which kicks off “Fury Of The Wild” sounds eerily like Judas Priest’s “Electric Eye”, and those that favor that type of song crafting will no doubt find something to enjoy here. The album is full of great solos, without too much overplaying, and these skilled leads do much to emphasize the tracks overall forcefulness.
Nostalgic and tuneful, “Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken” is a good album, simply not a great one. If you are looking for familiar metal sounds executed in a capable manner, you might find this to be an enjoyable listen.
In the end, Hammerfall are a group that has found its niche and are sticking to it, which is more than admirable, but you will find the group breaking no new ground with this release.
Written By: Bobby Orckiller
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