HammerFall – Koko 2005

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The only UK stop on the huge dual-headlining European trek with Stratovarius sees Swedish power metallers HammerFall pack Koko on a Monday night. Koko, formerly the Camden Palace Theatre is without a doubt the best small venue in London, having been the subject of a recent multi-million pound restoration project. Multiple levels offer an excellent view from almost anywhere in the building with plenty of bars and even a lounge with sofas if it all gets too much (as it did for some sleeping people).

HammerFall opened their set with their usual intro tape, ten-foot jets of smoke and a snow machine that covered the first eight rows or so of the crowd. Quite an entrance. Obviously their set was due to be a little shorter than a normal headlining set, seeing as there was another headlining band to come, but they wasted no time launching into Secrets from latest album Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken and proceeded to march through a set of most of their classic tracks for a little over an hour.

Given the short set time, the inclusion of a drum solo from Anders Johansson was a bit of a puzzle, but there was still plenty of proper songs, including Riders of The Storm, Hearts On Fire and Let The Hammer Fall as well as new tracks, Fury of The Wild and Blood Bound.

The set was tight and full of power and the sound was crystal clear, every musician, every solo and every lyric was perfectly audible. This is more than can be said for evening closers Stratovarius (throughout the tour both bands alternate), who somehow managed to make a hash of the sound, with the keyboards being so loud they overpowered many of the rather lacklustre songs. The only strong performance came from vocalist Timo Kotipelto, who was entertaining throughout, but when the whole of HammerFall were equally, or more entertaining individually, together they stole the show (and they don’t have keyboards).

Hopefully HammerFall will return to play a full headlining show on their own very soon. Judging by the response they got, this has to be a possibility.

“ crystal clear ”

Setlist: Secrets / Riders of The Storm / Renegade / Let The Hammer Fall / Hammerfall / Drum Solo / Fury of The Wild / At The End of The Rainbow / Blood Bound / Heeding The Call // Templars of Steel / Hearts on Fire

Photo(s): Johan Erikisson | www.rockersdigest.com

Written by Andy Lye
More: Gigs, Power Metal, HammerFall