Customer Reviews

Renegade

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I didn't think it was possible but HammerFall have pulled it off. I really didn't think the band would ever be able to top "Legacy of Kings" but lo and behold, they did! The musicianship soars to new heights especially on the instrumental "Raise the Hammer" and the whole CD has even more power than the previous two. The first track "Templars of Steel" is filled with crunch and power yet mid-tempo chugging not before scene by these metallers. So what if their lyrics are a bit over the top? Other highlights include: "Living in Victory", "Renegade" (classic metal cut), "Way of the Warrior" (rocks even WITH the chorus), "The Champion"... the whole CD is killer and Stefan kicks major axe showing he is among the leaders in guitar wizardry in what I deem the new school of power metal. The one thing a agree with is that I thought Patrik Rafling was a better drummer but the new one can hold his own to say the least. This is a must for any true metal fan out there and surely will not disappoint any fans of 90s power metal.

I'll say this for Hammerfall: they've picked a style that works and they're sticking to it. If you're worried that Hammerfall might be changing their ways in an effort to mature, don't. This is more of the same melodic, supercharged power metal you'd expect from the new kings of the block. And that's a good thing.

I really, really wanted to give this 5 stars, but I just couldn't. It wasn't that there is anything particularly wrong with the album, because there is not. In fact, most of it rocks harded and more smoothly than their previous release ("Legacy of Kings"). With song titles like "Templars of Steel" and "Keep the Flame Burning," you know where they're heading. Coincidentally, these are two of the strongest songs on the album and great choices to kick things off. "Renegade" and "Living in Victory" are also extremely strong, instantly memorable and chock full of speedy riffs and bombastic drumming. And though others dislike it, I found the ballad "Always Will Be" to be hauntingly beautiful, enough so that I stopped what I was doing to read along with the lyrics, completely immersing myself in the song. It's that good.

But the rest of the album seems to lose a bit of steam. Either that, or simply not do anything different than the first five tracks. Which to me is not bad (because the first five are so good), but prevents the album from being truly "perfect." All told though, it's a fantastic power metal experience and well worth the $15 it costs. Get it.

Following the rather unstructured Glory to the Brave and the much improved Legacy of Kings, this Swedish band goes to new heights with this album. Renegade is a master piece! Ten great songs, powerful chords and a vibrating, dynamic voice work by outstanding Joacim Cans. The guitar work gets just better and better, and Yngwie Malmsteen's ex-drummer Anders Johansson lends a heavy beat to the album. Best track: A Legend Reborn and hit-single Renegade. This album is currently no 1 on the Swedish chart, beating back pop-giants like Madonna.

This album ranges from good to outstanding, with the only uninspired track (surprisingly) being a ballad entitled "Always Will Be." Hammerfall usually nails their ballads, so I was actually stunned that this track is easily the least effective song here. After their stellar debut album, "Glory to the Brave," shocked the entire Metal community into believing in Power Metal again, their second album, "Legacy of Kings," cemented their standing with a solid follow-up excursion but showed them to be in a holding pattern nonetheless. Not content to play it safe for their third album, they released "Renegade" with a sound of renewed vigor and some substantially improved production. Hammerfall takes more chances with this recording, incorporating studio effects and even more chain-gang choruses than ever before, making for a much more interesting album. The vocals are confident and inspired, the guitar-work is often technically impressive but never at the cost of losing the direction of the song, and the end result is a solid Power Metal album that I feel is nearly as good as their debut. However, this album did polarize some of their fans who wanted another "Legacy of Kings." I enjoy listening to all four of their studio creations, but with "Renegade" I appreciated hearing Hammerfall push themselves in new directions, intuitively aware of the acute possiblity of sounding stagnant with yet another attempt at replicating "Glory to the Brave." I rate this album as their second best album to date; topping "Glory to the Brave" will be next to impossible, but there are many moments on this recording that feel equally inspired. Thank you.

I hate to say it, but this is the first album by them that I did not like. I did not think the intensity was there. I felt they were going through the motions on the songs. I would compare it to the Fear of the Dark album by Iron Maiden. Bruce Dickinson seemed bored with the album, just like Joacim Cans here. I do not feel a change in singer is needed for the group. Cans has a great and distinctive voice in the hard rock world. The two years off between studio albums should work wonders for the group. I really don't care what this group wears in the pictures. They can dress up like unicorns for all I care. As long as they rock, it is alright with me. I look forward to their new album coming out and I will go see them with Dio in the coming months. Hopefully, they will be supporting a stronger album than Renegade.

Hammerfall's Renegade reminds me of a time when heavy metal was fun. Sure, they dress up like warriors, but that is alot more enjoyable than glorifying heroin use or trying to act like a thug. No wonder girls quit going to metal concerts. Renegade is chock full of guitar riffs, melodies, and guitar solos. The songs are great, and will have you singing along with a smile, as apposed to a hate face. In the same genre as Blind Guardian, but without the over use of chorusing. Great fun.

Once again, I'm playing catch-up with my music.

I hadn't heard of HammerFall until today. But I happened to find Renegade in a store and decided to take a chance.

