Editing HammerFall

{{short description|Swedish power metal band}}
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{{Infobox musical artist
| name = HammerFall
| image = Hammerfall - Wacken Open Air 2023 37 (cropped).jpg
| caption =  HammerFall at [[Wacken Open Air]] 2023
| landscape=yes
| alias =
| origin = [[Gothenburg]], Sweden
| genre =  [[Power metal]],<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web| url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hammerfall-mn0000556199/biography |title=HammerFall |publisher=ALLMusic |access-date=18 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=metalstorm>{{cite web| url=https://metalstorm.net/bands/band.php?band_id=121 |title=HammerFall |publisher=Metal Storm |access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref> [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/hammerfalls-joacim-cans-the-time-to-pass-the-torch-was-ages-ago|title=How Hammerfall kept heavy metal alive|publisher=[[Louder Sound]]|access-date=31 July 2022|date=5 April 2022}}</ref><!-- Do not add unsourced genres or genres from AllMusic sidebar. -->
| years_active = 1993–present
| label = {{hlist|[[Napalm Records|Napalm]]<ref>{{cite web|title=HAMMERFALL: Sign With Napalm Records|url=http://metalshockfinland.com/2016/03/07/hammerfall-sign-with-napalm-records/|website=Metal Shock Finland|date=7 March 2016|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>|[[Nuclear Blast]]}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force]]|[[In Flames]]|[[Dark Tranquillity]]|[[Ceremonial Oath]]|[[Fullforce]]|[[Lost Horizon (band)|Lost&nbsp;Horizon]]|[[Dionysus (band)|Dionysus]]|[[Blind&nbsp;Guardian]]|[[Helloween]]|[[James&nbsp;Michael]]}}
| website = {{URL|http://hammerfall.net}}
| current_members = [[Oscar Dronjak]]<br/>[[Joacim Cans]]<br/>Fredrik Larsson<br/>[[Pontus Norgren]]<br/>David Wallin
| past_members = [[Jesper Strömblad]]<br/>[[Mikael Stanne]]<br/>[[Niklas Sundin]]<br/>[[Johan Larsson (musician)|Johan Larsson]]<br/>[[Glenn Ljungström]]<br/>[[Stefan Elmgren]]<br/>[[Magnus Rosén]]<br/>[[Anders Johansson (drummer)|Anders Johansson]]<br/>Patrik Räfling<br/>Johan Koleberg
| module            = {{Infobox
| child           = yes
| header1         =
| headerstyle     = background:#b0c4de
| data2           = [[File:HammerFall - Logo.svg|200px]]
}}
}}

'''HammerFall''' is a Swedish [[power metal]] band from [[Gothenburg]]. The band was formed in 1993 by ex-[[Ceremonial Oath]] guitarist [[Oscar Dronjak]]. They have released thirteen studio albums.

==History==

=== Early days (1993–1996) ===
HammerFall was formed when guitarist [[Oscar Dronjak]] quit [[Ceremonial Oath]] and invited [[Jesper Strömblad]] (from [[Ceremonial Oath]] and [[In Flames]]) to join him as a drummer in a new musical project he had been contemplating for some time. Dronjak had already composed the song "Steel Meets Steel," which was later included on HammerFall's debut album. Dronjak and Strömblad were later joined by lead guitarist [[Niklas Sundin]], bassist [[Johan Larsson (musician)|Johan Larsson]], and vocalist [[Mikael Stanne]]. When Niklas Sundin and Johan Larsson left HammerFall the following year, [[Glenn Ljungström]] (then guitarist of [[In Flames]]) and Fredrik Larsson (bassist of the former Swedish [[death metal]] band [[Dispatched]]), replaced them.

[[File:Masters of Rock 2007 - Hammerfall - Joacim Cans - 01.jpg|left|thumb|165px|Joacim Cans joined the band in 1996.]]
All five members played in other bands at the time. Dronjak and Larsson played in ''Crystal Age''; Strömblad and Ljungström played in [[In Flames]] and Stanne sang for [[Dark Tranquillity]]. Both of these bands influenced Swedish [[melodic death metal]]. HammerFall was relegated to being a side project of them all for several years. Their concerts were limited mostly to a local music contest named ''Rockslaget''. The band had few songs of their own and played mostly covers from bands such as [[Pretty Maids]], [[Judas Priest]] and [[Alice Cooper]].

