HammerFall – Electric Ballroom 2010

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Having proven last time out that they can bring in the crowds on a club tour in the UK, as well as get prominent slots at events like Bloodstock, HammerFall added a run of shows in England and Scotland separate from any full-scale touring.

Tribe were handed the opening slot on the tour, and main support came from fellow Swedes Dream Evil, who enjoyed a much more enthusiastic reception than the last time they came to London. A set comprising most of their catchiest tracks, including the incomparable United, plus regulars like Heavy Metal In The Night, which wasn’t played at every show this time, Made of Metal and Chosen Ones ensured the crowd were entirely on-side the whole time, even if vocalist Niklas Isfeldt once again looked a little disinterested.

Having not toured for their No Sacrifice, No Victory album in the UK upon its release in 2009, a headlining tour was a little overdue, and the swelled crowd following Dream Evil’s set, roaring when the lights went down, indicated that many fans felt the same way. Opening number Punish And Enslave from that album didn’t go over spectacularly well, but after that the set was a cherry-picked run of their singles and most popular live tracks,

The set was therefore quite predictable, although the absence of Natural High and Always Will Be was notable. Between Two Worlds was not played every night on this tour, so its inclusion was an bonus for the London crowd amongst a main set of songs always guaranteed to get the best reception from fans, including Riders of The Storm, Crimson Thunder and Last Man Standing between the run of singles.

The real highlight of the set, and the event that made this show, the last on the tour, unique, was the closing song of the encore. Following Secrets and a spirited Let The Hammer Fall, ex-Rainbow/Cornerstone vocalist Doogie White joined the band for Hearts On Fire, looking a little uncertain at times but providing able back-up on the choruses and taking one verse to himself.

HammerFall’s overall performance was lively and sharper than their last visit, their near-greatest-hits set certainly kept the crowd happy, but long-time fans might have felt disappointed at the lack of surprises in the set. They will return to London in July to play on the Metal Hammer Stage at the High Voltage Festival, which might be too soon to change the set very much, but if they book up another UK tour before the next album, that might be the chance to play some different songs before the obligatory “Hits plus new songs” set for a new album.

“ a cherry-picked run of their singles ”

Dream Evil Setlist: Immortal / United / Made of Metal / Crusaders’ Anthem / Bang Your Head / Heavy Metal In The Night / Chosen Ones / Chasing The Dragon / The Book of Heavy Metal

HammerFall Setlist: Punish And Enslave / Crimson Thunder / Renegade / Hallowed Be My Name / Last Man Standing Blood Bound / Heeding The Call / Rebel Inside / The Dragon Lies Bleeding / Between Two Worlds / Any Means Necessary / Stronger Than All / Riders of The Storm // Secrets / Let The Hammer Fall / Hearts On Fire

Photo(s): Andy Lye

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