Holy smokes! This CD rocks with all the power and majesty of '80s superstars like The Scorpions and Motley Crue but with a big, big sound common to metal today. In other words, the guitar riffs are HUGE and the vocals are soaring and clear. The anthemic sound is almost overwhelming on some cuts.

Every cut is a sure-fire sing-along track that uplifts me and gives me that need-to-play-air-guitar feeling that I love so much.

I honestly didn't think anyone was making music like this any more.

Who are HammerFall? Good question. I haven't a clue. My guess is they're European and their CD booklet indicates as much. It appears they're a German band, which would explain The Scorpions-like sound in some spots.

This is one rocking CD, folks. Even the power ballads are cool. For some reason, the ballad "Always Will Be" reminds me of classic '70s era Uriah Heep with David Byron on vocals. Even the next song ("The Way of the Warrior") has a Heep-ish sound to it, for some reason, although there aren't any keyboards. Maybe vocalist Joacim Cans' range is reminiscent of Byron's to my ears. The guitar solos are great on this track.

Every song is big, big, big. Anthemic. Bombastic. Filled to overflowing with a grand, majestic sound. Complete with lyrics that speak of overcoming odds with the honor and strength of a warrior.

Fans of guitar riffs will find plenty to enjoy on this CD.

In spite of their painfully one-track minds, HammerFall have always entertained me, particularly with the "Legacy of Kings" album. On "Renegade," however, things are becoming a bit tiresome. In the photos, the band members are decked-out in toystore armor, highly reminiscent of Manowar, whom I believe to be the most obnoxiously cheesy heavy metal band of all time. I would be willing to cut them a break for this poor decision, though, if "Renegade" were as powerful an album as "Legacy of Kings" was, but it's not.

"Renegade" is certainly not an album without it's good points, and there are a few songs that make it worth buying if you're into HammerFall's style. "Keep the Flame Burning" is the best song on the album, in my opinion, and is definitely worthy of the band that released "Legacy." In general, also, the guitar riffs are actually better than the riffs on "Legacy," like in the title track or "Way of the Warrior." The problem with "Renegade" comes with the weak melodies, which have always been HF's predominant element, and the lyrics, which, though cliche on "Legacy," are barely stomachable on HF's newest. In fact, the lyrics alone dropped this album's rating one full star for me.

In short, HammerFall have never done anything to expand their style or rework their formula, and for this they are beginning to stagnate in some areas. My suggestion for the band would be to ditch Joacim Cans (who, I assume, writes the lyrics and melodies) and find someone who can bring a fresh style to Dronjak's riffs. Also, stop dressing up for photo shoots.

"Always Will Be" [stinks]. Don't listen to it.

RENEGADE rocks. Hammerfall just gets better and better with each album. Jociam Can's vocals are amazing and he really soars on this album. Stephen and Oscar's guitars, Magnus's bass, and Anders' drums complete the band with some of the best power metal rifts of all time. Lyrically the album blows almost everything away. Living in Victory is a perfect example of this, it is uplifting and glorious with lyrics like "Chasing Dragons by the moon, Burning bridges between us. Your deepest fears begin to loom." If you like metal and don't buy this album then their is seriously something wrong with you. Get it now, you will not be dissapointed. Also check out Edguy, Blind Guardian, Nocturnal Rites, Legend Maker, Angra, Helloween, Nightwish, Rhapsody, Gamma Ray, Sonota Arctica, Stratovarius, and of course----IRON MAIDEN.

This is unreal - let me just explain what we're dealing with here - to begin with, on the CD inlay, the lead guitarist (Oscar Dronjak) is dressed as some imitation medieval knight in plastic shiny armour holding guitar and sword. Is this for real? I mean, Yngwie Malmsteen and Ronnie James Dio support the whole sword and sorcery image and have placed themselves in the metal hall of fame, but are Hammerfall serious? This is 2001, not 1981.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not exactly a Limp Bizkit fan, and I love old school metal. Even the new stuff: Symphony X, Blind Guardian, Edguy, etc. I can even forgive the cheesey lyrics and styles of Nocturnal Rites and Rhapsody. But Hammerfall's Renegade is just laughable, and this is the exact type of 'Spinal Tap' cliche image that makes the world frown upon the metal scene in hysterics (at least it does in the USA) and drives it back underground. Isn't it amazing that the metal world still holds Sabbath, Metallica, and Iron Maiden at the top of the metal scene? I think bands like Hammerfall just create a sense of ridiculous hysteria, and other bands such as Iced Earth and Kamelot somehow pay the price and get attached to the same image of acne faced geeks living at home with their parents at the age of 35.

Why drag the scene back to drainpipe jeans and bullet belts? From the album cover, you assume the Renegade is the character on horseback holding that big hammer, but the song is about a biker. It even starts with a motorbike revving engine...I mean, come on, even Rob Halford doesn't do that anymore. Why make Spinal Tap into a reality? Metal is serious music, not to be made fun of, but you can't help but laugh along with the metal-hating critics on this one. This is fuel for their fire.