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HammerFall - Crimson Thunder review




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Reviewer:
7.5

430 users:
8.05
Band: HammerFall
Album: Crimson Thunder
Release date: October 2002


01. Riders Of The Storm
02. Hearts On Fire
03. On The Edge Of Honour
04. Crimson Thunder
05. Lore Of The Arcane
06. Trailblazers
07. Dreams Come True
08. Angel Of Mercy [Chastain cover]
09. The Unforgiving Blade
10. In Memoriam
11. Hero's Return
12. Rising Force [Yngwie Malmsteen cover] [European bonus]
13. Detroit Rock City [Kiss cover] [US bonus]
14. Crazy Nights [Loudness cover] [Japanese bonus]

[20-Year Anniversary Edition]
Disc I
01. Riders Of The Storm
02. Hearts On Fire
03. On The Edge of Honour
04. Crimson Thunder
05. Lore Of The Arcane
06. Trailblazers
07. Dreams Come True
08. Angel Of Mercy
09. The Unforgiving Blade
10. In Memoriam
11. Hero's Return
12. Riders of The Storm [preproduction]
13. On The Edge Of Honour [preproduction]
14. Trailblazers [preproduction]
15. Angel Of Mercy [preproduction]
16. The Unforgiving Blade [preproduction]
17. Hero's Return [preproduction]
18. Hearts On Fire [preproduction]

Disc II [One Crimson Night]
01. Lore Of The Arcane [live]
02. Riders Of The Storm [live]
03. Heeding The Call [live]
04. Stone Cold [live]
05. Hero's return [live]
06. Legacy Of Kings [live]
07. Bass-Solo [live]
08. At The End Of The Rainbow [live]
09. The Way Of The Warrior [live]
10. The Unforgiving Blade [live]
11. Glory To The Brave [live]
12. Guitar-Solo [live]
13. Let The Hammer Fall [live]

Disc III [One Crimson Night]
01. Renegade [live]
02. Steel Meets Steel [live]
03. Crimson Thunder [live]
04. Templars Of Steel [live]
05. Hearts On Fire [live]
06. Hammerfall [live]
07. The Dragon Lies Bleeding [bonus] [live]
08. Stronger Than All [bonus] [live]
09. A Legend Reborn [live]
10. Heeding The Call [acoustic version] [live]
11. Steel Meets Steel [acoustic version] [live]
12. Renegade [acoustic version] [live]
13. Crimson Thunder Medley [live]

After Swedish power metal act Hammerfall's less than impressive 2000 release Renegade [not to mention the ridicule and bad reviews the album generated], the band have rethought their game plan of attack and come up with their fourth release Crimson Thunder. While the formula has hardly changed, there is a slight change of pace within Hammerfall's traditional power metal roots.

The pounding metal stomp of ?Riders Of The Storm? is a clearly indicative of where Hammerfall are heading these days. The song is definitely heavier sounding, and the actual tempo of the song in general is slowed down to allow the band to emphasis the riffs rather than show the speeds the band is capable of. ?Hearts On Fire? is up next, and is the first single lifted from the album. In truth though, this is possibly the worst representation of the album. The song is not so much awful, but it falls way below par in comparison the rest of the album. The blame lies clearly on the derivative and lack lustre chorus. ?On The Edge Of Honour? is a faster number that works well, while the title track ?Crimson Thunder? is an epic number that isn's as over the top as you would come to expect from Hammerfall. The pick of the album has to be the mighty ?Trailblazers?. The chorus is well thought out, and clearly shows that Hammerfall can come up with something original when they put their minds to it. The big ballad of the album, ?Dreams Come True? is well done, if a little dramatic. The first of two cover versions is [David T.] Chastain's ?Angel Of Mercy? [lifted from his 1986 album Ruler Of The Wasteland]. Hammerfall do the track justice, and show that Chastain's songs stand well in the face of passing trends. ?The Unforgiving Blade? and ?Hero's Return? are Hammerfall ?call to arms? standards, while the instrumental ?In Memoriam? never loses the interest of the listener. The second cover on the album, Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force [from 1988's ?Odyssey?] closes the album on a high point. Again, they perform the number like it was their own, and pull it off well.

Crimson Thunder lacks any real kind of innovation from Hammerfall, but is made up by pure melodic catchiness will meet fans high expectations.

Written by Justin | 18.09.2003




Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.


