BeatRoute Magazine [AB] print e-edition - [May 2018]

HAMMERFALL
architects of the metal age
BY MATTY HUME
52 | MAY 2018 • BEATROUTE
Power metal and power bombs.
As long as time passes, metal will
endure — a thought proven by the
decades-long success of now-legendary
champions of melodic power metal,
HammerFall. Forged in the hostile fires of a
popular demand for alternative rock in the
primeval days of old (1993) by guitarist Oscar
Dronjak, HammerFall quickly proved to
an unsure Gothenburg, Sweden, that heavy
metal is the past, present, and future.
“That’s when I started fiddling around
with the idea of forming a heavy metal
band, and in 1993 heavy metal was out of
date and unappreciated by people,” Dronjak
says, laughing. “I just wanted to play the
music that I loved to listen to because
nobody else was doing it.”
Initially, vocal duties fell to a teenage Mikael
Stanne, now of Dark Tranquility fame.
Despite his talent, HammerFall became
mighty when current vocalist Joacim Cans
took control of the mic in 1996, giving them
a vocalist with a soaring dynamic range
reminiscent of metal’s high-note bards of
the ‘80s.
“When Joacim came into the picture it
was like the whole world opened up for
me,” Dronjak says. “Most people didn’t want
to admit it or really just didn’t like heavy
metal anymore, but we were on the same
page right away.”
Undeterred by early shows where
audience disrespect for melodic metal
ran rampant, HammerFall persevered and
received a record deal after footage surfaced
of the band’s 15-minute set at a battle of
the bands in Gothenburg — and our heroes
have been gloriously triumphant ever since.
“Somebody filmed one-and-a-half songs
of our performance on video. In ‘96 you
couldn’t just pull up your phone, it was very
difficult,” Dronjak chuckles. “You had to like
rent a nuclear power plant to carry around
on your shoulder.”
Captured in the footage was a distillation
of Dronjak’s original plan for HammerFall’s
sonics, which hold true today. Across their
discography, HammerFall blends the more
extended symphonic style of heavy metal
with the uplifting optimism of modern power
metal. Quick guitar licks repeat with speed
behind Cans’ stadium-worthy high octaves,
adding further grandeur to clear, almost
theatrical choruses backed by Dronjak..
HammerFall continued to bring the best
of heavy metal this side of 2000 by developing
their famed mascot, Hector. He’s much
like Iron Maiden’s Eddie, but with a massive
hammer and a knack for slaying dragons.
Featured on most of HammerFall’s discography,
Hector has been illustrated by longtime
Blizzard Entertainment artist Samwise
Didier since 2002’s Crimson Thunder.
“His first game [for Blizzard] is one of
my favourite games of all time, The Lost
Vikings. He just wrote us mail and said ‘I’m
listening to your guys’ music when I create
my stuff and I really love it.’ We were like,
photo: Tallee Savage
‘Let’s try having him do the next album
cover.’ It was brilliant,” booms an excited
Dronjak.
“He’s a very down to earth cool guy who’s
been with us for a long time. Our plan is for
him to do the cover for the next album as
well.”
While a release date is yet to be locked
down, Dronjak says HammerFall’s next
album may land by the end of summer
2019. Until then, the band is excited to keep
touring and bring their power to every fan
possible.
“We had a vision for what you could
expect when you saw HammerFall live. We
kept true to that since day one. It’s supposed
to be special to go on stage,” Dronjak
says proudly. “If you like heavy metal performed
with an infinite amount of love for
the music, and a show where we give you
a hundred percent, we’ll have a great time
together.”
For Dronjak, Calgary is an extra special
stop thanks to power metal’s cousin, the
power bomb.
“I always feel great being in Calgary
because I’m a big wrestling fan. It’s hallowed
ground basically, so it’s always fun just to be
in the city.”
See HammerFall perform on June 7 at Dickens
Pub (Calgary), on June 8 at the Starlite Room
(Edmonton) and on June 9 at the the Rickshaw
Theatre (Vancouver).
SHRAPNEL