Hammerfall's Reviews

Legacy of Kings

(Average Rating: 8.58 out of 10)

Nice but not excellent

(Rated this album with 6 out of 10)
Reviewed by Michael Ray from Indiana

I purchased this disc and Blind Guardian's Nightfall... after reading various reviews here (from people who had also gotten Stratovarius, which is what I initially was looking at). I would concur with one of the previous reviews from April 29, 1999 that their influences are Manowar, Helloween, etc.

The songwriting is polished, solid musicianship, nice production. However, their's nothing really that special here aside from that fact that it is coming out 10 years later than the last wave of this style. The lead vocals should have been more powerful and brought forward in the mix for this type of fantasy, medieval power metal. Fancy guitar work is nearly non-existant. After my first listen I was thinking is was a melding of Manowar's Fighting the World and Helloween's Keeper I. I decided to listen to those 2 discs now that I've heard it quite a few times, and for me it doesn't stand up to either. The guitar work and vocals are superior on the others.

Legacy of Kings is no slouch by any means. They certainly have a future. This is a great disc to draw your sword and raise your tankard to and crank it up loud! Good metal to drive to, which is what I got it for. 3.5 stars

FYI, I like the music on Blind Guardian's disc better (much more complex), and I'll rate it 4 stars. However, you can't drive to it very well since you must listen to it.

Buy this album on Amazon at $14.99