Infected

Hammerfall | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
• ASIN: B004SKI776
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,614 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Formed in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1993 by guitarist Oscar Dronjak, HammerFall have become one of the most influential power metal bands in history! Early lineups included members of In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, though today they're more known for their epic soundscapes and heavy metal anthems than those early days. Throughout the years they've built a steady and loyal fanbase in the US, culminating in their highest Billboard debut yet on 2009's No Sacrifice, No Victory. Their hold is strengthening with each tour they do here, and will certainly grow once more with their confirmed tour this Sept/Oct! Often credited with bringing back strong melodies and honesty in music, the worldwide crusade continues with Infected. A more modern take on their classic and unmistakable sound, this is a bold but still catchy as hell step in a new direction. Mixed and produced by acclaimed producer James Michael (Motley Crue, Scorpions, Meat Loaf), Infected is the future of power metal!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Step Forward, June 29, 2011

By 

Friend of Metal "Eric" (WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Infected (MP3 Download)

I wasn't sure what to expect from a Hammerfall album that didn't feature an ironclad templar on the cover or songs with names like 'Steel Meets Steel' or 'The Unforgiving Blade.' A close look reveals that the boys have traded knights for zombies. I guess they wanted to tap into the current zombie fad or maybe they just ran out of songs about templars, either way, the results are positive. I have been a Hammerfall fan for many years and, to be honest, the last couple of albums have been, in a word, boring. In my opinion, Infected is a breath of fresh air. The first thing I noticed when I listened was the amazing production. All of the instuments are huge and in your face. The next thing I noticed is that the songs sound less like traditional power metal and more like straight forward heavy metal. I think that this slight change is what makes the album so good. They took a chance and broke out of their mold and it paid off. There are a couple songs toward the end that could have been on any of their previous albms, but for the most part this it the new Hammerfall and it's great.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars - SERIOUS ROCKIN METAL!, June 17, 2011

By 

S. Channell "Metal Dude" (Summerville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Infected (Audio CD)

I am a long time Hammerfall fan. I would consider them one of my favorites, maybe even the favorite. Regardless of some of the complaints made by other reviewers, this is a great album. I like it overall better than the last one "No sacrifice, No Victory", even though it was good.

Being a musician (guitar) myself, I know that most people are not going to write the exact same style of music for a couple decades in a row. Musicians grow, improve and get inspired by new things. Hammerfall as done that on each new album. Always a little bit different but always Hammerfall. You have to remember that Oscar is now playing with a new guitarist and bassists who brings something new to the table. Playing with new band members can inspire different things. I think you can hear that difference on this album more than on their previous album "No Sacrifice, No Victory" (first one with their newest members).

So on one hand you hear some new styles in the songs, but on the other hand it still sounds like Hammerfall. The songs have the same structure and form. The melody structure of the singing is especially the same. The use of anthems and the progressiveness yet catchiness in the guitar riffs are still there. But is also has a fresh, even heavier sound at times and leads that rip more than previously. It does sound as if they have tuned their guitars further down than before. I don't know how far down yet until I get my guitar out and try a couple of the songs. Some of the songs, the fast paced ones sound like they are a more modern version of songs for "Glory to the Brave". I think the album is down right jammin'.

Sure I loved the whole knight warrior thing, but I don't care about that as much as I do the music, especially the guitar riffs and the quality of the singing. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because the ballad doesn't do anything for me. Just like the one on the previous album didn't either. After the Threshold album, I think they lost the touch on the ballads. Also the song "666- The Enemy Within" is not catchy enough for me. However I like the fresh heavier sound of all the others enough to more than make up for these.

All you Hammerfall fans who where thrown off by the changes on this album, step back for a minute, reconsider and put it back into your cd player and jam! They are still one of the best metal bands in the world who took the best serious metal of the 80's (Judas Priest, early Motely Crue, Accept etc), updated it, added a little "power" to it and carried it on into the new millennium. This album still does that very well.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Maddeningly Inconsistent, June 9, 2011

By 

Chikan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Infected (Audio CD)

When I first heard the song "One More Time" ahead of the release of this album, I was hoping this song was not representative of the entire album, especially considering all the rhetoric that preceded it about how HammerFall were 'reinventing the steel' and other such nonsense. Let's face it, HammerFall is a pretty one-dimensional band that is completely hit or miss. When they're 'on' they are really on, and when they're off, they are downright boring. The latter element is more prevalent on this release, possibly owing to producer James Michael and his work with more mainstream rock acts. In any case, after the longish (and inconsequential) intro, "Patient Zero" begins the album. I actually like this mid-tempo song due to the plodding main guitar riff and vocal phrasing. It also features a more up-tempo mid-section and uninspired solo before calming down to revisit the opening motif.

From there things hold somewhat steady for a bit, with the faster "B.Y.H." and the aforementioned "One More Time." Track four, "The Outlaw," is probably the best constructed song on the album. Largely mid-paced, it features Cans' great vocals (by the way, Cans should be commended for his vocals throughout this entire disc as they are spot-on and powerful), melodic guitars, an anthemic chorus, etc. In short, it's what HammerFall is all about when they're 'on.' If one looks at the songwriting credits, one will notice that the music was written by Pontus Norgren, not Oscar Dronjak. Maybe Pontus should contribute/be allowed to contribute more often on subsequent releases.

"Send Me A Sign" (also devoid of Dronjak's writing "prowess") is an agreeable acoustic ballad with a nice ending where the entire band comes in. "Dia De Los Muertos" is nothing special and features a musical bridge ripped off from an Avantasia chorus. This song is also notable for drummer Anders' apparent frustration with how the album is progressing thus far. Towards the end of the song, the guitars cut out as if trying to decide what to play next, when suddenly Anders unleashes a double-bass flurry as if to tell the band to 'get your asses in gear' and play something interesting. "I Refuse" is complete filler, slow and bluesy, though the lyrics are good enough. "666-The Enemy Within" is another pretty solid song(cheesy keyboard passages aside), though it should have been shortened as the song runs out of gas just past the three minute mark, though the band plod on for no apparent reason. "Immortalized" ranks among the best material on the album-nice guitar work, double-kick drums, a nice headbanging tempo and soaring vocals make this one a good HF/metal song. Unfortunately, the near opposite is presented in "Let's Get It On" (penned exclusively by Dronjak). This song must be heard to be believed in how lame it is; it's actually cringe-worthy. Chorus: 'Let's Get It On, (echo in background) 'It On.' This goes on for a while in this song. Laughable in its execution and simplicity, I suspect this one will be performed live in the early part of the setlist, though it should have been scrapped entirely because it sucks. The last song, "Redemption," begins like it's going to be interesting, but it ultimately goes nowhere and is quite unmemorable and unremarkable (and too long).

This album is not completely terrible by any means; as mentioned, the singing is superb, and Anders' drumming is much more creative and powerful than on previous efforts. The main flaw is found in the extremely stale and boring songwriting on display here, only to be interrupted by moments of high quality metal. Perhaps Oscar should decide what he really wants to do in life, be it MMA fighter, guitarist or whatever, because the band is clearly suffering. I'm not suggesting he's the only one culpable for HammerFall's inconsistency lately, but he's a big part of it. There is new blood in the band, so the 'fire should still burn' and new ideas should be in abundance, but this album will unlikely excite anyone who really likes European power metal. It will however, have appeal for those testing the waters of power metal or those who like something heavier or more melodic than what rock radio plays, but those searching for another "Glory To The Brave" will have to look elsewhere, and though recreating that album was clearly not the intent, it will forever be the yardstick the band is measured against.