Grab your swords, or should we say hammers, and prepare the troops for a conquest of ultimate retribution. Full of intense Heavy metal and medieval themes galore… the thirteenth album by Sweden’s HammerFall is out now.
Released on August 9, 2024 through Nuclear Blast Records, Avenge The Fallen is an energetic collection of music that continues with the same themes of a list of HammerFall’s prior releases. Producing music for many years, HammerFall has etched out a comfortable niche in the market of Power Metal and continues to play towards it. With this new album they experiment in some aspects, but not while needing to rework their sound; because of the success and fanbase they have already attributed. In enough words, the album is a bold and highly polished entry into the Heavy Metal scene from a group that has helped revive and keep the genre alive.
Together for over thirty years, as stated, HammerFall are not new to their craft, and it is evident with Avenge The Fallen. Featuring ten songs, each consistently has an encapsulating sound following a specific order that seems to mimic a tragic hero’s journey. This is the case when it starts with the title-track, going into “Freedom,” and rounding out in darkness with “Rise of Evil” and “Time Immemorial” at the end. That stated, there is an interesting progression for sure, but each song can also be appreciated purely for its rhythm and thunderous guitar skills alone.
Interestingly enough, Avenge The Fallen comes after a tour with German Metal icons Helloween, and was actually written while still on the road. Something that could present challenges, Founder/Lead Guitarist Oskar Dronjak said this ,“In many ways I even think this album benefited from getting off stage somewhere in Germany and then heading straight to the tour bus…doing so we were still oozing adrenaline when the new material was crafted.” So, in many ways the unique writing style directly benefited from the energy of being on tour and hearing what the crowd responded, thus forging a strong album.
This is evident in the title-track, which as alluded to starts off the album with a highly unique introduction; a chanting chorus of fallen soldiers and sounding horns. The sonic landscape here is dramatic and surging with energy that cannot be put down. Additionally, a drastic scene is painted by Joacim Cans as he sings, “This is the mission I must carry on” and “I’m the last of my legion, my kind won’t go down without a fight.” The sound of fallen soldiers returns through Avenge The Fall with chanting in other songs such as “Hail to the King” and “Burn it Down.” In a way these songs create a very intimidating sound like the demonic tones of Helloween or Manowar. Furthermore, “Avenge The Fallen” is very creative and deserves a place on the top of any crusaders battle hymns playlist. That being said, it feels different from the rest of the album; which often turns back to the thrashing drums and cascading guitar riffs of classical Power Metal.
Overall, there is no dilemma with this Heavy Metal power show. It is an array of outstanding guitar solos and never-ending drums from David Wallin that provide the perfect backdrop for the fiery messages in each song. Standing true to their special HammerFall sound, the album is not trying to specifically play into themes of demonic evil or destruction. It instead champions the flipside of this, singing of the glory and honor to be won in a world teeming with these evils. By stampeding through the dark side in a flaming path of retribution, Avenge The Fallen is actually empowering and uplifting with many of its themes.
With a lot to enjoy, other cuts like “The End Justifies,” “Capture the Dream,” and “Time Immemorial” all have hints of experimentation in them that mix well with the traditional HammerFall vibe. HammerFall also showcases the adrenaline-fueled possibilities of creating an album while on tour. All together each song on Avenge The Fallen has a respectable push of power and demands to be heard with simplistic yet intense lyrics that help to accentuate the crisp, holy guitar playing skills of Oscar Dronjak and Pontus Norgren, matched with the rhythm of Bassist Fredrik Larsson. At the end of the day it is still Heavy Metal, and a strong example such, because Cryptic Rock gives Avenge The Fallen a 4 out of 5 stars.
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