HammerFall laid the hammer down on the sold-out crowd at the iconic Whisky a Go-Go in West Hollywood, California on Tuesday, May 9 on their Built to Last tour.
2010 was the last time HammerFall, from Gothenburg, Sweden, graced its heavy metal presence here in North America, playing at the House of Blues Sunset Strip in West Hollywood California, which now is closed. Going back further it’s was 1998 when HammerFall played the iconic Whisky A Go-Go for the first time. It was a long wait but two decades later they were back.
Having some of HammerFall‘s albums, I was thinking back and realized I’ve never seen them live, this was going to be exciting! Once I arrived at the Whisky a Go-Go the doors were open and the fans were filing in, noticing there was still a line around the building. Walking into the club the main floor was jam packed and there is no photo pit at the Whisky. I came to the conclusion I would be photographing from upstairs. That didn’t last long, as I ran into a couple of friends from another band they told me I was going to the front.
It was showtime! The rambunctious fans were ready, as they catch a glimpse of founding member Oscar Dronjak at the top of the stairs as they started chanting “Oscar! Oscar!” He acknowledges the fans below, with a wave and a smile. The volume of cheers rose seeing guitarist/rhythm guitarist Oscar Dronjak with his hammer guitar and Pontus Norgren, bassist Frederik Larsson, drummer Johan Kullberg and frontman Joacim Cans enter the stage, opening the set with Hector’s Hymn off the Evolution album. That’s all it took. I found myself in awe for a moment and the fans were fist pumping and singing from the very first word. Followed by Riders of the Storm off Crimson Thunder and rounding out the first three songs was Blood Bound off the Chapter V: Unbent, Unbound, Unbroken album.
HammerFall formed in 1993. Looking and sounding great after two decades, they’ve become a well-oiled machine. Having an extensive catalog under their belt, there are plenty of songs to choose from to make a set list. Cans address the fans stating they’re not only playing the hits of the past they’ll include songs off Built to Last released in 2016 hearing the fans cheers they approved. Songs included Dethrone and Defy, self-titled song Built to Last and Hammer High.
HammerFall could have played every some in their discography, the fans will love it the fourteen song set was jam packed with pure metal including a song, I seem to know all the words and was singing along to Last Man Standing off Gates of Dalhalla album, closing out this killer show with Hearts on Fire off Crimson Thunder.
As HammerFalls‘ North American tour comes to an end, which wasn’t long enough, they will be heading out on a European tour hitting Germany, France, Spain and ending in their homeland Sweden. Frontman Cans addressed the fans stating it wouldn’t take seven years for them to come back, It will be sooner. Let’s hold them to that promise.
Be sure to pick up HammerFall‘s latest release Built to Last. It’s a great album!
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All photos by Tammy Greene
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