Renegade HammerFall Nuclear Blast Records, 2000 Buy it online Tracks 1: Templars Of Steel 2: Keep The Flame Burning 3: Renegade 4: Living In Victory 5: Always Will Be 6: The Way Of The Warrior 7: Destined For Glory 8: The Champion 9: Raise The Hammer (Instrumental) 10: A Legend Reborn   Reviewed by Lucas Aykroyd	If this is the first HammerFall album you've ever checked out, you're in for a thrill. But longtime fans of the Swedish power metal quintet may wonder if the band is making the necessary artistic strides forward. Led by singer Joacim Cans and guitarist Oscar Dronjak, HammerFall looks to have established a permanent lineup after several years of rotating drummers. (And no, the drummers didn't die -- get your mind out of the Spinal Tap gutter!) That's a plus, since they're preparing to embark on another "Metal Crusade" in support of their latest release. 1997's Glory To The Brave is credited with having sparked an international renaissance in its genre, borrowing dragons from Dio and musical mastery from Malmsteen to go with HammerFall's own enthusiastic love of traditional metal. That debut effort entered the German charts at number 38, which was unprecedented for a metal band. Since then, they have toured Europe, Japan, North America and South America, increasing their fan base, affectionately dubbed the "Templars." Renegade, their crucial third album, could gain the band a melodic rock/AOR audience. But it's possible this collaboration with producer Michael Wagener (Metallica, Accept, Skid Row) might alienate their more conservative, hard-edged fans to some degree. The opening track, "Templars Of Steel," sounds like Quiet Riot performing the Soviet anthem in the 14th century. Verily, the blood pumpeth. But the second song, "Keep The Flame Burning," rips off the guitar lick from "Warriors Of Faith" on the band's 1998 release Legacy Of Kings, which came close to being the perfect power metal album. The first single, "Renegade," is where Wagener's influence appears most evident. Whereas two years ago the chorus would likely have consisted of gang vocals, here we get chiming, sweet harmonies and a toned-down rhythm section. Granted, Cans shows increasing sophistication as a singer on this album, and you can't discount the beauty of his multi-tracked phrasing atop the percussive pre-choruses of epics like "Living In Victory" and "Destined For Glory." It may be difficult for him to replicate this sound in concert unless he uses a vocal harmonizer. Lead guitarist Stefan Elmgren has expanded his style as well, incorporating some fretboard tapping into his cleanly executed solos and the introduction of the galloping rocker "The Way Of The Warrior." And veteran drummer Anders Johansson proves a capable replacement for Patrick Rafling, though he's more prone to leaning on the high-hat cymbal than his predecessor. HammerFall beat out Britney Spears for the top spot in Swedish TV's video countdown in September, yet they surely don't want to be accused of "going pop." They haven't, but Renegade is not "leagues heavier than its predecessors," as the press release claims. It's also a bit too similar to Legacy Of Kings and its melodies are not as strong overall. But with extra attention in the songwriting department, HammerFall can seize their rare opportunity to bring metal back to the mainstream. Let the hammer fall! | October 2000   Lucas Aykroyd covers the rock beat for Wall of Sound, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and other leading music publications. He is the author of 1984: The Ultimate Van Halen Trivia Book.	HammerFall beat out Britney Spears for the top spot in Swedish TV's video countdown in September, yet they surely don't want to be accused of "going pop." They haven't, but Renegade is not "leagues heavier than its predecessors," as the press release claims. It's also a bit too similar to Legacy Of Kings and its melodies are not as strong overall.