Hammerfall

Renegade

Two steps forward, one step back

Review Score:

(8/10)
I managed to find this on a store shelf recently and I have had a hard time deciding how good this album actually is. At first it sounded a bit odd, nowhere near the instant hooks of Legacy of Kings. But then I started to realize that this is a bit more complex than what they usually do (contrary to at least one other review). This, I think, is the album's strongest point. It sounds to me as if they don't want to write the same album over and over. Some songs are exceptions, but overall, this shows that the band is still very viable and is not about to burn out.

I must however point out that the lyrics really need work sometimes. They are well written at times, but too often deal with the same heavy metal brotherhood or fantasy themes that they sound somewhat uninspired. That, I think is the album's weakest point. If you can get over that (as a Dio fan, it doesn't get to me) then this album is bound to please.

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