In 1996, HammerFall reached the semi-finals of ''Rockslaget''. When Mikael Stanne could not perform with the band in the semi-finals, they found [[Joacim Cans]], who agreed to play with them for the night. The concert was a success although the judges disqualified HammerFall for the finals. By the end of that day, Joacim had already been made an official member of the band.

===''Glory to the Brave'' and ''Legacy of Kings'' (1997–1999)===
To give more exposure to their work and try for a professional recording deal, a short live performance was recorded and sent to the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] label, Vic Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vicrecords.com/ |title=Home - Vic Records extreme metal label since 1993|website=Vicrecords.com|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref> The musicians soon received a deal and spent the whole of the following year writing the album ''[[Glory to the Brave]]''. The album was initially released in the Netherlands and obtained positive feedback; it is also worthy of notice that the band's [[mascot]], the [[Paladin (character class)|paladin]] Hector, first appeared on the cover of this album.

As HammerFall grew in popularity, the time available for members of the band to dedicate to other projects became limited. Dronjak and Cans wanted to pursue the path of HammerFall (Dronjak's Crystal Age had ceased to exist some time ago), but Strömblad and Ljungström were committed to In Flames and Larsson was committed to the [[thrash metal]] band ''None''. Thus, HammerFall's line-up soon underwent changes. [[Stefan Elmgren]] assumed the lead guitar and Patrik Räfling assumed the drums (they joined the band in the beginning of 1997 before the release of ''Glory to the Brave'' album) and Larsson decided to remain in the band until a suitable replacement for him was found. This happened in May 1997, when bassist [[Magnus Rosén]] joined the band. Stefan Elmgren played some of the guitars on the ''Glory to the Brave'' album (such as the acoustic guitars on "I Believe") and Patrik Räfling actually played the drums on all songs in place of Jesper. However, at the time they were considered as guest performers, not members of the band.

[[File:Jesper-s.jpg|thumb|upright|Jesper Strömblad left the band in 1997.]]
In early 1997, German label [[Nuclear Blast]] approached HammerFall with a contract for a European release deal, which included four albums. The deal was accepted and the band proceeded to record their first two [[music video]]s &mdash; "HammerFall" and "Glory to the Brave". After the release of a promotional single, ''Glory to the Brave'' was released throughout Europe. The results were quite unexpected, even after the intense marketing campaign made by Nuclear Blast. The album reached position number 38 on the German Music Chart on the week of its release, something which had never before been achieved by a debut [[heavy metal music]] album.

Siding with bands [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]], [[Jag Panzer]], [[Lake of Tears]] and [[Raven (band)|Raven]], several tours through the European continent ensued. The concert on [[Wacken Open Air]] was performed to a crowd of over ten thousand people.

Towards the end of 1997, ''Glory to the Brave'' was released in Japan and the United States. Sales of the album reached one hundred thousand copies. HammerFall was also nominated for the Swedish [[Grammy]] award in the ''Best Hard Rock act'' category.

In February 1998 they did a small club tour (5 gigs) in Belgium and the Netherlands. Support was the Belgian band Double Diamond, who later became [[Fireforce]]

In February 1998, the recording of ''[[Legacy of Kings]]'' began. This album was once more written by Joacim, Oscar, and Jesper, who despite having quit the band still took part in the process in order to keep the same general mood of their first release. The album was produced by [[Fredrik Nordström]] (from [[Dream Evil]]) and Oscar, with the help of Joacim. The band spent a total of one and a half months in the studio recording this album.

HammerFall made some expressive concerts before the release of ''Legacy of Kings'', playing in festivals together with bands such as [[Alice Cooper]], [[Rammstein]], [[Deep Purple]], [[Dream Theater]], [[Saxon (band)|Saxon]] and [[Stratovarius]].

