"Glory to the Brave" è il primo album degli Hammerfall. Uscito nel 1997 segnò la ripresa dell'Heavy Metal anni '80, riportando freschezza al genere e riproponendo le sonorità di gruppi storici come Warlord, Helloween e perché no, in parte, Manowar.

I testi delle canzoni svariano dal più classico cappa e spada ai viaggi interdimensionali, dagli omaggi all'Heavy Metal alla perdita delle persone amate, quindi sono stati scritti sia per raccontare storie sia per, semplicemente, intrattenere il pubblico, nel più classico stile anni '80. Passiamo all'analisi dell'album.

Il CD parte subito alla grande con "The Dragon Lies Bleeding", gran lavoro di batteria, cori potenti e chitarre melodiche in una canzone veloce ed epica allo stesso tempo. Si passa poi a "The Metal Age", che incede con il classico ritmo dell'Heavy anni '80, nel testo si parla di una dimensione parallela dominata dall'era del Metallo. In questo pezzo si notano molto i riff di chitarra, una canzone perfetta per essere riproposta in live. Poi passiamo alla canzone che è anche il nome della band, "Hammerfall". Qui il gruppo si autocelebra con una canzone veloce e melodica, con un coro centrale da urlare a squarciagola. "Hammerfall - We Will Prevail!""Hammerfall - Let Us Hail!"
Si passa poi per una ballad veramente commovente come "I Believe" pezzo struggente in cui si alternano pezzi lenti e leggeri al coro centrale, in cui i riff di chitarra si fanno più pesanti per dare più drammaticità alla canzone. Si arriva poi ad un cover, decisamente ben suonata, dedicata ai mitici (e loro idoli) Warlord, "Child Of The Damned" (tratto dall'album "Deliver Us").

Si ritorna poi al cappa e spada in "Steel Meets Steel", canzone dedicata ai templari, anche questa in tipico stile anni '80 con ritmi trascinanti e un coro da urlare. Si continua quindi con "Stone Cold", forse il pezzo più sottotono dell'album, comunque da segnalare i riff di chitarra all'inizio della canzone. Quindi troviamo "Unchained", canzone trascinante con la doppia cassa sempre in sottofondo. Arriviamo quindi alla title track "Glory To The Brave".
Questo è un piccolo capolavoro, un'epic ballad con un testo struggente che parte con 3 minuti d'arpeggi e una chitarra dal suono caldo e delicato con la voce cristallina di Joacim Cans che c'introduce in questo racconto. Poi si sale d'intensità e la chitarra diventa distorta per arrivare al coro centrale epico e pomposo. Il testo è un'altra chicca e parla della tristezza per la perdita di un eroe che comunque continua a vivere nei ricordi delle persone, grazie alle sue gesta e per questo va a riposare nelle sale degli impavidi (Brave).

In conclusione quest'album nel 1997 ha segnato una netta rinascita del classico Heavy Metal che era ormai (e purtroppo) sommerso dal power stagnante di quei periodi. Questi ragazzi hanno riportato in auge il True Metal dandogli nuova freschezza e non si può che rendergli merito per questo. Questo album è da considerarsi un classico, un piccolo gioiello di Heavy Metal degli ultimi anni.

Elenco tracce testi samples e video

01   The Dragon Lies Bleeding (04:22)

Ride through the valley in thunder and rain
the battle is raging, redeem this domain
The Castle of Eden lies silent above
darkness surrounded us, away we must go


I look through the eyes of the world
I see there's a Stranger among us.
Awaiting a sign from above
to conquer the power and the glory


Enter the battle, our will to enchain
bringing us forward, defeating the pain
into the meeting with swords made of steel
we're standing together the secret reveals
I look through the eyes of the world


I know who's the Stranger among us
Awaiting a sign from above
to conquer the power and glory
Come across to the Promised Land
close your eyes, I will take your hand
Through the river of steel we'll go
When the dragon lies bleeding


Above the glory we'll carry on
now the time has come to return back home
The setting sun illuminates the dead
the battlefield field is shining red.


Silent lies Eden on top of the moor
we're fighting with honor protecting our Lord
The last one survivor lies bleeding. I kneel
into his heart I settle the steel


I look through the eyes of the world
there is no stranger among us.
We march to the end of the world
in search for the power and the glory


Come across to the Promised Land
close your eyes, I will take your hand
Through the river of steel we'll go
When the dragon lies bleeding

02   The Metal Age (04:28)

03   Hammerfall (04:47)

Silent screaming, you're on your own
balancing on a blade between
what's right and what is wrong
Don't loose your faith, don't sit there in silence
show your strength, let's hail the metal gods,
bare your heart


All for one, our burning hearts will live forever
One for all, together standing strong


Hammerfall - we will prevail
Hammerfall - let us hail


Hammerfall - we will prevail
Hammerfall - let us hail


We share a dream, the future is ours
a Metal Heart is hard to tear apart, heed the call
we run this race, but we will never crawl,
all hail Hammerfall


All for one, our burning hearts will live forever
One for all, together standing strong


Hammerfall - we will prevail
Hammerfall - let us hail


Just follow your heart, don't listen to the crowed
the wisdom, the voice is calling from inside.
The time long forgotten will soon come again
prepare for the meeting, the Gods of Metal reign

