HammerFall (SE)

About

Also known as: Hammer Fall

HammerFall have been flying the flag for classic power metal since forming in Gothenburg in 1993, and they have never really wavered from that mission. Guitarist Oscar Dronjak started the whole thing after leaving Ceremonial Oath, pulling in members who also played in In Flames and Dark Tranquillity before those acts became pillars of Swedish melodic death metal. Once vocalist Joacim Cans joined in 1996, the lineup clicked into place, and their debut Glory to the Brave landed with unexpected force, hitting number 38 on the German charts, something no debut heavy metal album had managed before. Thirteen studio albums deep, the band has kept their sound remarkably consistent, rooted in big riffs, soaring vocals and the kind of anthemic choruses that make arenas feel small. Their armored paladin mascot Hector has graced nearly every album cover, becoming one of metal's more recognizable visual signatures. Whether you trace their catalog from Legacy of Kings through Crimson Thunder and on to Hammer of Dawn, the throughline is clear: HammerFall play the music they believe in, and their fanbase has followed them every step of the way.