Their first world tour took place in October 1998. During the shows in Sweden, Joacim Cans caught a serious throat infection which made it impossible for him to sing. Shortly afterwards, Magnus Rosén was afflicted with the same disease, and after him the whole of HammerFall's support crew became sick. The members of the band played for as long as possible and then were forced to postpone or cancel a few dates. During their passage through South America, HammerFall took a short break to visit the [[Brazil]]ian beaches, but they soon resumed their tour.

By the end of that tour, drummer Patrik Räfling left the band, and [[Anders Johansson (drummer)|Anders Johansson]], a friend of Magnus Rosén, joined as a touring musician. In the beginning of 1999 he was made a permanent member of the band. Anders had previously worked with guitarist [[Yngwie J. Malmsteen|Yngwie Malmsteen]] on [[Rising Force]] in the 80s and 90s and on a number of other projects; he is the brother of [[Jens Johansson]] from [[Stratovarius]]. He has been praised for his technical and polyrhythmical talent, in metal as well as other genres.{{Relevance inline|date=May 2014|reason=So what? Technical and polyrhythmical drumming aren't exactly what HammerFall is famous for. This belongs rather in his own article.}}

===''Renegade'' and ''Crimson Thunder'' (2000–2003)===
After a long series of concerts, the band returned to Sweden in order to spend time with their families and begin writing songs for their next album. HammerFall made arrangements for this album to be recorded by Michael Wagener,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelwagener.com/ |title=Michael Wagener.com |publisher=Michael Wagener.com |access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> who had previously produced bands such as [[Accept (band)|Accept]], [[Alice Cooper]] and [[Ozzy Osbourne]]. The recording took eight weeks, and the album was entitled ''[[Renegade (HammerFall album)|Renegade]]''. The switch from producer Fredrik Nordström to Wagener was met with skepticism from the media in general. However, after the release, critics were mostly positive, even though there was a consensus that the band's sound was remarkably different. A music video by director Roger Johansson was created for the song "Renegade" and reached the top of the Swedish parade; the same soon happened with the album itself, which reached gold status with over forty thousand copies sold.
[[File:Anders Johansson 4.jpg|thumb|Anders Johansson]]
Oscar stated on www.metalrules.com just prior to the release of 'Renegade' that they were going for a more "commercial" sound in order to attract a broader audience that otherwise would have been lost to them and that future albums wouldn't follow in this mold.

The band's second world tour began in January 2001. Concerts from this tour counted with a replica version of the album's cover on stage. It was set up as a [[castle]] in ruins from which the musicians entered the stage. In total, the tour included almost sixty shows.

The band then released a [[DVD]] entitled ''[[The Templar Renegade Crusades]]'', which included video footage from recording sessions, live concerts, tour backstages, and encounters with fans. The footage ranged from the recording sessions of ''Legacy of Kings'' to the gold album party which took place in November 2001.

HammerFall then proceeded to record their fourth album &mdash; ''[[Crimson Thunder]]''. Arrangements were made for recording sessions to take place in both ''JM Studios'': from [[Charlie Bauerfeind]], in ''[[Wisseloord Studios]]'' &mdash; in the Netherlands, and studio ''Blind Guardian'' &mdash; in Germany, for the bass.

By the end of the recording sessions in 2002, a listening session for the press was held. Overall, the reactions were quite positive, and most seemed to perceive the album as a change for the better from ''Renegade''. A single for the song "Hearts on Fire" was released six weeks prior to the album's launch and remained for weeks on the number one spot on the parades of some European countries. The song also attracted a number of new fans to the band due to its [[refrain|chorus]]-driven melody and simple riffs coupled with fast guitar solos.

The shooting of the music video  "Hearts on Fire" by director Roger Johansson was scheduled for August of that year. The band's plans, however, had to be held back for a week due to an incident that occurred one night. While Joacim was drinking with his girlfriend in a rock club he had been frequenting for over a decade, he was attacked by an unidentified person who hit him in the head with a beer glass and hastily escaped. Joacim instantly lost consciousness and had to be taken to a hospital, in which he underwent [[plastic surgery]] and rested for a couple of days. As soon as it became medically possible, he joined the band to record the music video.

