 |
|
October 8, 2008 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01. Threshold
02. The Fire Burns Forever
03. Rebel Inside
04. Natural High
05. Dark Wings, Dark Words
06. Howlin' With The 'Pac
07. Shadow Empire
08. Carved In Stone
09. Reign Of The Hammer
10. Genocide
11. Titan
|
|
Since their debut album, "Glory To The Brave", was released in 1997, HAMMERFALL have been able to come up with a new disc almost every year. Also similarly to other acts in the same genre, such as GAMMA RAY and PRIMAL FEAR, when you purchase one of their CDs you pretty much know in advance what you are going to get without taking chances for a bad surprise. Like its predecessor, "Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken", this new opus was also blessed by the production of Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, HELLOWEEN, MOLLY HATCHET, SAXON).
Obviously there is no surprise here as the opening and title track, "Threshold", starts out in old school style. One more time, the Gothenburg natives are offering their own brand of Power Metal in an unusual fashion for a Swedish formation and more likely in the vein of German groups such as the ones aforementioned. What the hell? Whatever works shouldn't be fixed and HAMMERFALL have proved throughout the six albums contained in their resume (including one live one) that they know how to make it work. First by using catchy and therefore easy-to-retain melodies and turning them into Metal hymns; secondly by making the adamant choice to resist the idea of following the path of Death Metal the overwhelming majority of bands coming from the same area are today engaged on. They've also proved thus far that they are not shy to innovate by recording what will probably turn out to be one of their heaviest tracks with "Titan".
The album contains Power Metal classics such as "The Fire Burns Forever" and "Natural High" as well as "Howlin' With The Pac", which will remind the old timers of SAXON. As always, the voice of Joacim Cans is very impressive on the very heavy "Rebel Inside" or the superb "Dark Wings, Dark Words" where he reaches extremely high notes without any difficulty whatsoever, making it sound so easy to execute. Sticking to the basics, HAMMERFALL keeps it simple by using the combination of bass/drums with guitar duets except for a few intros here and there. An example is found on the very infectious "Carved In Stone", and as always everything falls right into place; to prove this point the album includes the instrumental "Reign Of The Hammer" (yes, yet another "Hammer"). Special mention of killer tracks would be "Shadow Empire" as well as the guitar masterpiece "Genocide", both of which could be remembered for many years to come.
Once again, HAMMERFALL have put out an album that will most likely enable them to please their fans worldwide. "Threshold" is the best idea to reconcile the fans of Old School Metal and the new generation all together. This is definitely one of the highlights of 2006 in Power Metal.
|
|
|
|
