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One Crimson Night

HammerFall - One Crimson Night Audio CD

A fair review of the HammerFall "One Crimson Night" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all HammerFall reviews here, or go back to the HammerFall tabs.

Band: HammerFall
Title: One Crimson Night
Rating:

Release Date: 2004-01-27
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Lore of the Arcane 2: Riders of the Storm 3: Heeding the Call 4: Stone Cold 5: Hero's Return 6: Legacy of Kings 7: Bass Solo 8: At the End of the Rainbow 9: Way of the Warrior 10: Unforgiving Blade 11: Glory to the Brave 12: Guitar Solo - Stefan Elmgren 13: Let the Hammer Fall 14: Renegade 15: Steel Meets Steel 16: Crimson Thunder 17: Templars of Steel 18: Hearts on Fire 19: Hammerfall 20: Dragon Lies Bleeding [*] 21: Stronger Than All [*] 22: Legend Reborn [*]

amazing sound quality for a live album
Even better, it is, in essence, a greatest hits package from one of the most important bands of their generation -- heck, of any generation. If not for the S and M album by Metallica, this would easily be the best-sounding live album I've ever heard. It seems strange now, but when Hammerfall first appeared, power metal was an ember barely burning. They, as much as anyone, were responsible for re-lighting the flame -- indeed, many of the bands that have come and gone in traditional power metal since then are purely and simply imitations of these masters. Sounding something like Judas Priest if they had the attitude and lyrics of Manowar, Hammerfall never quite rises to the level of those great bands, but they are only a notch or two below them, whereas most bands are about five notches below them.

There are those who say that Hammerfall is excessively cheesy. Those people are right. However, it's the good kind of cheese, not the bad kind (that is, they are self-aware in their cheesiness, which is the only way that real metal can work. The bad kind of cheesy bands, the prog type, for example, that actually seem to take rock music one hundred percent seriously -- those are the moldy kind of rancid cheese you want to avoid).

Hammerfall is everything metal bands ought to be, but too rarely are: themes of self-empowerment communicated through universal and fantastic imagery, melodic vocals sitting atop crunching riff-based guitar work, and a relentless dedication to their own style. This band is too often taken for granted, too often under-rated, too often overlooked for the latest fad when the best-of lists are handed out. Treat yourself to some real, raw heavy metal and pick this one up. .

Amongst the best live performances and most sincere releases.
Most bands tend to release a "Best of. . " release in the hypocritical aim to offer re-packaged assorted material for newer fans, knowing their flaming talent doesn't afford more than one or two good records, which becomes a compulsively necessity to re-invent and whore themselves into a prostituted and well-oiled killing machine, all in the vain hope to pick up an ephemeral fan base. But this isn't Hammerfall's story, right from day one they were destined for glory and they have proved themselves with every following record since the majestic; Glory To The Brave.

One Crimson Night is a blazing red-hot extension to a pure and triumphant live supremacy. The introduction alone to this album is the genesis to the apocalyptic night of February 20th, 2003 and despite language boundaries as you will find Cans carrying the live show in his native tongue; you will experience the universal live energy of fellow Metal brothers and sisters united, maintaining alive the Templar flame with pride in all our hearts.

Pick this up, embrace it.

Let Hammerfall reign for many years to come.

Where's the disclaimer
On Amazon, at least they disclosed it was a live album. I found this album in a store and snatched it up only to find it was a "Live" album. But when purchased in a store it's a problem: HammerFall did not mention this on the packaging however, and that ticks me off since I wouldn't have bought it had I known.

The way it was and the way it should be
These guys rock. This is what metal was all about bofore the whole grunge and depression thing. Their songs are all catchy and they play really well together. Several of their songs have a military or religious theme to the lyrics, which is cool. They're out of Sweden, so they more than make up for the feeble sounds of the band Europe. I bet this would be an incredible concert to see, but this 2-disk live set will have to do.

1. Lore Of The Arcane- 4/5- sounds really Nordic. They use this as an intro to-
2. Riders Of The Storm- 5/5- here we go. Awesome chord progression, great way to start the album. Proves that solos don't need to be super-fast to be cool.
3. Heeding The Call- 5/5- rallying song, sort of like a heavy-metal We Will Rock You. A lot of the songs on here are like that.
4. Stone Cold- 5/5- listening to Joacim talk in Swedish is friggin hilarious. The song's really cool too. They go a little overboard with the audience participation, though.
5. Hero's Return- 5/5- fast paced. Another one of those rallying songs I talked about.
6. Legacy Of Kings- 5/5- cool beat, great backup vocals.
7. Bass Solo: Magnus Rosen- 5/5- this guy's good. Sort of a mix between Nordic & Spanish he's got going here.
8. At The End Of The Rainbow- 5/5- slow and catchy. What's cooler than Swedish guys singing about dragons and rainbows? Only 5-foot tall Italian guys singing about dragons and rainbows (Ronnie James Dio, for those who didn't make the connection).
9. The Way Of The Warrior- 5/5- great song to sing along to, even though I can't. Love this one.
10. The Unforgiving Blade- 4. 5/5- really cool, but a little short.
11. Glory To The Brave- 5/5- great slow song. Reminds me of the soldiers over in the Middle East after 9/11.
12. Guitar Solo: Stefan Elmgren- 4/5- sort of weaker than the bass solo. However, it would make a great basis for a new song (how 'bout it, guys?).
13. Let The Hammer Fall- 5/5- awesome closer, great for rockin' out to.
1. Renegade- 4/5- on to disk 2. Good opener, but not one of my favorites.
2. Steel Meets Steel- 5/5- this one's about the Crusades (read a book, people). Really catchy.
3. Crimson Thunder- 10/5- MY FRIGGIN FAVORITE! Slow, heavy, just plain cool, and just the right of amount of audience participation.
4. Templars Of Steel- 4/5- again with too much audience participation (they sing half the friggin chorus evey single time). We paid to listen to you, Hammerfall, not these boobs in the audience!
5. Hearts On Fire- 5/5- this song's really catchy. A lot faster than the origional recording, too.
6. Hammerfall- 4/5- this is the only band I know of with two self-titled songs. And Let The Hammer Fall is hands down the better one.
7. The Dragon Lies Bleeding- 5/5- great song, could be a ballad if not for the part about killing stuff.
8. Stronger Than All- 5/5- another one of those catchy ones. This album would be great for parties.
9. A Legend Reborn- 5/5- cool riff and cool closer. Rest those heads easy, it's finally done. If you can't move your neck tomorrow, the music has done its job.

Very powerful, very nordic, very crimson!
Beginning with Riders on the Storm is simply one of the best ways to kickstart this live album. This one is the first Hammerfall CD I decided to buy and definitely I am glad I did.
It delivers powerful music that pleases music fans from all the world. Most of the songs are performed incredibly and accurately, making them appear like the great band they are without any single doubt.
Being a drummer myself I must say that Anders Johansson just rushes a lot, making this album sound "in a hurry" during some songs, for instance in Hearts on Fire and in the very beginning of Legacy of Kings. Other than that, songs like The Way of the Warrior, Heeding the Call and Hammerfall are just in a perfect tempo.
And also, to add a very special point to the album, it includes two songs performed at the Hard Rock Live in Guadalajara (Mexico), showing all the people the voice of the metal fans in Mexico. A very good album, that is well produced and that delivers amazing hearing pleasure. Just the drums were too fast for my liking (Johansson could have played a bit slower, to the rhythm of Oskar and Stephan and well, it would have gotten full 5 stars).

You can see a complete list of all HammerFall discography, or go back to the HammerFall tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.