Comments

Comments: 23   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 85 users
22.06.2006 - 17:24
Rating: 5
Lucas
Mr. Noise
I like this one. Made me get into Hammerfall.
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SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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22.06.2006 - 22:10
danzig111
Account deleted
@Nerval: same here! i remember i was about 15 and i was on vacation in Orlando, Florida and that's where i bought the record, when i listened to it when i returned home, wow! mindblowing! all ov their influences truly come out such as Accept, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest.....nice! All Hammerfall albums are excellent, just the debut, "Glory To The Brave" was mediocre because in those days they were nothing more than a mere side-project. And i absolutely LOVE "Renegade" why on earth do so many people not like that album??!?!?! Please tell me, even if you have to bash it, for the love ov God i want to know cuz "Renegade" was a great album! "Crimson Thunder" sounds just like "Renegade" except the voice is higher and the Distortion (Guitars) is heavier. But yes, i think this album was nothing short ov excellent, i love it to death! Definately a gateway album for me! Not the first Power Metal i've ever ehard, but it's the album what GOT ME DEEPLY INTO Power Metal.

And obviously my "Crimson Thunder" album has the bonus U.S. Track (which is a KISS cover) since i bought it in Orlando....i actually knew nothing about the other bonus tracks until reading the review! wow! Thanks! ummm "Crazy Nights" must be a Loudness cover........who's song is "Rising Force"?
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25.06.2006 - 01:04
HellRaiz0r
Account deleted
Nice album, but i still prefer legacy of kings.
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16.11.2006 - 03:00
danzig111
Account deleted
oh....Yngwie Johann Malmsteen wrote "Rising Force" lol.....Guy I still can't find that "Crazy Nights" song, why !!?!?!
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16.11.2006 - 04:35
tulkas
el parcero
I love the song 'In Memoriam', the rest is just ok
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love is like a jar of shit with a strawberry on top
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05.01.2007 - 02:08
ChromeStylus
Account deleted
I would just like to say that since my first Hammerfall album was Chapter V, this album was a little lower than i thought it would be, however several of the songs are well done especially "the Memoriam"
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06.01.2007 - 19:29
Dan066
Account deleted
Written by Guest on 16.11.2006 at 03:00

oh....Yngwie Johann Malmsteen wrote "Rising Force" lol.....Guy I still can't find that "Crazy Nights" song, why !!?!?!


Are you talking about that song by that japanese hair metal band Loudness? It goes like "rock and roll crazy niights!!"...i love that song;D. Anyway about the album, this album is awesome and it also made me get into Hammerfall. Great band, great album.
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07.01.2007 - 00:06
danzig111
Account deleted
Written by Guest on 06.01.2007 at 19:29

Written by Guest on 16.11.2006 at 03:00

oh....Yngwie Johann Malmsteen wrote "Rising Force" lol.....Guy I still can't find that "Crazy Nights" song, why !!?!?!


Are you talking about that song by that japanese hair metal band Loudness? It goes like "rock and roll crazy niights!!"...i love that song;D. Anyway about the album, this album is awesome and it also made me get into Hammerfall. Great band, great album.


Loudness were no part ov the whole glam thing, they were straight Heavy Metal, they just had big hair that's all. But yeah, HammerFall apparently did a cover of that song but I cannot seem to download it or find it to download
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29.06.2007 - 22:14
Arcaliz666
Account deleted
It's a great album. but Renegade and Legacy Of Kings was better.
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11.10.2007 - 00:31
4look4rd
The Sasquatch
This album has the catchiest song ever written lol, Hearts on Fire...... HEARTS!
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25.11.2008 - 20:47
Daggon
Underpaid M.D.
Written by 4look4rd on 11.10.2007 at 00:31

This album has the catchiest song ever written lol, Hearts on Fire...... HEARTS!


Yeah, also the cheesiest (does that word even exists?) song ever written, Hearts on Fire! Hearts On Fire!!! I wanna puke!
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"Les vers savent qu'ils n'ont pas d'ailes, c'est pour cela qu'ils se cachent sous terre"
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25.11.2008 - 22:39
Hrothdane

Written by Daggon on 25.11.2008 at 20:47

Written by 4look4rd on 11.10.2007 at 00:31

This album has the catchiest song ever written lol, Hearts on Fire...... HEARTS!


Yeah, also the cheesiest (does that word even exists?) song ever written, Hearts on Fire! Hearts On Fire!!! I wanna puke!


You have Rhapsody of Fire, Luca Turill, and Sonata Arctica in you favorite artists list and you are complaining about cheesiness O_o
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Despair is death, and I'm not interested in dying.

Member of the True Crusade against True Crusades
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26.11.2008 - 00:55
Luciferion

Wicked album. The title track was the first i ever heard from Hammerfall, totally got me into them
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Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is, and I am the wolf that hunts you.
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26.11.2008 - 04:24
Daggon
Underpaid M.D.
Written by Hrothdane on 25.11.2008 at 22:39

Written by Daggon on 25.11.2008 at 20:47

Written by 4look4rd on 11.10.2007 at 00:31

This album has the catchiest song ever written lol, Hearts on Fire...... HEARTS!


