Hammer of Dawn album out 25th February via Napalm Records

'Venerate Me' visualiser streaming now

Today, Swedish saviours of heavy metal HAMMERFALL have released their new single, 'Venerate Me', featuring a special guest appearance by the legendary King Diamond. The track is the second taken from their twelfth studio album, Hammer of Dawn, set for release on 25th February 2022 via Napalm Records.

Watch the video to 'Venerate Me' here: https://youtu.be/xZKRVmVX1k0

Pre-order Hammer of Dawn here: https://smarturl.it/HammerOfDawn-NPR

'Venerate Me' continues to clearly show that HAMMERFALL are in top shape by delivering what Rock It! Magazine calls, “their strongest songs in years”. Expectedly, singer Joacim Cans doesn’t fail to leave a mark with his gripping vibrato and ever-powerful vocal projection that – in combination with strong guitar work and on-point drumming – make 'Venerate Me' an outstanding yet trademark HAMMERFALL hymn.

Founding member and guitarist Oscar Dronjak commented on 'Venerate Me': “The second single is here, and I’m very, very proud of it! The music was written during the darkest, most uninspiring days of the pandemic and still came out as one of the strongest on the whole album. Joacim’s fantastic lyric idea makes this track really stand out, and the special guest appearance towards the end really pushes it over the edge!”

Singer Joacim Cans adds: “The song is over loaded with enchanting melodies and a very catchy chorus. Lyrically one of my greatest efforts dealing with the fact that we die twice! First when we take our last breath and second when someone says your name for the last time. Say my name and I will never die!”

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Swedish saviours of heavy metal HAMMERFALL release new single featuring King Diamond

Hammer of Dawn album out 25th February via Napalm Records

'Venerate Me' visualiser streaming now

Photo credit: Tallee Savage

Today, Swedish saviours of heavy metal HAMMERFALL have released their new single, 'Venerate Me', featuring a special guest appearance by the legendary King Diamond. The track is the second taken from their twelfth studio album, Hammer of Dawn, set for release on 25th February 2022 via Napalm Records.

Watch the video to 'Venerate Me' here: https://youtu.be/xZKRVmVX1k0

Pre-order Hammer of Dawn here: https://smarturl.it/HammerOfDawn-NPR

'Venerate Me' continues to clearly show that HAMMERFALL are in top shape by delivering what Rock It! Magazine calls, “their strongest songs in years”. Expectedly, singer Joacim Cans doesn’t fail to leave a mark with his gripping vibrato and ever-powerful vocal projection that – in combination with strong guitar work and on-point drumming – make 'Venerate Me' an outstanding yet trademark HAMMERFALL hymn.

Founding member and guitarist Oscar Dronjak commented on 'Venerate Me': “The second single is here, and I’m very, very proud of it! The music was written during the darkest, most uninspiring days of the pandemic and still came out as one of the strongest on the whole album. Joacim’s fantastic lyric idea makes this track really stand out, and the special guest appearance towards the end really pushes it over the edge!”

Singer Joacim Cans adds: “The song is over loaded with enchanting melodies and a very catchy chorus. Lyrically one of my greatest efforts dealing with the fact that we die twice! First when we take our last breath and second when someone says your name for the last time. Say my name and I will never die!”

HAMMERFALL - Venerate Me

'Venerate Me' marks a special anniversary – Oscar Dronjak’s 50th birthday! HAMMERFALL’s guitarist has dedicated most of his 50 years to the metal scene, starting as a teenage guitarist in death metal bands and emerging as one of the most known guitarists in the world of heavy metal today, with his trademark sound and legendary hammer guitar.

'Venerate Me' follows the first single 'Hammer of Dawn', watch the video here: https://youtu.be/blv-O2To6iA

As one of the main forces in heavy metal, HAMMERFALL have dominated not only the Swedish album charts, but album charts across Europe throughout their extensive career, while earning gold status thrice. Faced with the daunting task of following up the band’s last studio album, Dominion, a record that fans and critics hailed as one of the band's strongest releases, HAMMERFALL collectively met the challenge head on and have delivered what many early listeners are predicting as the best metal album of 2022, and a high point of the band’s catalogue.

