Band:	HammerFall
Album:	No Sacrifice, No Victory
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	February 2009

01. Any Means Necessary
02. Life Is Now
03. Punish And Enslave
04. Legion
05. Between Two Worlds
06. Hallowed Be My Name
07. Something For The Ages
08. No Sacrifice, No Victory
09. Bring The Hammer Down
10. One Of A Kind
11. My Sharona [The Knack cover]

Hammerfall have been around a while now, but even though weren't spawned out of the century they take most of their influence from, they have the number of followers to match of a top one who has. Album number seven, a tenaciously titled "No Sacrifice, No Victory" and is the first album with previous bassist Fredrik Larsson back on the thick strings, and new guitarist Pontus Norgren. A new Hammerfall, a refreshed lineup - a fantastic album.

For a power metal band, Hammerfall have never been the fastest around, and neither have they been swayed by the harder and punchier American style, and while clearly taking huge influence from Helloween and such bands, Hammerfall have always been one of the most solid and compact power metal outfits on the scene. "No Sacrifice, No Victory" is no different as the band stick to what they do best; making infectious and catchy heavy metal that is both modern but also with a chunky kick of the eighties. The album is Hammerfall back to making top quality metal of the highest and most confident order.

Typical heavy metal plodder "Any Means Necessary" kicks proceedings off and sets the pace for a generally solid and mid-tempo album with the odd exception of fast-paced, galloping songs like "Legion", whose chorus can be heard for weeks clinging onto your neurons, and clearly shows the Helloween influence, and also "One Of A Kind" to finish off the best part of the album. "Between Two Worlds" takes the ballad slot with no competition and "Something For The Ages" takes the role of instrumental with a five minute piece of lovely guitar melody and soloing with the rest of the band backing up this genuinely great piece of metal instrumental music. "Bring The Hammer Down" completes the album in typical, strong Hammerfall form with again, wonderful guitar melodies and a chorus to get your mouth around and sing along to with your fist in the air.

One or two tracks slip slightly under the radar, but on the whole "No Sacrifice, No Victory" is a very typically solid album and arguably shows the best form Hammerfall have been in for many years. Perhaps not very original, but that should come to no surprise, the quality in the album lies within what Hammerfall do so well, sticking greatly to a consistent heavy metal stomp. The instrumental song is a highlight of the album and serves as a refreshing break from constant wailing vocals, and the ballad likewise. Production as you can expect from a Nuclear Blast release is top notch and clearly displays to your ears every musical component to this heavy metal slab of classic, turned modern metal. "No Sacrifice, No Victory" is a superb album showing Hammerfall back on top of their game and a band ready to bring their hammer down on anyone who thinks otherwise.