Hammerfall--Glory to the Brave

Hammerfall--Glory to the Brave (1997) Rating--8.5

Some people have commented, "Hammerfall doesn't do anything on this album that hasn't been done before in metal." Well, yeah... that may be true---but who cares?? In all seriousness, this disc hearkens back to the mid-'80s form of bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Helloween, and even power/melodic Dokken, while blending in the fantasy-tinged lyrics of a monster like Manowar.
Extremely fast and melodic, with high-pitched vocals and a bit of a gallop here and there---sounds a bit like Blind Guardian, eh?? Actually, not quite that frantic, but think 'Keeper Pt. 2.' Nice stuff---great traditional fast metal.
Seven of the nine songs would have to be considered highlights, with a number of standout moments. Check out the heavy riff gallop in the middle of "The Dragon Lies Bleeding". Excellent, brutal work---but the melody stays in place! "The Metal Age" is fast and swift, and conjures up visions of Germany's Rage. "Hammerfall" and "Steel Meets Steel" both have deep Manowar-like themes, with the latter being heavy and steady.
"Child of the Damned" is solid, as it's built around a good riff mixed with a fast pace, ala Maiden. "Stone Cold" stands atop the heap, as the axes sound like heavy Dokken before breaking into a Priest-like rhythm section where one would expect the solo. Excellent verse rhythms and riffs, and good vocal layers. A bit of inventiveness is shown on "Unchained" with the time changes in the middle---it slows, gets heavy, then heavier. Nice...
TRACK LIST: The Dragon Lies Bleeding/The Metal Age/Hammerfall/I Believe/Child of the Damned/Steel Meets Steel/ Stone Cold/Unchained/Glory to the Brave

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