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HammerFall > Glory to the Brave > Reviews > LickMyOrangeBallsHalfling
HammerFall - Glory to the Brave

A Metal Heart is Hard to Tear Apart - 90%

LickMyOrangeBallsHalfling, April 18th, 2019

A common criticism aimed at power metal is that it's too self-indulgent, full of long, masturbatory guitar solos, sugary keyboards, and lightning fast double bass drums to the point of excess. Whether or not one thinks that these are a good thing, Hammerfall tends to subvert the more bombastic elements of power metal, instead treading the more straightforward path laid by their '80s traditional metal forefathers. Nowhere are their songwriting chops better displayed than on their 1997 debut album, "Glory to the Brave."

The economical style of songwriting serves the band very well here. Opener "The Dragon Lies Bleeding" boasts speedy, palm muted riffs and pounding bass drums, not to mention the Helloween-style guitar harmony section. It's easy to see the influence of melodic, joyful bands like Helloween, but with a stronger emphasis on simplicity, rather than the extravagance of, say, the "Keeper of the Seven Keys" albums. The band's guitar style is more rhythm based than lead based, with the guitar solos tending to be more melodic and hummable rather than extravagant shredding.

Most songs here honor the ages-old metal tradition of building up to a huge, anthemic chorus. The band makes good use of the lower pitched gang vocals on the choruses of songs like "Steel Meets Steel" or the operatic "Hammerfall." Joacim Cans is the perfect vocalist for this style of music, boasting a crystal-clear voice that can hit high notes with ease, without losing any power or grit.

If I had to pick one song to highlight, it would be "Hammerfall." It feels like the climax of the album, despite only being the third track. This is in no way denigrating the rest of the album, but this song is explosive, with one of the catchiest choruses in metal, and a thrilling guitar harmony section. It's also one of Cans' finest vocal performance, with soaring highs and a great vocal melody.

If there's one major flaw with this album, it would probably be the title track. As a ballad it's not bad, but most of the song feels like it's building up to a climax that never comes. "I Believe" already filled the "1 ballad per album" rule quite well, and the "Glory to the Brave" just feels somewhat unnecessary.

If you're looking for a metal album that gets straight to the point, and focuses on the power of simplicity and catchy songwriting, "Glory to the Brave" just might be the record for you. I'm not too familiar with the rest of Hammerfall's discography, but I can say that this album is something I might never get tired of.