A crack of thunder heeds the call, guitars ablaze as if a clarion call for power metalheads everywhere to take notice of this new entity. Lest you forget who they are, four titles mention 'Hammer King'. A German pedigree, with former Manowar guitar Ross the Boss' high pitched vocalist Patrick Fuchs (known here as Titan Fox), is a good start for a dual guitar foursome.

Inspired by another, better known Hammer outfit, Hammer King offer ten titles, although Warlord style, it's really just a trio of multi-part tunes. ‘I Am The King’ is an easy sing-along, destined to be a big hit on the European concert circuit. Recurrent "whoa whoa" chorus in the mid-pace ‘Chancellor Of Glory’ and a galloping (F-bomb dropping) ‘I Am The Hammer King’ prove they've done their homework on the staples of the genre. The piston pumping double bass drumming of ‘Blood Angels’ stands in stark contrast to the slower, mid-tempo ‘Visions Of A Healed World’. Repeated crash of a lone cymbal heralds an upbeat ‘Figure In The Black’ and there's an even faster ‘We Are The Hammer’. Only the pedestrian finale stubs it's toe. Nice start, but a little more seasoning is needed before anyone considers a step up to the big leagues.