HammerFall: Too Old To Die Young

“Grunge was the pandemic of the nineties!” laughs HAMMERFALL singer Joacim Cans, looking back on the state of metal during the band’s formative years. He’s joining us in a Skype call to discuss their brand new album, Hammer Of Dawn, and he’s in a reflective mood. You can tell he’s not entirely serious from his tone of voice, but he’s right about one thing; traditional metal was in a bad state when the Swedish five-piece first got together to write music. The airwaves of the early-to-mid nineties were dominated by the likes of NIRVANA and SOUNDGARDEN, songs about dragons were no longer in fashion.

Things wouldn’t improve for a long time either. Nu-metal and American punk were waiting in the wings for grunge to fall. Harder-edged metal bands like PANTERA did well, but the guys who grew up listening to DIO and IRON MAIDEN had a challenging time.

But three decades later, HAMMERFALL haven’t just survived, they’ve thrived. They’re enormously popular and could be considered one of the pillars of modern power metal. They’ve already got eleven albums under their belt and the twelfth is due any day now. The pandemic has been horrendous, but Joacim can’t help but be optimistic despite everything. They’re not alone in flying the flag for power metal; there’s a whole generation of new bands standing proud with them.

“Grunge was never my thing. I came back from the US, I was studying there 1993-94 and couldn’t find a band to play with. The state of metal then was almost dead. But look at the festivals now. The festivals are huge! I also see a new movement of very traditional heavy metal, very true to the British Wave of Heavy Metal, coming from the US and Canada. Young kids are forming bands and playing NWOBHM and I love that.”

He’s also got good reason to be in a good mood, the upcoming Hammer Of Dawn is great. It’s a galloping, high-octane record, full of big choruses, catchy melodies and infectious energy. They’ve been making music like this since they burst out of the starting blocks with 1997’s classic debut Glory To The Brave. Since then, they haven’t had many deviations from their established formula, but they’ve got very, very good at making galloping, life-affirming metal.

There’s not an ounce of fat on Hammer Of Dawn, every track is a single-in-waiting and their devoted fanbase should lap it up. It’s an album that can’t help but make you smile, but there is an extra depth to it. The pandemic has made them reflect on their place in the world and brought the realisation that this won’t last forever:

“All the songs are standalone compositions, it’s not a concept album, but every album has a kind of concept built in when you’re writing the lyrics. Halfway into the pandemic I realised I’m not immortal. I’m going to die one day. A lot of things, a lot of my intentions went into that direction, in a song like Venerate Me, which deals with the fact you die twice; when you take your last breath and when someone says your name for the last time.”

This is grim subject matter for a band that tends to be upbeat but they won’t be turning into THE SISTERS OF MERCY anytime soon. Too Old To Die Young deals in similar subject matter, but in a slightly more tongue-in-cheek way; “I’m sitting here, close to fifty-two, ‘meh, no use dying now. I won’t get any headlines, I’d better stay alive as I’ve got more to give,’” he says, but he’s got every reason to continue breathing; he’s still enjoying it. “I read an interview with Biff Byford of SAXON, ‘guys like us never retire.’ And it’s true, I’m going to do this until the day I die. As long as it’s fun. As long as you feel you have something to give. I was listening to the latest SAXON album and they’re still a vital band. Biff is in his seventies now and he still sounds amazing.”

HAMMERFALL are rapidly approaching their fourth decade as a band and they still sound amazing too. Their recent run of albums has been impressive and Hammer Of Dawn may be the best of the bunch. And despite the reflections on aging and the occasionally dark subject matter, it’s primarily a raucous celebration of life. Joacim has no plans to retire and he still loves his bandmates and supporters. So much so, he’s written a song about it, album opener Brotherhood.

“I would say it’s describing the brotherhood between me and Oscar. We’ve been a team since the day we met. We have the same views of where we wanted to take HAMMERFALL. Together we are a very strong brotherhood and as a band, we have a lot of fun together. I love all the guys in the band. I can’t understand bands that are travelling around the world hating each other. How can you make it a good job if you’re looking at your guitar player and thinking ‘urgh, I hate that guy’,” he says. “But it’s mainly about the fans, telling them ‘without you guys we wouldn’t be here.’ I felt this was the perfect opener. After so many years in lockdown I hope they’re still there and then when they pick up the album, they hear on the first song ‘hey guys, we love you. We’re waiting for you. And being onstage is the reason why we do this.’ It’s a tribute to the greatest fans in the world. Every band says that and it’s all true. Their fans are the best fans in the world to them, our fans are the best in the world to us.”

Listening to Brotherhood is like downing a warm mug of hot chocolate that’s been crossed with an energy drink. It’s a heartwarming, anthemic song and perhaps the perfect introduction to the record. But it also offers a glimpse of why a five-piece Swedish power metal band have done so well, despite forming in the grunge era. They love what they do. They’re not here following a trend, they’re just enjoying themselves. And it makes them very easy to like.

“Stepping onstage is my happy pill. It gives me the strength to carry on with our daily life.”

Hammer Of Dawn is out now via Napalm Records.

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