Customer Reviews

No Sacrifice No Victory

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Hammerfall's first four albums were nothing short of amazing, reaching their apex with "Crimson Thunder". The next two studio albums after that were okay, but nothing special--a few stand-out tracks here and there and a lot of filler.

When I initially heard the first single from this new HF record, "By Any Means Necessary", I thought, this record will be a return to form for the boys. Well, it's not really, but it is better than "Chapter V" and "Threshold".

The album starts out with the aforementioned single, so it's a strong beginning. The second song, "Life it Now", is one of the two weakest tracks. The next couple of songs are filler-ish, but not too bad. The track five, "Between Two Worlds", is the other weaker track on the album (it is their obligatory mid-album power ballad, but nowhere near as wonderful as "Dreams Come True" and "Always Will Be").

Then, starting with track six, the album gets going. Tracks six through ten are all excellent Hammerfall rockers that live up to their first four albums.

Finally, track eleven--the cover. On first listen, I thought their version of "My Sharona" was one of their more uninspired covers, but after a few listens it has really grown on me. They really Hammerfall-ify it, adding backing-vocally "HEYS!" instead of "whoas", along with plenty of soloing. Sounds pretty epic, actually.

So if you are new to Hammerfall, you could do worse with this album, but I would recommend starting from the beginning of their discog, with "Glory to the Brave".

If you are a returning metallion, this record won't be album-of-the-year, but you might like it.

Don't quite understand all the low reviews. Sounds like a well put together Hammerfall album. Now I understand the complaints about the cover song "My Shanora". This cover song sounds way out of place on a Hammerfall album (or any metal album for that matter). Other than that the album is very solid. Fav tracks: any means necessary, life is now, hallowed by my name, and the title track. If you are a Hammerfall fan, I feel you will at least like this album. Sure everyone has their favorites, but this is a good album.

Im no expert when it comes to hammerfall and I don't think this album is perfect but it's not as bad as other reviewers say it is. I thought their album was solid their metal work and all their songs were pretty decent and catchy for me and their cover song of my sharona was ok but I think pink cream 69 covered it better.
Any way I say this album is awesome and I enjoyed listening to it in my car loud, hell this is way better than listening to the crappy radio of today.


\m/ stay metal \m/

I don't know how this band continues to produce albums at such a high level. Another awesome release from Gods of Metal! It's not their best CD by any means and hearing them play "My Sharona" is hysterical (all though that was probably not their intent), but the rest is very solid.

Hammerfall has not missed a beat since the departure of Elmgren and Magnus. Jens Johanson is a guest on two songs (by far the greatest keyboardist of all time) If you don't own No Sacrifice, buy it, songs like Legion are worth the price alone!

HAMMERFALL still know how to put the hammer down! This band never lets me down. I wait for their releases & every time they come thru. HAMMERFALL stays true to who they are and what traditional Heavy Metal fans love. No Sacrifice, No victory is fresh but manages to still remain true to what the band is all about and that is... melodic head banging Heavy Metal music. The band member changes from Stefan Elmgren on guitar to Pontus Norgren and Magnus Rosen on bass to returning bass guitarist Fredrik Larsson have not harmed the band. I have been a long time fan of the band since the great release 'Legacy of Kings' and am proud to still consider my self a fan. Pontus is able to do what I admired so much about Stefan previously on guitar and that is play melodic tasteful leads with speed. He plays for the song just like Stefan was able to do and seperates himself from many other lead players like Stefan. Joacim Cans vocals are great as usual, the band cranks as always and are very tight! This album I enjoy from beginning to end. The stand out tracks for me are 'Any Means Necessary' incredible song as cool as songs with caliber like 'The Trooper' by IRON MAIDEN. It makes you want to crank the cd player and headbang. The song just drives like you wouldn't believe! I also dig 'Hallowed Be My Name', 'Something For The Ages' some great guitar playing on this instumental, 'No Sacrifice, No Victory' and 'Bring The Hammer Down'. All in all a very good effert from the band! I would recommend this CD and I would say more but comments are getting long. Check it out for yourself you just might like it.

I guess with growing popularity & success HammerFall continues to put out higher quality music time & time again unlike some bands which start to half ass everything they do. HammerFall returns with their 7th studio album but it's 3rd straight masterwork as the last 3 albums all encompass a similar style & production which just throws mediocrity completely out the window!! Standout tracks are "Any Means Necessary," "Bring the Hammer Down," "Life is Now," "Hallowed Be My Name," & the AWESOME instrumental "Something for the Ages." Great music, great production, GREAT CD...ENOUGH SAID!

this is a band that had found its own place in the metal world with a style of their own, the only reason that made me give them only 4 stars for this album cause they included My Sharona
this is the worse song ever, and the worse cover

This album was decent. The first track, Any Means Necessary, is a great song, but the rest, while reasonably good, aren't up to the same quality. If you're a Hammerfall fan, you'll want to buy the album. If you aren't, you can probably just download Any Means Necessary.

"No Sacrifice, No Victory" is the best stinking thing out there next to Accepts "Blood Of Nations". The ripping cords of the speed metal train derails all negative comment about this group. I like to meet these negative review people in person and tell them about how ignorant they are. The probably can't even play a guitar. The mind blowing ashes,incomputational sounds of this band ignites every scrub on fire all over the country. This is one of the best metal albums out there period. At their worst, I mean their worst, Hammersfall could open for the "Iron Maiden the "Priest" ,"Sabbath", "Accept" and "Metallica". What a concert that would be.

Don't listen to the negative reviews this album is awesome. It may not be as good as some of Hammerfall's other albums but it is definitely worth getting. Some of the songs are a little weak in the lyrics but easily makes up for it with thunderous guitar and Joacim Cans usual flawless vocals. Trust me just get it.