This is album number 11 from Sweden’s finest exponents of traditional power heavy metal. Metal with a singer, not a growler or screamer. Twin guitar melodic guitar harmonies and double kicks all the way – that’s the recipe that HAMMERFALL have built their career on (much the same way Accept have) and it works just fine. I became more interested in the band when Pontus Norgren joined on guitar from The Poodles and Talisman – I am a big fan of his style.
Never Forgive Never Forget opens up as you would expect with double kicks blasting and big riffs. The title track is more of a Judas Priest riff fest. The overall vibe of the record is medieval from the imagery and lyrics on a few of the songs. Testify is a near mirror image from the opening track and has a very Metallica “die by my hand” vibe to the chorus. There is even an ode to fellow heavy metal bands and metal in general on We Make Sweden Rock. My favourite tracks are Scars Of A Generation, which really pounds along with some killer guitar, and the riff heavy Chain Of Command. A really great metal album.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
