Hammerfall

• Genre: Metal

About

Perhaps the point band of the European power metal movement, Sweden's Hammerfall are alternately loved and loathed for their back-to-the-1980s approach. Their galloping anthems touch on familiar themes -- swords, dragons, heavy metal itself -- and feature the type of speedily melodic guitars and soaring, high-pitched vocals one would expect from a band who pride themselves on carrying the torch of bands like Judas Priest, Helloween and Manowar.

- Will York