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By JEFF MAKI
Sweden's Hammerfall is one of the more popular power metal acts and their new release, Threshold, should allow that trend to continue. From the album's entertaining artwork featuring an evil robot grasping Thor's hammer to the Judas Priest-esque guitar riffs and the '80s-style metal vocals, this is traditional metal in the truest sense.
Hammerfall has been laying down these power chords since 1997, and the sound of Threshold is polished and perfectly executed. They have sound that is similar to labelmates Blind Guardian or Sonata Arctica. Threshold is even more '80s oriented than either of those bands' latest releases, with huge choruses and guitar solos that could have been on any of Ronnie James Dio's albums. The title track's galloping rhythm leads us into the booming chorus. "The Fire Burns Forever" is an up-tempo shout-along with the chorus of, "Fire burns! The fire burns for ever more!" "Dark Wings, Dark Words" is the closest you can get to Iron Maiden without actually being Maiden itself. Lead vocalist Joacim Cans' storytelling lyrics, a la Bruce Dickinson, are backed by acoustic guitars and medieval choruses in this amazing power ballad. "Howlin With the Pac" and "Shadow Empire" are your typical power metal songs, with predictable formulas and choruses. If there is a weak portion of the album, this is it. Threshold regains its momentum with "Carved In Stone," a six-minute-plus track opening with a lengthy keyboard intro and everything that makes Hammerfall great. "Genocide"'s beginning soloing is the stuff that metal is made of. The album closes with "Titan," featuring the strongest riff from a metal band in years, actually reminding me of Accept's "Balls to the Walls" or Quiet Riot's "Bang Your Head."
All in all, this is mostly what one would expect from Hammerfall. This band is not about the latest trends or fads. Though predictable, Hammerfall continues to add to its legacy with Threshold, a powerful, epic return to metal's glory days.
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