In order to promote the release of the band's album in North America, they toured with [[Dio (band)|Dio]] during November and December 2002. Subsequently, the manager of the band disappeared, taking the entirety of the tour's revenue with him. Despite this the tour was very successful, and proceeded to Europe. Changes were made to the band's stage setting, and many investments were made on [[fireworks]] and on the presence of the mascot Hector on stage. The scenery on the cover of the single ''Hearts on Fire'' was also reproduced and added to the performances. The tour progressed to Japan and then to South America. HammerFall was present on festivals in Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic, playing with bands such as [[Iron Maiden]], [[Slayer]], [[Twisted Sister]], [[U.D.O.]] and [[Stratovarius]].

HammerFall's tour was brought to a sudden end when Oscar Dronjak suffered a [[motorcycle]] accident, breaking his left arm and sustaining several minor injuries.

They were then left with no choice but to take a break. Stefan dedicated himself to getting a [[aviator|pilot]] license, Magnus and Anders continued working on their side projects and Joacim began work on his solo album and had his first child. Oscar simply focused on recovering. Together with a group of specialists, he was able to recover to his full capacities. He then joined Anders, Joacim, Stefan again, with bands [[Helloween]], [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]] and [[Pretty Maids]], amongst others, and played in the celebration of the 20 years of the German rock club ''Rockfabrik''.

===''Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken'' and ''Threshold'' (2005–2008)===
The live album and DVD ''One Crimson Night'' was released in February 2003. After two years of hiatus the band released ''[[Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken]]'', which was followed by a European and South American tour. A video for the song "Bloodbound" was made by director Roger Johansson.

On 16 October, it was reported that HammerFall (along with the band [[Europe (band)|Europe]]) would be part of the Eurovision song contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/6536 |title=Eurovision Song Contest - Dusseldorf 2011 &#124; News - Melodifestivalen going Heavy Metal? |publisher=Esctoday.com |date=5 September 2008 |access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> This rumor was refuted by lead singer Joacim Cans only a couple weeks later. Joacim was quoted as saying "So there were no talks whatsoever to be part of this."<ref>[http://www.rockmymonkey.com/interviews/06/11/Hammerfall.php www.rockmymonkey.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105135441/http://www.rockmymonkey.com/interviews/06/11/Hammerfall.php |date=5 January 2007 }}</ref>

[[File:Masters of Rock 2007 - Hammerfall - 07.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.25|Stefan Elmgren left the band in 2008 and Fredrik Larsson re-joined in 2007.]]
Their 6th album, titled ''[[Threshold (HammerFall album)|Threshold]]'', was released on 20 October 2006 and it went directly to a number 1 position on the Swedish charts.

On 6 March 2007, a statement was posted online at HammerFall's official website (and his own official website), that bassist Magnus Rosén would not be involved with the band anymore. The reason for his departure stated that he was unhappy in the band and wants to focus on other projects. On his own website (and therefore with his own official statement) it was announced that Magnus was tired of the simple bassplaying he was forced to play in HammerFall, and that he was unable to bring his own material to the band. He now wants to "be more creative in his career".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.magnusrosen.net/news/view.asp?id=50 |title=De beste bron van informatie over magnusrosen. Deze website is te koop! |publisher=magnusrosen.net |access-date=19 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006100342/http://www.magnusrosen.net/news/view.asp?id=50 |archive-date=6 October 2011 }}</ref> On 10 April it was announced on the official HammerFall homepage that the replacement for Magnus is former member Fredrik Larsson, who played bass on the ''Glory to the Brave'' album.
Three new songs were recorded for the band's first compilation album. These are "Last Man Standing", "Restless Soul", and "The Abyss". They also rerecorded the Glory To The Brave track "HammerFall". "[[Steel Meets Steel - Ten Years of Glory]]" was released on 12 October 2007.

On 2 April 2008, [[Stefan Elmgren]] announced his decision to leave HammerFall in order to pursue a career as a commercial pilot.  His replacement is [[Pontus Norgren]] from [[The Poodles]]. On 27 June 2008, the band released the compilation album "[[Masterpieces (HammerFall album)|Masterpieces]]". The album has on it a collection of every song the band has covered, plus three new cover songs previously unreleased. This was [[Stefan Elmgren]]'s last release with the band.

