About me:
Hello and welcome to the german HammerFall Street-Team MySpace!
As you've found out by now, this MySpace-Place is dedicated to the swedish metal band HammerFall.
Brief Band-History:
After quitting the death metal band Ceremonial Oath in 1993, guitarist Oscar Dronjak formed HammerFall and asked his friend Jesper Strömblad to join him.
Even though Oscar had already written some songs (such as “Steel meets Steel”), HammerFall was only planned to be a small project, as both had engagements with their new bands, Crystal Age and In Flames.
They filled up the ranks with Niklas Sundin (guitar) and Mikael Stanne (vocals) of Dark Tranquility, and Johan Larsson (bass) from In Flames.
The aim was to get together a couple of times each year, rehearsing to participate in a local music competition called "Rockslaget". Some time later, Niklas and Johan quit and were replaced by Glenn Ljungström (In Flames) and Fredrik Larsson (Crystal Age).
In 1996 HammerFall advanced to the semi-finals of "Rockslaget" for the first time with "Steel Meets Steel", "Unchained" and the Judas Priest anthem "Breaking the Law".
Unfortunately vocalist Mikael was not available at the time, the next competition should take place, so the search for a new singer began. Somehow the name Joacim Cans came up. A phone call later, and they were in business. The cooperation with Joacim proved to be a success, and he was immediately sworn in as a permanent member of the HF clan. They did a strong performance in the competition, but unfortunately they were edged out in the last minute by the judges.
Even though they didn’t win “Rockslaget”, there was a video made during their live-performance, which was send to the label “Vic Records”. HammerFall was offered a deal immediately, so they spend the rest of the year writing and rehearsing for the first album, “Glory to the Brave”.
In January 1997, Oscar and Joacim decided that, in order to be able to give HammerFall no less than 100 %, a few line-up changes were necessary. Jesper and Glenn decided to continue full time with In Flames, and they were replaced by Patrik Räfling and Stefan Elmgren, both members of Joacim's previous band Highlander.
Fredrik wanted to pay full tribute to his other band, but promised to stay as long as a new bass-player was found.
Shortly thereafter, the German label Nuclear Blast approached Vic Records and HammerFall, showing great interest. This encounter resulted in a licensed release of their debut CD and a four-album deal for the band, starting with the next record.
Nuclear Blast wanted to launch HammerFall heavily onto the world, and in order to do that, they needed a visual aspect beside the musical. Therefore, two videos were recorded in the beginning of May 1997, to the songs "HammerFall" and "Glory To The Brave".
In May 1997 the HammerFall line-up was completed when Magnus Rosén joined on bass guitar. He is most famous for his work with Billionaires Boys Club and Keegan. Magnus is an extremely skilled bass bender and has proven to be a valuable addition to the rhythm section.
Neither Nuclear Blast nor HammerFall itself expected that a heavy metal band could get such exposure and raving reviews in the nineties, but it happened! "Glory To The Brave" was awarded “Album of the Month” in both “Rock Hard” and “Heavy Oder Was?” two of Germany's leading metal magazines, earning 10 out of 10 and 11 out of 12 respectively. The album entered the German Music Chart at position No. 38, the highest for a debut heavy metal album ever! All of Europe's major metal press almost unanimously praised the album, and the sales figures showed that the fans, too, loved HammerFall.
Five guys from Sweden where ready to write history!
7 Albums:
~ Glory to the Brave (1997)
~ Legacy of Kings (1998)
~ Renegade (2000)
~ Crimson Thunder (2002)
~ One Crimson Night (2003)
~ Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken (2005)
~ Threshold (2006)
4 DVDs:
~ The First Crusade (1999)
~ The Templar Renegade Crusades (2002)
~ Hearts on Fire (2002)
~ One Crimson Night (2003)
…..and of course uncountable concerts and festivals all around the globe until today, with only a little change in the line-up for a long time.
In 1999, Patrik left the band, and Anders Johansson, a good friend of Magnus, was asked to fill in as a temporary replacement for the summer. As working with him turned out exceptional and everybody wanted to continue, Anders was offered a permanent position, which he promptly accepted.
In 1993 Oscar had launched a rocket, which is still on the journey high into the sky. Hopefully it won’t come back to earth too soon.
This year, in March 2007, longtime bass-player Magnus Rosén has announced that he wants to take more care in his other projects and his charity work, and is therefore leaving HammerFall. This came as a big surprise not only for the fans, as it was just at the end of a successful European tour.
On April 10th 2007, the waiting had an end. Fredrik Larsson will re-enter HammerFall. During the past years he remained friend with the rest of the gang and so it was a natural thing to do to ask him back in.
I know a lot of fans had been really nervous about the replacement because Magnus is a one-of-a-kind-bass-player.
But now with Fredrik back in the band, everybody is really satisfied.
Keep the Flame burning!!!
Greetings
Khem'Ra
|
Who I'd like to meet:
|
|
..
Online Now!
