siLLy puPPy HAMMERFALL has traversed the span of one year short of three decades now and emerged back in the early 90s as one of Sweden’s earliest power metal bands and has weathered the storms throughout the years with its classic heavy metal meets power metal stylistic approach that is still going strong. The band has just released its 12th studio album HAMMER OF DAWN to a ravenous fanbase which gets a great big thank you in the form of the opening track “Brotherhood” where the band pays tribute to all those who made it possible to stick around for so long. Awww. You gotta love a band that really appreciates those who made its success possible. A little humility goes a looooong ass way!

On HAMMER OF DAWN we are treated to a collection of ten classic metal meets power metal tracks that while not offering anything new under the sun nevertheless showcases HAMMERFALL in its comfort zone dishing out what it knows best with its ear wormy metal anthems in full bravado. Power metal is a tricky beast for me as sometimes it can become a bit overweening and downright cheesy but HAMMERFALL seems to have found that middle ground where classic 80s metal leaves off and power metal begins all the while adding a pinch of thrashy gallops to its heft. Like many an aging band that is more than set in its ways, HAMMERFALL is a band that you pretty know what you’re getting with nary a thought to the contrary.

The power stomps of “Brotherhood” showcase all the band’s traits with the dual guitar riffing frenzies and juiced up bass and percussive responses. Despite three decades into their career these aging metal rockers sound on top of their game with vocalist Joacim Cans showing no wear and tear in his vocal deliveries. The band is as tight as ever and provides all the instantly catchy melodies one should expect from a tight-knit power metal act of this caliber soon to enter its fourth decade on the scene. The album is well paced and doesn’t become too much of a one trick pony with plenty of metal rampage but also operatic call and responses, slowed down power ballads and a soaring background atmospheric smoothness.

What’s not to like? Well everything is quite nicely crafted but as with most of this band’s efforts, it’s all a bit predictable and exists in a soft cuddly safe zone that neither surprises nor offends. It’s all within that band of full accessibility with no room for even the slightest hint of experimentation or deviation from the norm. Possibly due to the fact HAMMERFALL is very much a lyric oriented band, these guys don’t seem to have the ambition to indulge in excursions for the fairly typical verse / chorus and occasional bridge construct. Sure this band is no Helloween on a good day or even a Blind Guardian on a bad one but consistency surely counts for something and for those utterly addicted to the power metal high then you can’t go wrong with any given HAMMERFALL release. All in all a solidly enjoyable album even if it’s a bit on the generic side of the spectrum.