===''No Sacrifice, No Victory'' and ''Infected'' (2009–2012)===

HammerFall's album ''[[No Sacrifice, No Victory]]'' was released in February 2009. This album features a cover song [[My Sharona]]. The Album peaked at No.&nbsp;38 on the Billboard heatseakers charts.<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=hammerfall|chart=all}} No Sacrifice, No Victory - HammerFall (2009)], Billboard.com</ref>
A music video for the song "Any Means Necessary" was released some time before the actual release of the album.  To kick off their new album, HammerFall toured all over the world with several support bands, such as fellow Swedish band [[Sabaton (band)|Sabaton]]. In the summer 2010 the band played a couple of high-profile festivals throughout Europe, including [[Sonisphere Festival]], [[High Voltage Festival]], [[Metalcamp]], [[Graspop Metal Meeting]] and many more. The summer tour was named "Any Festival Necessary".

HammerFall's 8th album was released on 18 May 2011 (Sweden), 20 May (Europe), and 7 June (North America),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hammerfall.net/releases/albums/infected/ |title=Infected &#124; Hammerfall - Official Webpage |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519005628/http://www.hammerfall.net/releases/albums/infected/ |archive-date=19 May 2011 }}</ref> under the name ''[[Infected (HammerFall album)|Infected]]''. After several months of recordings in Göteborg, Sweden and Nashville, TN, the new studio album was finally finished in February. The European tour followed, under the name "European Outbreak".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hammerfall.net/news/european-outbreak-2011/ |title=EUROPEAN OUTBREAK TOUR 2011 &#124; Hammerfall - Official Webpage |access-date=26 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030327/http://www.hammerfall.net/news/european-outbreak-2011/ |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> ''Infected'' is also the first HammerFall album not to feature the mascot, the knight Hector, on the cover.

In 2012, HammerFall recorded a live DVD while performing a show in Dalhalla, Sweden, that featured some former band members as well as other special guests. The DVD celebrated 15 years of the band's existence, and was titled "Gates of Dalhalla".

In 2013, HammerFall took a break and some time to spend with their families or side-works. Oscar wrote a book about HammerFall, ''Legenden om HammerFall'' (Swedish: "The Legend of HammerFall),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hammerfall.net/news/legenden-om-hammerfall-is-coming-on-october-24/ |title="Legenden om HammerFall" is coming on October 24! &#124; Hammerfall - Official Webpage |access-date=26 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231821/http://www.hammerfall.net/news/legenden-om-hammerfall-is-coming-on-october-24/ |archive-date=2 December 2013 }}</ref> that was released on 24 October and tells of the band's events during the past 16 years, but it still exists only in Swedish.

===''(r)Evolution'' and ''Built to Last'' (2014–2017)===
[[File:Hammerfall – Wacken Open Air 2014 00.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|HammerFall at [[Wacken Open Air]] 2014]]
HammerFall once again reunited with producer Fredrik Nordström. The vocals were recorded by James Michael. For the mix, Fredrik Nordström spent 3 weeks in his own Studio.

[[(r)Evolution]] was released on 29 August 2014, and stormed the charts worldwide, debuting on #1 in Sweden and on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, as well as reaching Top 5 in several other countries. The subsequent tour, dubbed the World Wide (r)Evolution 2014-15, will see HammerFall return to Latin America together with Edguy and Gotthard, followed by a full European assasult in the beginning of 2015. The band was somewhat distraught when drummer Anders Johansson left shortly after the release of (r)Evolution, but David Wallin (Pain) was brought in as a temporary replacement to ensure that the show would go on. Around the same time, it was also decided that Fredrik would be on parental leave from September 2014 through March 2015. Former guitar player Stefan Elmgren stepped in handled the 4-string duties during that period, making this line-up a unique experience during the Latin American and European tour. 

