Masterpieces (HammerFall album)
Encyclopedia
Masterpieces is a compilation album by power metal
band, HammerFall
.
The CD consists of all the cover versions recorded by HammerFall to date plus three new unreleased songs (marked with asterisks in the track listing below).
The album cover makes references to the bands being covered by HammerFall, including a Twisted Sister
logo spray painted on the wall, a shield with the Warlord
logo on it, a stone with the Pretty Maids
logo, a pumpkin (Helloween
), a Japanese
Rising Sun Flag
(Loudness
), an arm holding a guitar buried on the ground (Rising Force
) an 'E' logo of Europe
, a razor with Swedish steel written on it (Judas Priest
) and a sign indicating Detroit referencing Kiss
's Detroit Rock City
. The Park Av. sign is in reference to Skid Row's "Youth Gone Wild," which contains the lyrics "I tell ya Park Avenue leads to Skid Row." The green-haired zombie is from the cover of Picture
's album "Eternal Dark", and the Swedish flag refers to Roger Pontare
's representation of Sweden in the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest
.
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band, HammerFall
HammerFall
HammerFall is a power metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 1993 by ex-Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak.- Early days :...
.
The CD consists of all the cover versions recorded by HammerFall to date plus three new unreleased songs (marked with asterisks in the track listing below).
The album cover makes references to the bands being covered by HammerFall, including a Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
logo spray painted on the wall, a shield with the Warlord
Warlord (band)
Warlord was an American heavy metal band, formed in 1980 and based in Los Angeles, CA. This 'Warlord' should not to be confused with the '70s English punk rock group Warlord UK, the '90s death metal group Warlord UK, or any later groups by the same name...
logo on it, a stone with the Pretty Maids
Pretty Maids
Pretty Maids are a Danish heavy metal band from Horsens, Denmark. Formed in 1981 by Ronnie Atkins and Ken Hammer. Their sound and music can be described as classic guitar-laden heavy rock with a strong emphasis on melodic elements like vocals and keyboards....
logo, a pumpkin (Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
), a Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Rising Sun Flag
Rising Sun Flag
The is the military flag of Japan. It was used as the war flag of the Imperial Japanese Army and the ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy until the end of World War II...
(Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
), an arm holding a guitar buried on the ground (Rising Force
Rising Force
Rising Force is the first studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1984 through Polydor Records. An article in Guitar World magazine ranked the album as first in the all-time top ten list of shred albums.-Track listing:-Personnel:...
) an 'E' logo of Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
, a razor with Swedish steel written on it (Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
) and a sign indicating Detroit referencing Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
's Detroit Rock City
Detroit Rock City (song)
"Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss featured on their 1976 album, Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin and is about a real Kiss fan who was killed in a car accident on his way to a Kiss concert...
. The Park Av. sign is in reference to Skid Row's "Youth Gone Wild," which contains the lyrics "I tell ya Park Avenue leads to Skid Row." The green-haired zombie is from the cover of Picture
Picture (band)
Picture is a Dutch heavy metal band. They are noted for being the first band in the country to play heavy metal. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances. They still have a huge fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.Picture...
's album "Eternal Dark", and the Swedish flag refers to Roger Pontare
Roger Pontare
Fred Roger Pontare is a Swedish musician. He currently lives in Vingåker, Södermanland County....
's representation of Sweden in the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
.
Credits
- Joacim CansJoacim CansJoacim Cans is the lead singer of HammerFall, a Swedish power metal band. He is the only member aside from founder and guitarist Oscar Dronjak to appear on all of the band's albums....
– Vocals (All tracks except track 5 and 10) - Oscar DronjakOscar DronjakOscar Fredrick Dronjak is the rhythm and lead guitarist and founder of the Heavy Metal band HammerFall. Prior to the success of HammerFall, he also played and released albums with the death metal acts Ceremonial Oath and Crystal Age....
– GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals (All tracks) - Pontus NorgrenPontus NorgrenKarl Pontus Norgren is the current guitarist of the Swedish power metal band HammerFall and formerly played guitar for The Poodles.- Biography :...
– GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals (Tracks 16-18) - Fredrik LarssonFredrik LarssonFor the Swedish musician who gained fame through YouTube, see FreddeGredde.Fredrik Larsson is the current bass guitarist of the Swedish power metal band Hammerfall, which he left in 1997, but rejoined in 2007...
– BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals (Tracks 1, 15-18) - Anders JohanssonAnders JohanssonAnders Johansson is a Swedish musician. He is the son of Jan Johansson, famous jazz pianist and brother of keyboardist Jens Johansson.-Biography:...
– DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(Tracks 7-18) - Jesper StrömbladJesper StrömbladClas Håkan Jesper Strömblad is a Swedish musician who is currently the guitarist for the bands Dimension Zero & The Resistance...
– Drums (Tracks 1) - Glenn LjungströmGlenn LjungströmGlenn Ljungström was the original guitarist of the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames along with the band's founder, Jesper Strömblad. He was a member of In Flames from 1993 until 1997, after which he quit In Flames to support his family with a more stable job. He was fired from multiple...
– Guitar (Tracks 1) - Patrik Räfling – Drums (Tracks 1-5)
- Magnus RosénMagnus RosénKlas Magnus Rosén is a Swedish musician, born 1963 in Gothenburg, and is best known for being the bassist of the Swedish band HammerFall during the years 1997-2007....
– Bass (Tracks 2-14) - Stefan ElmgrenStefan ElmgrenStefan Elmgren was the guitarist of the Swedish power metal band HammerFall from 1997 to 2008.- History :Before becoming a member of HammerFall, he was the guitarist in the band Highlander. Elmgren has also worked with his solo project Full Strike and released one album called "We Will Rise" which...
– Guitar, backing vocals (Tracks 2-15)
- "I Want Out": Vocals, guitar and keyboards by Kai Hansen, backing vocals by Udo DirkschneiderUdo DirkschneiderUdo Dirkschneider is a German heavy metal singer who is best known as the vocalist in German heavy metal band Accept and later U.D.O.After leaving Accept in 1987, Dirkschneider formed the band U.D.O....
- "Man on the Silver Mountain" Drums by AC, backing vocals by Kai HansenKai HansenKai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
- "Head Over Heels": lead vocals by Udo Dirkschneider, backing vocals by Kai Hansen
- "Breaking the Law": all of the band members switched instruments for this version, has Oscar on vocals, Joacim and Magnus on guitars, Patrick on bass and Stefan on drums.