The Classic Metal Album Review:
Title: Legacy of Kings
Artist: Hammerfall
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 1998

Rating: 5 Skulls
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    • Requiem's Review:
    Well, I'm glad I'm behind this computer screen right now because I don't feel like getting pelted with tomatoes. In the "true" metal circles, Hammerfall ain't shit in the power metal genre and are often made fun of and ridiculed to no end. But I don't care who you are, if Legacy of Kings is not a great power metal album, then Stevie Wonder will pass his next eye exam, period. Hell, I'll be the first to admit that Hammerfall haven't had the greatest track record, but here they created pure magic, the kind that brings you to the land of the dragons and battle that they tell about. It's almost as ridiculous as Manowar, but musically it's more valiant than 1,000 Manowars. At least that's how I feel.

    Legacy of Kings is what I call a "feel good" record, one that can bring you out of the biggest funk, or at least let you temporarily escape it. Sure, without Helloween these guys may have never been a thought, but here, two records into the catalogue, they took their knowledge and perfected it. The intensity of the galloping drums matched with the metallic slaughter of the axes made a perfect setting for some of the catchiest choruses we'd ever heard. The kind that make you want to drink mead out of a chalice in your finest battle armor, in a fantasy world of course. When things slow down, you can be sure to get anthemic quality every step of the way. And I know that Joacim Cans isn't the greatest vocalist in the world, but neither is James Labrie, but they both know the how to hook you in with a killer melody, and that's half the battle.

    Every song is a surefire hit, one after another, never letting up until you're twitching on the ground in metallic envy. This is one of the first records responsible for getting me into the genre (yeah, I know, I'm a late bloomer), but after extensive investigation it's still one of the best. The sped up, metallized punk-esque grooves will have you swinging your beer high in the air, and you'll be singing along to visions of medieval times. Brace yourself for a metal album that out-metals even steel itself.
    5 out of 5

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