Long time fan here of the Swedish power metal giants, one of the saviors of traditional heavy metal in the late 90s. First four albums are essential for a metalheads library. But, like any band with a long twenty year history, playing a distinct style, trademarks, there are of course the good, mediocre, redundant, and bad in the catalogue. Last album "Dominion" was a strong darker heavier (reminded me of "Crimson Thunder" or "No Sacrifice, No Victory") rebound from previous two, "Built to Last" and "(r)Evolution", which fell into the cliché corny titles 'Hammer High', 'Hector's Hymn' which I can do without.

Here we are again case in point the title track, do we need another title with "hammer" in it? Let's not get into Dragonforce corny territory, guys. But it is a solid hard hitting song and epic hook. Luckily its preceded by the heavy opener 'Brotherhood' which brought me back to the greatness of "Legacy of Kings" in the verses, hook, and driving guitar attacks.
After the first four albums several beautiful crafted speedy double bass power metal anthems, since the album "Chapter V" I prefer and find the more mid tempo, varied songs like here 'No Son of Odin' the best. And it never hurts to have King Diamond drop in subtle spooky guest vocals for 'Venerate Me'. 'Too Old To Die Young' is just up tempo tried and true enough with gallop in the spirit of the debut. 'Not Today' is really cool and doesn't play out like a typical power ballad with more an acoustic relaxed feel. 'State of the W.I.L.D.' is misleading at first, closer 'No Mercy' is more a return to this first two albums.