In March 2016, the band announced that they had signed with Napalm Records. Their tenth studio album, ''[[Built to Last (HammerFall album)|Built to Last]]'', was released on 4 November 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hammerfall-signs-with-napalm-records-new-album-due-in-november/|title=HAMMERFALL Signs With NAPALM RECORDS; New Album Due In November|date=7 March 2016|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>

On 16 December 2016, David Wallin resigned from the band to focus on his family, and the same day the band introduced their new drummer Johan Koleberg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hammerfall-parts-ways-with-drummer-david-wallin-announces-replacement/|title=HAMMERFALL Parts Ways With Drummer DAVID WALLIN, Announces Replacement|date=16 December 2016|website=blabbermouth.net|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref>

On 2 September 2017, it was announced that David Wallin's family related issues had been resolved and that he was reinstated into the band.

=== ''Dominion'', ''Hammer of Dawn'' and ''Avenge the Fallen'' (2018–present)===
On 18 December 2018, HammerFall announced their eleventh studio album ''[[Dominion (HammerFall album)|Dominion]]''. It was released on 16 August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.herokuapp.com/news/hammerfall-to-release-dominion-album-in-august/|title=HAMMERFALL To Release 'Dominion' Album In August|date=18 December 2018|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref>

Following a major tour in support of the album throughout Europe, and North America as a special guest of the band [[Sabaton (band)|Sabaton]], the band later announced their live album ''Live! Against the World'' which was released on October 23, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hammerfall-to-release-live-against-the-world-album-in-october/|title=HAMMERFALL to Release 'Live! Against The World' Album In October|work=Blabbermouth|date=11 August 2020|access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref>

On 19 March 2021, HammerFall announced that they will join [[Helloween]] on a big European tour in 2022 and '23 called United Forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/helloween-to-join-forces-with-hammerfall-for-spring-2022-european-tour/|title=HELLOWEEN To Join Forces With HAMMERFALL For Spring 2022 European Tour|work=Blabbermouth|date=19 March 2021|access-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> Latin American tour dates as well as North American dates were added later on.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennelty |first1=Greg |title=Helloween & Hammerfall Announce 2023 North American Tour |url=https://metalinjection.net/tour-dates/helloween-hammerfall-announce-2023-north-american-tour |website=Metal Injection |access-date=13 July 2023 |date=28 September 2022}}</ref> The tour saw the band supporting their twelfth studio album, ''[[Hammer of Dawn (album)|Hammer of Dawn]]'', which was released on 25 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hammerfall-completes-work-on-new-studio-album/|title=HAMMERFALL Completes Work On New Studio Album|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=28 November 2021|date=28 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hammerfall-announces-new-album-hammer-of-dawn-music-video-for-title-track-available/|title=HAMMERFALL Announces New Album, 'Hammer Of Dawn'; Music Video For Title Track Available|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=1 December 2021|date=1 December 2021}}</ref> They released the single "Brotherhood" a day before the album's release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chaoszine.net/swedish-heavy-metal-heroes-hammerfall-releases-video-for-brotherhood/|title=Swedish heavy metal heroes Hammerfall releases video for "Brotherhood"|publisher=Chaoszine|access-date=31 July 2022|date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

On 26 April 2024, the band released the first single "Hail to the King" and its corresponding music video. At the same time, they announced that their thirteenth studio album, ''Avenge the Fallen'', which was released on 9 August 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/hammerfall-announce-new-album-avenge-the-fallen-share-music-video-for-first-single-hail-to-the-king/|title=HAMMERFALL Announce New Album "Avenge The Fallen", Share Music Video For First Single 'Hail To The King'|publisher=Sonic Perspectives|access-date=April 25, 2024|date=April 25, 2024}}</ref>

==Band members==
<gallery>
File:Hammerfall Rockharz 2018 31.jpg|Oscar Dronjak
File:Hammerfall Rockharz 2018 23.jpg|Joacim Cans 
File:Hammerfall Rockharz 2018 34.jpg|Fredrik Larsson 
File:Hammerfall Rockharz 2018 30.jpg|Pontus Norgren
</gallery>
===Current members===
*[[Oscar Dronjak]] – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1993–present)
*[[Joacim Cans]] – lead vocals (1996–present)
*Fredrik Larsson – bass (1994–1997, 2007–present)
*[[Pontus Norgren]] – lead guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
*David Wallin – drums (2014–present)