04   I Believe (04:53)

Is it too late to go in peace, I wonder how
how these things did start anyway
Maybe too late to find a way, when the
trail of grief is marked with memories


Now when you're gone, the warmth
of the sun seems so faraway


I believe - in everything I see, every
second is a miracle for me
I believe - after sunshine comes the
rain, and when it's pouring down
the only thing I feel is pain


I walk alone through shapeless dreams
my only home is the wasteland that I cross
I close the door and turn the key
those days of joy are barely memories
Now when you're gone, your star will
shine on, wont you shine for me


I believe- in everything I see, every
second is a miracle for me
I believe- after sunshine comes the
rain, and when it's pouring down
the only thing I feel is pain

05   Child of the Damned (03:42)

You made me see right past myself, well beyond
my fears, realized I'm synchronized, far beyond my years
I'm so geard unto them, I serve unto their souls
now that I'm addicted, my hunger only grows

I'm a child of the damned, I follow where I go
rigging to the cross, as holy as a whore
I'm just a child of the damned

Witches coven, the time has come for those sabbatical
years, revelation is the message, for all in all to hear
Prophets slayed, mankind arrayed into mass submission
evil's here, the lord of hell gives you the proposition

I'm a child of the damned, I follow where I go
rigging to the cross, as holy as a whore
I'm just a child of the damned

Give away your life goals, your meaning and ambition
it means nothing to you, after all it's superstition
Do not be afraid, the world is near the end
is it better to rule in hell, than it is to serve in heaven?

I'm a child of the damned, I follow where I go
rigging to the cross, as holy as a whore
I'm just a child of the damned

06   Steel Meets Steel (04:02)

The hands of time have brought you here
to make a change, to break down the walls
You are the ones and you are the only
trying to live by your own goals

And you all cry for freedom
Raise your fists to the sky

Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the Templars of Steel

Let's spread the word of the sole survivors
with metal pounding inside their souls
The fire burns, and it will forever
blaze for the ones who stands strong

And you all cry for freedom
with your fists in the sky

Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the Templars of Steel
You are the Templars of Steel

Oh, oh, oh ...

Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the Templars of Steel

Let your voice speak for the revolution
All join forces with all the powers that you feel
Let your heart beat for the revolution
Led by the Templars of Steel
You are the Templars of Steel

07   Stone Cold (05:43)

Outcast a time of war,
the mankind lost control
of life and death, under survaillance

I watch the children pray,
while God just turns away
Our in the ruins they seek shelter
These streets were once my home,
but those golden days are gone,
now I'm fighting to survive


Stone cold, man or machine
Stone cold, the end of our dream


The word is on the street,
it's kill or to be killed
With no exception your're on your own


We should have seen it all along,
the writings on the wall,
tell me what have we become
Stone cold, man or machine
Stone cold, the end of our dream


Who do you belive in now,
when the prophecy came true the final deja vu


These streets were once my home,
but those golden days are gone,
now I'm fighting to survive


Stone cold, man or machine
Stone cold, the end of our dream

08   Unchained (05:38)

Undying nightfall, a king with no crown
dethroned, imprisoned in chains
Duel the black horse, the Swordsmen must kneel
condemned to serve within the shadows
Put'em next to their King


Out of the fire and into the night
a handful of brave men appeared
Crimson thunder running through their veins
a bond that will last forever
Nothing's stronger than ...


Brothers in arms are fighting tonight
the Forces of steel meet again
born in the fire, they look to the sky
power of metal unchained


Time has come, break out of these chains
FIGHT! proud for your kingdom
Behind the defenders the king marches on
by divine intervention
They are fighting with ...


Brothers in arms are fighting tonight
the Forces of Steel live again
born in the fire, they look to the sky
the power of metal unchained


Past many nights they fought on
and by the moonlight the battle was won
but still the black horse is running
knowing were the power will lead


Brothers in arms are fighting tonight
the Forces of Steel live again
born in the fire, they look to the sky
the power of metal unchained

09   Glory to the Brave (07:20)

Snow is falling down on this glorious land
Colours fading, turning into white again
To fallen heroes angels sing, they cry their winter tears
Endless mourning days will turn to years

So this is goodbye, I take leave of you and
Spread your wings and you will fly away now, fly away
Now

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

Every solemn moment I will treasure inside
Even though it's hard to understand
That a silent wind can blow the candle out
Taking everything leaving the pain far behind

You call out my name, but your voice is fading
Into the wind, embraced, you'll fly away now, fly away
Now

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

My eyes are closed I feel you're faraway ( so close )
Far beyond that shining star
I know you'll find what you've been fighting for
Far beyond that shining star

Down on bended knee I pray, bring courage to these Souls
Make'em live forever in the heart of the bold
So I say farewell my friends, I hope we'll meet again
When my time has come to fall from grace

So this is goodbye, I take leave of you and
Spread your wings and you will fly away now, fly away
Now

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

YEAAAAAAAA!

Nothing on earth stays forever
But none of your deeds were in vain
Deep in our hearts you will live again
You're gone to the home of the brave

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Altre recensioni

Di  sofficino

 "Glory to the brave è un capolavoro, vi farà commuovere ad ogni ascolto."

 "Questi ragazzi hanno riportato in auge il power metal e dobbiamo rendergli merito."