The Franco-Teutonic hammer wielder’s are back again. After establishing their realm with ‘Kingdom Of the Hammer King’, the highly acclaimed power metal four piece are this time bringing musical tales of how their king has come to rule. With more of what you would expect to follow, grab your armour, find your steed, bring your visor down and into battle ride for the glory of the Hammer King! (Or something to that effect)
Full of the usual power metal stylings – the dramatic vocal delivery, the rich and vivid imagery from the lyrics, the relentless rhythm full of energy and the trademark riffing which chugs, thunders and gallops where needed, this has all the right ingredients to make a power metal album, but as previously highlighted in my last review of an album from this genre, having the right ingredients doesn’t mean it can be any good.
Thankfully, Hammer King do not let us down on this front. With straight to the point musical delivery, this record pulls no punches, placing equal emphasis on sound and delivery, making a well-rounded package which greatly increases its appeal. The traditional metal influences help give it more of a backbone and whilst it lacks the big wanky widdly namby pamby approach of some power metal bands, this one moves like an army going to war. Tracks seamlessly blend where continuity is needed but sound individual thanks to the tone and delivery of the instrumental section of the band. The tight rhythmic precision hurls out riffs which are infectious enough to make you begin clenching a fist and raising your arm in the air before letting out a battle cry.
Case in point – the opening track, “King Is Rising” throws you head first into the front lines. It’s adrenaline fuelled riffery may not be rapid, but the way the vocals lay out the scene has that effect of raising the hairs on your arm in anticipation, like there is an ‘electricity’ in the air, ready to explode into action… And with the follow up track, the sub-3 minute “Last Hellriders”, it does that – galloping forward with fire, fury and steel spilling out of it by the castle load.
“For God And The King” has some great NWOBHM harmony melodies in it whilst ‘Reichshammer” is full of falsetto wailed vocals and true metal adrenaline fuelled fast galloping riffs. “Battle Gorse” has some serious speed in it, bordering on power-thrash/speed metal territory with the cutting delivery which cleaves through all in it’s path with minimal effort and maximum impact. The rest, well you get the idea, big vocals, big riffs and a whole lot of epic involved.
Hammer King have released a real solid album here. Granted it may be too Manowar-lite for some people and those who belittle the genre of true steel and stories will no doubt mock its cliché laden delivery, but even fans of the genre will do that and that is what power metal is about in many ways. Whilst not terrible and not spectacular, “King Is Rising” follows on from their debut, picking up where it left off and establishing continuity.
With that… I need my squire to fetch my weapons and my trusty steed, there is a battle to ride into!
(7.5/10 Fraggle)
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