HAMMERFALL – Avenge The Fallen (2024) *HQ*
Still on a natural high following a hugely successful two-year tour with the German metal veterans HELLOWEEN under the banner of the “United Forces” tour, that took both bands all over the world together, the award-winning Swede’s HAMMERFALL gets ready to unleash their 13th album “Avenge The Fallen” on the 9th of August, 2024.
That’s right, less than a year after taking the final bow of the “United Forces” tour the quintet of Oscar Dronjak, singer Joacim Cans, bass player Fredrik Larsson, guitarist Pontus Norgen, and drummer David Wallin are back with ten brand new solid pieces of classic heavy metal.
The music was recorded in Sweden and produced by Norgren, but the vocals in L.A. by Jay Ruston (Armored Saint, Anthrax). Then HAMMERFALL also found themselves with a star-studded team on backing vocals for “Avenge The Fallen”.
Besides fellow Swedes Thomas Vikström (Therion), Jake E (Cyhra) and Niklas Isfeldt (Dream Evil) who recorded their parts in Sweden, Ruston brought to the L.A. sessions no other than than the powerhouses John Bush (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax) and Marc Lopez (Metal Church) to provide back up voices.
“Avenge The Fallen” is easily one of the catchiest and most affective albums the quintet have crafted in a long time.
The title track opens the LP in epic fashion thanks to its typically crushing riffs and percussion alongside passionately hooky lyrics and melodies. It’s typical stuff, for sure, but it’s quite focused, self-assured, and alluring, with the host of guest backing singers occasionally shouting the title with the communal fervor of empowered Vikings.
The in-your-face speediness and eventually shift into softer territory on “The End Justifies” gleefully harkens back to earlier Hammerfall, too. Then, the storytelling and rhythmic changeups of “Hail to the King” are very captivating, with its strong balance of timid verses and triumphant choruses perfectly kicking off a killer guitar solo.
The proggier tendencies of “Hero to All” – as well as the delicately symphonic nature of “Hope Springs Eternal” and the weighty finality of closer “Time Immemorial” – also spice things up enough to be both gratifyingly fresh and familiar.
Avenge the Fallen is an extremely enjoyable ride that Hammerfall lovers (and melodic metal genre aficionados overall) should celebrate. Hammerfall do enough to warrant the price of admission and the time spent digesting their latest opus.
In other words, they remain a reliable ensemble who excel at doing what they love enough to deservingly keep audiences coming back.
Highly Recommended
1. Avenge The Fallen
2. The End Justifies
3. Freedom
4. Hail To The King
5. Hero To All
6. Hope Springs Eternal
7. Burn It Down
8. Capture The Dream
9. Rise Of Evil
10. Time Immemorial
Joacim Cans – lead vocals
Pontus Norgren – guitars, backing vocals
Oscar Dronjak – guitars, backing vocals
Fredrik Larsson – bass
David Wallin – drums
guest backing vocals:
Thomas Vikström (Therion)
Jake E (Cyhra)
Niklas Isfeldt (Dream Evil)
John Bush (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax)
Marc Lopez (Metal Church)
Pre order:
nuclearblast.com/pages/album/avenge-the-fallen
