Hammerfall

Current members: Joacim Cans: Song (1996-present) Oscar Dronjak: Guitar, choir (1993-present) Pontus Norgren: Guitar (2008-present) Fredrik Larsson: Bass, choir (1994-1997, 2007-present) Anders Johansson: Battery (1999-present)
Former members: Mikael Stanne: Song (1993-1996) Niklas Sundin: Guitar (1993-1995) Glenn Ljungström: Guitar (1995-1997) Stefan Elmgren: Guitar, Choir (1997-2008) Johann Larsson: Bass (1993-1994) Magnus Rosén: Bass (1997-2007) Jesper Strömblad: Battery (1993-1997) Patrik Räfling: Battery (1997-1999) In 1993, Oscar Dronjak left Ceremonial Oath , and with Jasper Strömblad ( Ceremonial Oath , future In Flames ) created Hammerfall in Gothenburg. Together, they recruited the rest of the band: Niklas Sundin, Mickeal Stanne (Dark Tranquillity) and Johann Larsson (In Flames). The band doesn't have songs yet, but Niklas and Johann leave the ship at the end of the year. They were replaced by Glenn Ljungstrom and Fredrik Larsson. Until 1996, Hammerfall was content to rehearse and in concert, the band played mostly covers of bands such as: Pretty Maids, Judas Priest and Alice Cooper. Mickeal Stanne having been hired by Dark Tranquillity, Hammerfall appealed to a friend: Joacim Cans, still the band's singer since that time. Glory To The Brave was released in 1997 and announced the band's musical line: Power Metal in pure tradition. That same year, Nuclear Blast signed them for four albums. However, the Hammerfall line-up undergoes several changes shortly after several changes. Stefan Elmgren arrives in the band as guitarist, Patrik Räfling replaces Jesper Strömblad on drums and Magnus Rosén replaces Fredrik Larsson on bass. With this change, the Swedish released a second album, Legacy Of Kings in 1998 and then began a two-year world tour from 1998 to 2000, with Anders Johansson replacing Patrik Räfling in 1999. Hammerfall returned to the studio in 2000 to deliver Renegade. Considered commercial, this album does not in any way affect the popularity of the band, which started again in 2001. Until 2006, the band, so far stable, alternated touring and release albums with Crimson Thunder in 2002, One Crimson Night in 2003 and Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken in 2005. The press and fans are starting to get tired because Hammerfall has surfed on its wave of popularity, but has forgotten to innovate. October 2006 marks the band's return to music. Threshold still in a Power vein, shows the band in a new light. Since 2007, Fredrick Larsson has returned to the band. Hammerfall joined forces with a new guitarist Pontus Norgren instead of Stefan Elmgren in 2008 and released a best of (Masterpieces) that same year. Hammerfall is preparing to discharge again its Power Metal in February 2009, with the release of No Sacrifice, No Victory .