Track listing:

1. Brotherhood
2. Hammer of Dawn
3. No Son of Odin
4. Venerate Me
5. Reveries
6. Too Old to Die Young
7. Not Today
8. Live Free or Die
9. State of the W.I.L.D.
10. No Mercy

Hammer of Dawn will be available in the following formats:

- Ltd Deluxe Box, incl CD Digisleeve, Hardcover Photobook, Plectrum Tin, Hammer Key Chain, Bottle Opener – strictly limited to 500 (Napalm Webstore exclusive)
- CD Digisleeve
- 1LP Gatefold Black
- 1LP Gatefold Marbled Orange Transparent/Black - strictly limited to 300 (Napalm Webstore exclusive)
- 1LP Gatefold Crystal Clear - strictly limited to 300 (EMP exclusive)
- 1LP Gatefold Curacao - strictly limited to 300 (Levy X & Ginza exclusive)
- Bundle CD + Shirt
- Digital Album

Hammer of Dawn starts off with remarkable opener 'Brotherhood', a hymn echoing the deep connection of bandleaders Joacim Cans and Oscar Dronjak with their loyal Templars of Steel worldwide. Other tracks on the album present one smasher after another, with songs like 'Reveries', 'No Son Of Odin' and 'Venerate Me' - the latter featuring an appearance by none other than King Diamond - making sure it will go down as another milestone in the career of the Swedes.

Hammer of Dawn was produced by long-time collaborator Fredrik Nordström (In Flames, Opeth), who handled mixing, mastering, drum recording, and shared the duty of recording guitars and bass with Pontus Norgren and Oscar Dronjak. Jacob Hansen (Volbeat), produced the lead vocals.

When HAMMERFALL released their debut album, Glory To The Brave, in 1997, it signalled the second coming of heavy metal. Since that very day, HAMMERFALL have proudly flown the heavy metal flag high and while doing so have influenced a generation of musicians. They have also left a twenty-five year long trail of classic timeless music, sold-out shows and an army of loyal fans, aka the Templars Of Steel, in their wake. Rest assured everyone, that legacy continues and in fact strengthens with the arrival of Hammer of Dawn.

Fans can already look forward to seeing Hammer of Dawn live, as in 2022, HAMMERFALL will go on an extensive co-headlining tour through Europe, together with German metal stars Helloween.

UNITED FORCES TOUR 2022
25.03.22 NO – Oslo / Sentrum Scene
26.03.22 SE – Göteborg / Partille Arena
28.03.22 FI – Helsinki / Black Box
29.03.22 EE – Talinn / Noblessneri Valukoda
01.04.22 DE – Bamberg / Brose Arena
02.04.22 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle
03.04.22 DE – Berlin / Verti Music Hall
04.04.22 DE – Regensburg / Donau Arena
08.04.22 ES – Madrid / Wizink Center
09.04.22 ES – Barcelona / St. Jordi Club
11.04.22 IT – Milan / Lorenzini District
12.04.22 DE – Kempten / Black Box
13.04.22 CH – Zürich / Samsung Hall
15.04.22 LU – Luxemburg / Rockhal
16.04.22 NL – Tilburg / 013
18.04.22 PL – Katovice / MCK
20.04.22 BG – Sofia / Arena Armeec
22.04.22 AT – Vienna / Gasometer
23.04.22 CZ – Prague / O2
24.04.22 SK – Zvolen / Ice Stadium
26.04.22 HU – Budapest / Papp Laszlo Sportarena
29.04.22 DE – Bochum / Ruhrcongress
30.04.22 DE – Stuttgart / Schleyerhalle
01.05.22 DE – Frankfurt / Jahrhunderthalle
04.05.22 UK – Manchester / Manchester Academy
05.05.22 UK – London / Brixton Academy

HAMMERFALL are:
Joacim Cans – Vocals
Oscar Dronjak – Guitar
Pontus Norgren – Guitar
Fredrik Larsson – Bass
David Wallin – Drums

HAMMERFALL online:
https://hammerfall.net
https://www.facebook.com/hammerfall
https://www.instagram.com/hammerfall_official
https://label.napalmrecords.com/hammerfall