HAMMERFALL / INFECTED (2011)

The fact is that when I started listening this album I was a bit tied-up of what I had to expect from this release. The truth is that I'm not a big fan of this band. But after a couple of listenings, I caught myself liking this one a lot!! But let's take things from the start and see a short bio from these guys, for the readers that aren't familiar with Hammerfall's music like I was!


The inconspicuous act he had founded in 1993 by the name HammerFall exploded onto the scene with the 1997 debut album, which heralded the start of an international renaissance of traditional Heavy Metal. After acquiring present-day members Joacim Cans on vocals and Fredrik Larsson on bass, the band got interest from small, Dutch label Vic Records. The subsequent studio effort "GLORY TO THE BRAVE" was done with minimal budget; both recording and mix took place in 16 days.The result was amazing! In June of 1997, the record came as a real bombshell, galvanizing the Metal scene from the throes of alternative music.
The release of "LEGACY OF KINGS" the following year proved that the success of the Swedes initial effort had not been a passing fad. With their third record "RENEGADE" - which was produced by Michael Wagener drummer Anders Johansson had joined the force, and HammerFall reached a whole new audience: young kids who were dying for the style of no-frills heavy metal offered by the Swedish templars.2005 and the band released the "CHAPTER V: UNBENT, UNBOWED, UNBROKEN". "THRESHOLD" (2006) and "NO SACRIFICE, NO VICTORY" (2009) were both very good melodic metal albums with some more modern elements but without loosing the trademark of Hammerfall's sound. 

So, coming to nowadays and the band is releasing their brand new album titled "Infected". This is HAMMERFALL's eighgth studio effort and I have to admit that this is a very enjoyable and high quality melodic metal release! An album full of heavy in-your-face riffs and solos, great performances, a tight musicianship and a crystal clear production! The combination of the 80's heavy metal sound with a more 'fresher' approach are in perfect balanced and the result will please every single fan of this gerne!! 
The heavy sounding tune of "Bang Your Head", the rythmic "The Outlaw", the sentimental "Send Me A Sign" and the catchy as hell "Let's Get It On" are some of the highlights here! No fillers in sight which that means that this album will grab you from the start and will leave you hungry for more!


Bottom line is that this is a very good album and probably one of the best releases from this gerne this year. My advice to the readers? GET INFECTED!!!

HeavyParadise's Rating : 8,5/10

track list :  01. Patient Zero 6:01, 02. Bang Your Head 3:47, 03. One More Time 4:07, 04. The Outlaw 4:10, 05. Send Me A Sign 4:00, 06. Dia De Los Muertos 5:07, 07. I Refuse 4:32, 08. 666 - The Enemy Within 4:28, 09. Immortalized 3:59, 10. Let's Get It On 4:05, 11. Redemption 7:02

http://www.hammerfall.net/