===Former members===
*[[Jesper Strömblad]] – drums (1993–1996)
*[[Mikael Stanne]] – lead vocals (1993–1996)
*[[Niklas Sundin]] – lead guitar (1993–1995)
*[[Johan Larsson (musician)|Johan Larsson]] – bass (1993–1994)
*[[Glenn Ljungström]] – lead guitar (1995–1997)
*[[Stefan Elmgren]] – lead guitar (1997–2008)
*[[Magnus Rosén]] – bass (1997–2007)
*Patrik Räfling – drums (1996–1999)
*[[Anders Johansson (drummer)|Anders Johansson]] – drums (1999–2014)

===Touring and substitute members===
*[[The Poodles|Pontus Egberg]] – bass (2012) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hammerfall.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2065|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222050053/http://www.hammerfall.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2065|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2013|title=The Poodles bassist Pontus Egberg is filling in for Fredrik Larsson in HammerFall|website=hammerfall.net|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpZNlY-sUz4| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505100800/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpZNlY-sUz4| archive-date=5 May 2014 | url-status=dead|title=YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref>
*Stefan Elmgren – bass (2014)
*Johan Koleberg – drums (2016–2017)

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:15 right:5
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1993 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
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Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1993
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1993

Colors =
 id:Vocals        value:red         legend:Lead_vocals
 id:Lead          value:teal        legend:Lead_guitar
 id:Rhythm        value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar,_backing_vocals
 id:Bass          value:blue        legend:Bass
 id:Drums         value:orange      legend:Drums
 id:Lines1        value:black       legend:Studio_album
 id:bars          value:gray(0.95)

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 color:black  layer:back
 at:06/27/1997
 at:09/28/1998
 at:10/09/2000
 at:10/28/2002
 at:03/04/2005
 at:10/20/2006
 at:02/20/2009
 at:05/20/2011
 at:08/27/2014
 at:11/04/2016
 at:08/16/2019
 at:02/25/2022
 at:08/09/2024

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 bar:Niklas  text:Niklas Sundin
 bar:Glenn   text:Glenn Ljungström
 bar:Stefan  text:Stefan Elmgren
 bar:Pontus  text:Pontus Norgren
 bar:Oscar   text:Oscar Dronjak
 bar:Johan   text:Johan Larsson
 bar:Fredrik text:Fredrik Larsson
 bar:Magnus  text:Magnus Rosén
 bar:Jesper  text:Jesper Stromblad
 bar:Patrik  text:Patrik Räfling
 bar:Anders  text:Anders Johansson
 bar:David   text:David Wallin

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 bar:Pontus  from:05/01/2008 till:end        color:Lead
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}}

==Discography==
{{Main|HammerFall discography}}

<big>'''Studio albums'''</big> 
* ''[[Glory to the Brave]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Legacy of Kings]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Renegade (HammerFall album)|Renegade]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Crimson Thunder]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Threshold (album)|Threshold]]'' (2006)
* ''[[No Sacrifice, No Victory]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Infected (HammerFall album)|Infected]]'' (2011)
* ''[[(r)Evolution]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Built to Last (HammerFall album)|Built to Last]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Dominion (HammerFall album)|Dominion]]'' (2019)
* ''[[Hammer of Dawn (album)|Hammer of Dawn]]'' (2022)
* ''Avenge the Fallen'' (2024)

==Awards and nominations==

'''Metal Hammer Awards (GER)'''
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2015 || HammerFall || Maximum Metal || {{won}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Hammerfall|HammerFall}}
* [http://www.hammerfall.net Official website]
* {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p212623}}

{{HammerFall}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:HammerFall}}
[[Category:1993 establishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1993]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Gothenburg]]
[[Category:Swedish musical quintets]]
[[Category:Napalm Records artists]]
[[Category:Swedish power metal musical groups]]
[[Category:1990s establishments in Gothenburg and Bohus County]]