Battle Born – Blood, Fire, Magic and Steel (Review)

Battle Born - Blood, Fire, Magic and SteelThis is the debut album from UK power metallers Battle Born.

Following on from their 2020 self-titled debut EP, Battle Born have returned to bring TRVE METAL back into our hearts. Blood, Fire, Magic and Steel brings us 45 minutes of the stuff, and it is glorious. Continue reading “Battle Born – Blood, Fire, Magic and Steel (Review)”

Frozen Crown – Call of the North (Review)

Frozen Crown - Call of the NorthFrozen Crown are an Italian power metal band and this is their fourth album.

With promo blurb that states Call of the North is for fans of Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall, Dragonforce, and Unleash the Archers, it would be churlish not to check this out. I’m glad I did. Continue reading “Frozen Crown – Call of the North (Review)”

Label Roundup: Nuclear Blast Records – Northtale, Suffocation, & Hammerfall (Reviews)

Wonderbox Metal gets sent a lot of new music, (which is great), but there’s no way that everything can get covered unfortunately, (which is not so great). This new column hopes to redress this balance, if only slightly, by taking a look at a handful of releases that a record label has recently sent out that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.

Nuclear Blast is a record label that should need very little introduction, as the label has released so many classic albums over the decades. As such, lets just dive right in to some of their latest releases… Continue reading “Label Roundup: Nuclear Blast Records – Northtale, Suffocation, & Hammerfall (Reviews)”

Northtale – Welcome to Paradise (Review)

Northtale - Welcome to ParadiseNorthtale are a power metal band and this is their debut album.

Formed by musicians with a lot of experience in the metal arena, they have given us 53 minutes of infectious and well-delivered power metal. Continue reading “Northtale – Welcome to Paradise (Review)”

Hammerfall – Glory to the Brave – 20 Year Anniversary Edition (Review)

HammerfallHammerfall are a veteran Swedish heavy/power metal band and this is the 20-year anniversary edition of their 1997 debut album.

This package features a remastered version of the classic album that started the Hammerfall legend. Additionally, there’s a Stormwitch cover, a radio edit of the title track, and six bonus live songs all taken from this album. There’s also a DVD available too, (but that falls outside of this review). Altogether it’s Continue reading “Hammerfall – Glory to the Brave – 20 Year Anniversary Edition (Review)”

Interview with Hammerfall

Hammerfall Logo

Anyone into traditional heavy metal has probably heard of Hammerfall. The Swedish metallers have been knocking out albums since 1997, with no sign of running out of steam in the near future.

Which brings us to their latest album, the appropriately titled Built to Last. Long-serving bassist Fredrik Larsson got in touch to tell us how and why the band definitely live up to this album’s title… Continue reading “Interview with Hammerfall”

Hammerfall – Built to Last (Review)

HammerfallHammerfall are a Swedish heavy/power metal band and this is their tenth album.

Since forming in 1993 and developing into one of the bigger names in heavy/power metal, the title of their tenth album is quite aptly named.

It pleases me that the first song starts right into the action, rather than having any faffing around. It’s a small thing really, but it immediately endears me to the music. Continue reading “Hammerfall – Built to Last (Review)”