HAMMERFALL Chapter V: Unsent, Unbowed, Unbroken. CD 2005

Swedish power metal has a reputation for being either absolutely glorious or deeply embarrassing, and HammerFall spent the early 2000s proving they belonged firmly in the first camp. Chapter V: Unbowed, Unbroken, Unsung lands in 2005 as the band's fifth full-length, arriving at peak confidence, when Joacim Cans was hitting those soaring choruses like the genre depended on it and Oscar Dronjak was writing riffs that made people want to raise both fists and a tankard simultaneously.

This is meat-and-potatoes heavy metal done with genuine conviction, the kind that makes no apologies for its Judas Priest worship, its twin-guitar harmonies, or its completely sincere dedication to the idea that metal should feel epic. Not ironic. Not deconstructed. Just big, loud, and proud. The limited edition enhanced digipak packaging makes it worth owning physically rather than streaming, which is the correct way to experience this anyway.

Format: Full Length Album CD, Limited Edition Enhanced Digipak. Country of origin: Sweden. Genre: Heavy/Power Metal. Original release year: 2005.

Fans of: JUDAS PRIEST, BLIND GUARDIAN, GAMMA RAY, HELLOWEEN, MANOWAR