Infected Cd Review

Deep at night in white mountain taverns, around campfires, in caverns where weary travellers seek rest, you might hear a native reciting the fable about the things which nobody can explain, about fears and dangers and the dead roaming the earth again; they might sing of sinister creatures emerging from swamps, much like the Halloween video game Hotel 626, where if you’re brave enough, your room is ready...

What begins as the anthem to a nightmare with the opening track 'Patient Zero', in which heavy breathing and wailing sirens become the words “Contamination breach in sector 7G. Evacuation protocols for Project Legion in effect. Emergency shutdown in five seconds,” awakens into nothing more terrifying than a soundtrack to a theatrical rendition of the Rocky Horrow Picture Show. The heavy breakdown and guitar work are deceptive for the song that it introduces and as Joacim Cans’ vocals begin the cult-like ferocity dissipates and after such a climatic introduction the rest of the song becomes somewhat of a let-down.

For those who, in good faith, persevered through the opening track will find reassurance in track two, 'B.Y.H. (Bang Your Head)', as it redeems classic Hammerfall style; had the album started out with this track fans may not have listened to the rest of the album through the same dubious ears.

'One More Time' sits on the fence somewhere between amusing and cheesy and while Oscar Dronjak’s guitar work elicits an entirely different denotation to the entire song itself, there’s a lack of substance holding this song together, and much like the song title advocates, the chorus is simply repeated again, and then again, and then one more time.

Track four’s power metal introductory and chaotic riffs will reach out and grab your immediate attention by the balls and for the first time on the album, listeners are listening. It is lyrically controversial as it reflects on religious beliefs with intricacy and what could even be considered restraint, respectfully so. But no sooner are we tangled in the build-up of tension marked by thrilling vocals and propulsive drumming of this track, 'The Outlaw,' and we brought straight back down as the album dives headfirst into a firm melodic base of acoustic picking in a combination of cathartic and peaceful splendour in the following track, 'Send Me A Sign;' a cover of the Hungarian Heavy Metal band, Pokolgép’s original. But just as time waits for no one, this track leaves just enough time to meditate on the surface of reflection before it snaps you out of euphoria with the relentless mood and harmonies of 'Dia De Los Muertos' in which the band regain their energetic conviction, as they also do with '666 - The Enemy Within'.'Let’s Get It On' evokes the same Rock 'n' Roll that the 80’s did: it’s fast and it’s rebellious and it’s everything that parents once hated, which has always been the park of good Rock 'n' Roll.

This album seems darker and more penetrating than anything Hammerfall has ever composed, yet still lacks a spirit in its depth as it seems spineless in substance. The album draws to a close with the prolific sorrow of 'Redemption' and with metallic orchestration this track completely separates itself from the rest of the album in quality, in creativity and in complexity; an impeccable way to end the album as the listener is left with nothing but memories of previous albums and as Dronjak’s guitar cries in either ecstasy or sheer agony, we are reminded of the Hammerfall we all once knew.

Infected Tracklist

01. Patient Zero
02. B.Y.H (Bang Your Head)
03. One More Time
04. The Outlaw
05. Send Me A Sign (Pokolgép Cover)
06. Dia De Los Muertos
07. I Refuse
08. 666 - The Enemy Within
09. Immortalized
10. Let's Get It On
11. Redemption

Hammerfall Line-up

Vocals: Joacim Cans
Guitar: Oscar Dronjak
Guitar: Pontus Norgren
Bass: Fredrik Larsson
Drummer: Anders Johansson

Hammerfall Weblinks

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