HammerFall to Enter the Studio

Sweden's HammerFall is set to enter the recording studio in two weeks to record their follow-up to 2009's No Sacrifice, No Victory. Guitarist Oscar Dronjak reveals: "The new material contains a lot of fresh ways to look at the musical ideas, we're trying to preserve the essence of what HammerFall is while at the same time updating the execution and approach. Definitely heavier and less straight forward than the previous albums, yet remaining true to what we believe heavy metal is all about."

The band has decided to work with producer James Michael, who has worked with the likes of Mötley Crüe, Scorpions, and Meat Loaf. Oscar explains: "Working with James Michael is going to be very, very exciting. The two Mötley Crüe albums James has been involved in (songwriter on New Tattoo and songwriter/producer on Saints of Los Angeles) are great, and easily stack up against the classic albums of the 80s." (Read More)

Hammerfall Guitarist Interviewed at U.K.'s High Voltage Festival

James Allman (of Baconmusic) recently had the chance to chat with Oscar Dronjak - guitarist for the Swedish melodic metal band, Hammerfall. The interview was conducted before the band took to the stage at the U.K. High Voltage Festival, which was held on July 24-25 at Victoria Park in London. (The interview can be streamed below.)

Hammerfall's latest album was released in February 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. Titled No Sacrifice, No Victory, the album was partially recorded in Varberg, Sweden at Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train Studios. The album includes an instrumental written by guitarist Pontus Norgren (Great King Rat, The Poodles, Talisman), who is the latest addition to Hammerfall. No Sacrifice, No Glory also features the song "One of a Kind," which was a collaboration between Dronjak and In Flames guitarist Jesper Strömblad - a former member of Hammerfall from the band's earliest days. Finally, the album's cover art was penned by Sam "Samwise" Didier and its layout was created by Thomas Ewerhard.