HammerFall – Electric Ballroom 2007

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Just over sixteen months ago was the last time Hammerfall played the capital, and that was on a co-headlining tour with Stratovarius, consequently restricting them to just an hour-long set. Returning as headliners in their own right, with support coming from Swiss veteran rockers Krokus and Swedish melodic rock supergroup The Poodles, they were able to play a fuller set that included most of the same back-catalogue classics as last time.

The Poodles, clearly engaged in a questionable trousers competition, started their 20-minute set not long after the doors opened with one of their singles, Echoes From The Past. The response was somewhat surprising. When they took the stage the room was nearly empty, only containing those enthusiastic Hammerfall fans who wanted to claim their place at the front or on the much-sought-after steps at the sides. By half way through the first song people had flooded in from the bar area and the crowd became rather sizeable. And energetic. Often with opening acts the only noise and raised hands come from the six audience members already familiar with the band, but in The Poodles case most of the room were getting involved. Their brand of distinctly European good-time rock and Jakob Samuel’s natural Vince Neil-ish ability as a front-man was evidently just what the crowd needed to get them in the mood for the rest of the night. Playing the pick of their debut album Metal Will Stand Tall, including their Eurovision Song Contest entry One Night of Passion, they even found time to slot in a very promising sounding new song called Seven Seas. As reviewed in January, the album is actually rather weak, so it was a very welcome surprise that in the live arena the band are much better than their recorded output would suggest.

Krokus didn’t have the same crowd-winning task ahead of them. Younger members of the audience aside, I think everyone knew who they were and what to expect and thankfully seemed to be in favour. Krokus’ response was just as positive as The Poodles’ and they crashed through a compact set of classic tracks from their back catalogue alongside a couple of newer songs from recent album Hellraiser. I think their cover of American Woman surprised a few people. The song received no introduction from singer Marc Storace, and once it started and everyone recognised it, it went down a storm. Some older members of the audience gleeful sang along to classics like Easy Rocker and Rock City, the latter of which received huge roars when Storace asked “is this rock city? Is London the rock capital of the World?” Stand out track for me, and a few others I noticed, was Angel of My Dreams from the new album, but every punchy rock number played was equally appreciated.

Come 21:30 however, there was no doubt who everyone had come to see. The roar greeting Hammerfall as they walked on stage amidst clouds of dry-ice and launched into the title track from new album Threshold was deafening. A trio of classics kept the momentum going perfectly, with seemingly every member of the audience perfectly familiar with the words to Templars of Steel, Riders of The Storm and Legacy of Kings. The hectic pace didn’t let up until singer Joacim Cans made a speech about people who criticise the band before kicking off new song Rebel Inside.

Blood Bound was the only track to make a return to the set from last album Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken, before a series of solos (Anders Johansson’s typically comedic, yet impressive drum solo raising a few smiles) and four more classic tracks rounded out the main set. With the longer set only At The End of The Rainbow was dropped from the older songs; Legacy of Kings, A Legend Reborn and Glory To The Brave coming in. Personally, I’d have liked to have seen another track from Chapter V retaining its place.

Natural High, the first single from Threshold opened the obligatory encore, with an epic Glory To The Brave and the anthemic Heeding The Call closing the proceedings, leaving everyone satisfied, but slightly confused at the absence of Hearts On Fire. A few minutes later, with the house lights having come on and half the room having emptied, the band reappeared for a second encore, playing Hearts On Fire for the fans who had remained or not quite made it out of the door yet.

Many have, and probably always will, accuse Hammerfall of being far too clichéd in their subject matter and approach to metal, in the same way that Manowar always have, but they’ve made it quite obvious that they don’t care. And nor do their fans.

“ hectic pace didn’t let up ”

The Poodles Setlist: Echoes From The Past / Metal Will Stand Tall / Number One / Shadows / Seven Seas / One Night of Passion

Krokus Setlist: Heartstrokes / Hellraiser / Angel of My Dreams / Midnite Maniac / Screaming In The Night / American Woman / Easy Rocker / Rock City / Rock ‘n’ Roll Tonight

Hammerfall Setlist: Threshold / Templars of Steel / Riders of The Storm / Legacy of Kings / Rebel Inside / Blood Bound / Drums > Jam / A Legend Reborn / Renegade / Let The Hammer Fall / Oscar Dronjak solo > Jam / Hammerfall // Natural High / Glory To The Brave / Heeding The Call // Hearts On Fire

Written by Andy Lye
More: Gigs, Hard Rock, Power Metal, HammerFall, Krokus, The Poodles