Yeah, also the cheesiest (does that word even exists?) song ever written, Hearts on Fire! Hearts On Fire!!! I wanna puke!


You have Rhapsody of Fire, Luca Turill, and Sonata Arctica in you favorite artists list and you are complaining about cheesiness O_o


Read my personal text for people complaining about Rhapsody Of Fire and Luca Turilli. And yes, I'm complaining about cheesiness (ok, ok, again, does that word exists?), nothing is more cheesy than Hearts On Fire. jejeje Cheesiness rules the world! (I love that word jaja).
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"Les vers savent qu'ils n'ont pas d'ailes, c'est pour cela qu'ils se cachent sous terre"
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26.11.2008 - 05:19
Hrothdane

Written by Daggon on 26.11.2008 at 04:24

Written by Hrothdane on 25.11.2008 at 22:39

Written by Daggon on 25.11.2008 at 20:47

Written by 4look4rd on 11.10.2007 at 00:31

This album has the catchiest song ever written lol, Hearts on Fire...... HEARTS!


Yeah, also the cheesiest (does that word even exists?) song ever written, Hearts on Fire! Hearts On Fire!!! I wanna puke!


You have Rhapsody of Fire, Luca Turill, and Sonata Arctica in you favorite artists list and you are complaining about cheesiness O_o


Read my personal text for people complaining about Rhapsody Of Fire and Luca Turilli. And yes, I'm complaining about cheesiness (ok, ok, again, does that word exists?), nothing is more cheesy than Hearts On Fire. jejeje Cheesiness rules the world! (I love that word jaja).


Haha, read my forum signature and look at my profile. My musical diet consists of inordinate amounts of cheese

I have no problem with Rhapsody of Fire, Luca Turill, and Sonata Arctica; I was just noting a logical inconsistency. However, I am quite aware that musical taste can have little to do with logic, and thats part of what makes it interesting.
----
Despair is death, and I'm not interested in dying.

Member of the True Crusade against True Crusades
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02.12.2008 - 04:43
Daggon
Underpaid M.D.
Written by Hrothdane on 26.11.2008 at 05:19


Haha, read my forum signature and look at my profile. My musical diet consists of inordinate amounts of cheese



Ok, jaja, I can see that, Hearts on Fire was one of the first songs I listened from Hammerfall, and I love it jeje, even if it is cheesier than cheese itself (and I love cheese to jaja, ever heard Edguy's "But Here I Am"? I love that song jaja).
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"Les vers savent qu'ils n'ont pas d'ailes, c'est pour cela qu'ils se cachent sous terre"
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18.07.2009 - 22:11
TheSVH
Account deleted
Best album, hearts on fire made me lsiten to HammerFall it's their best song catchy as hell!
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19.07.2009 - 00:26
Ellrohir
Heaven Knight
Heroe's return is just beautiful...cheesy, but beautiful
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My rest seems now calm and deep
Finally I got my dead man sleep


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28.07.2009 - 18:48
davidharris
Account deleted
Didn't like this album at all... It sounds like a joke half of the time. Legacy of the Kings was cool, though
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16.02.2011 - 14:56
ErnilEnNaur
Account deleted
Written by Guest on 28.07.2009 at 18:48

Didn't like this album at all... It sounds like a joke half of the time.


And not a funny joke either...
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17.02.2011 - 01:26
RavenKing

Written by Guest on 16.02.2011 at 14:56

Written by Guest on 28.07.2009 at 18:48

Didn't like this album at all... It sounds like a joke half of the time.


And not a funny joke either...


Not that the first 3 Hammerfall albums were anything special but they were at least listenable.
I see this album as the point at which the band turned to utter crap.
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They shake your hand and they smile and they buy you a drink
They say we'll be your friends we'll stick with you till the end
But everybody's only looking out for themselves
And you say who can you trust I'll tell you nobody
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05.06.2012 - 18:17
Rating: 8
Infernal Eternal

Anders Johansson of Hammerfall used to be Malmsteen's drummer. That's why Rising Forse is in the album.
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{}::::::[]:::::::::::::::::> ONLY DEATH IS REAL <:::::::::::::::::[]::::::{}
Rest In Peace: Bon Scott, Dave G. Halliday, Michael "Destructor" Wulf, Jerry Fogle, Quorthon, Witchhunter
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06.05.2017 - 09:52
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Songs 1-5 is simply awesome, I did not like how they aranged it because after album became lame and weak IMO
Yngve cover (yes correct spelling of his name) cover was OK, even I hate malmsteen
This is latest good album(maybe 2016 is back to oodl days) after this simply band had one or two songs , nothing more. They died
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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