Being a newcomer to the website, I have the wonderful task or not so wonderful task of listening to bands that I have never heard of. One of my first assignments, was the new CD from HAMMERFALL titled “Threshold”

HAMMERFALL is from Sweden, where I am finding out quickly is a hot music scene for metal heads. As many musicians like me, the place that we frequently listen to music is in the car! Nobody to bother you, play it as loud as you want and replay it as many times as you desire! Enter the new CD” Threshold” 1st cut “Threshold,” exhibits the dual guitar riffs like the old JUDAS PRIEST days! Yes, I was quickly accelerating on the gas pedal… nice to hear some good driving metal! Track 2 “The Fire Burns Forever” has a classic arm-raising phrase “Fire! Burn”… I can see the arms up in the air at a show near you! Listening to the next few tracks The CD seems to flatten out a bit with some recycled guitar riffs.

The music picks up again and gets back to basics with simplified guitar work and hammering double bass drums, thumping bass and high, clean lead vocals with “Shadow Empire” definitely worth a listen! The instrumental “Reign Of The Hammer” is a real treat! Great guitar work! “Genocide” has a nice song structure, cool breaks and again hammering bass drums. HAMMERFALL definitely has that old school metal feel but with their trademark stamped on it. The closing tune “Titan” puts you in cruising mode as you pull into your favorite club for a night of Metal.

Metal heads will not be disappointed with this CD. If you are new to Sweden’s metal scene as I am, HAMMERFALL’s “Threshold” is a great start.