HammerFall Discography
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 HammerfallThreshold Release Date 2006 10 31 Label Nuclear Blast Rating:  Following the unnaturally extended layoff enforced by guitarist Oscar Dronjak's motorcycle accident in 2003, Swedish heavy metal traditionalists Hammerfall waited barely a year between their eventual return with fifth album, Chapter V in 2005, and the release of LP number six, Threshold, in 2006. This suddenly rushed release schedule -- though likely resulting from nothing more than a backlog of pre-written material, ready to come out -- takes something of an uncertain turn on Threshold's first few numbers, which comprise a decent but terribly predictable title track; a lackluster autopilot job and a repetitive chorus in &"The Fire Burns Forever"; and a lead-footed crawl through &"Rebel Inside," which not even Accept-like choral battalions can jolt into life. Indeed, the claim may be redundant when relating to a band whose very talents involve being true to metal's classic sound, but all three simply sound too safe and formulaic. Luckily, salvation comes not a moment too soon when fourth cut, &"Natural High," arrives with an energetic burst and surprisingly atypical lyrics to inject a much needed dose of excitement, which is subsequently reprised by additional standouts like &"Howlin' with the 'Pac," &"Shadow Empire" (boasting the album's best riff), and &"Genocide," with its dramatic introductory stops and starts. In fact, with the exception of another, check-your-watch drag-fest called &"Carved in Stone," most every remaining track has something memorable to recommend it. &"Dark Wings, Dark Words" is the record's ambitious and evocative semi-ballad, &"Reign of the Hammer" is a brisk, hardly groundbreaking, but nevertheless welcome instrumental, and the anthemic &"Titan" provides a grand finale worthy of the Swedes' majestic habits. In other words, though it lacks the overall consistency of certain previous efforts, Threshold still produces a fair amount of quality goods to appease most Hammerfall fans -- or else it wouldn't have entered the Swedish charts at number one. Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi |
Tracks:
| Title | Composer | Time | |
| 1 | Threshold | Cans, Dronjak | 4:45 |
| 2 | Fire Burns Forever | Cans, Dronjak | 3:22 |
| 3 | Rebel Inside | Dronjak | 5:34 |
| 4 | Natural High | Cans, Dronjak | 4:16 |
| 5 | Dark Wings, Dark Words | Cans, Dronjak | 5:02 |
| 6 | Howlin' with the 'Pac | Cans, Dronjak | 4:06 |
| 7 | Shadow Empire | Cans, Dronjak, Elmgren | 5:15 |
| 8 | Carved in Stone | Cans, Dronjak | 6:13 |
| 9 | Reign of the Hammer [Instrumental] | Elmgren | 2:50 |
| 10 | Genocide | Cans, Dronjak, Elmgren | 4:43 |
| 11 | Titan | Cans, Dronjak | 4:24 |
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