If anything, if we're speaking purely power metal, Hammerfall are one from the genre that I can actually take seriously. They also have the chops and the distinct sound to back it up. They slipped off a lot lately but the last one was a great return to form.
You see, Hammerfall are everything I dislike n power metal all rolled into one.
You mean a mashup of Helloween-Dio-Accept-Saxon & Dokken all rolled up into one?
Yeah, I can see how you'd hate that. 
The first three albums, even four albums have a wonderful blend of classic and modern styles.
I'd take their first six albums, up through Threshold. Amazing stuff. I mean, there's some corny things here and there, but those albums are excellent and I love them.
I have never listened to a Hammerfall album, but have seen them 3 times now and they have always been pretty solid. But to me, they were the average classic power metal. Which I've never really got into, but I dont dislike. They put on a good live show.
They always hit me as a classic 80's power metal cover band that did originals. They have that sound down big time. I don't think it's any coincidence that once Hammerfall broke through, bands like Saxon, Accept, heck, even Judas Priest really upped their game and enjoyed a renaissance of sorts.
As Kade said, they've fallen off a bit, but as they lost Stefan Elmgren and then Magnus Rosen, I feel like their direction shifted a bit.
Still, Joacim Cans is one of the best singers out there and I really don't think he gets his due.
Topic: Power Metal (Read 95704 times)
