Hammerfall is essentially Manowar for a new generation. Their business is making metal for mighty metal warriors. If you want socially relevant subject matter, compelling introspective lyrics, or anything not related to being a mighty metal warrior, you'd better keep looking, and don't let the warhammer hit you on the way out! If you want power metal that celebrates warriors' pride, fighting the noble fight, and crusading alongside your metal templar brethren, the welcome to the home of the brave!

Their lyrics and themes may seem a bit silly, but the band's musicianship is anything but. Behind all of the warrior trappings, there is some very tight, professional, well-crafted melodic power metal. They are a Swedish band, after all, and that's a country with a well deserved reputation for the highest quality metal bands. They draw obvious inspiration from Manowar and Helloween, but powerful vocalist Joacim Cans, guitarist Oscar Dronjak, and company craft a sound that is unmistakably Hammerfall.

Steel Meets Steel: Ten Years of Glory is a 2-disc retrospective spanning the band's career from their 1997 debut Glory to the Brave to 2006's Threshold. In addition to including some of the band's best songs from the past decade, it includes a handful of new tracks (though the throwaway introductory track The Abyss hardly counts), including a rerecorded version of Hammerfall. The versions of Let the Hammer Fall, The Metal Age, and Stone Cold that appear here are live recordings.

Steel Meets Steel: Ten Years of Glory is the perfect compilation for newcomers to Hammerfall's music, or those of us who acknowledge Hammerfall's talents but can't quite handle 6 studio albums worth of mighty metal cheese.

NOTE: To fully maximize your Hammerfall experience, I recommend enjoying Steel Meets Steel: Ten Years of Glory alongside the following products:

300 [Blu-ray]: No other movie needs a Hammerfall soundtrack as badly as this celebration of manly men and warrior virtues. Spartans, prepare for glory!

Battle Sword Costume Weapon: Sure, a real sword would be ideal, but this plastic replica should do fine. Raise repeatedly during Heeding the Call for maximum effect.

A hefty Brilliant Double-Walled Medium (12 Oz.) Beer Mug - Fine Stainless Steel Barware for Your Enjoyment: This one is made of steel. How appropriate. Fill it with mead if possible. Ale will suffice as well. Diet Mountain Dew is not an acceptable substitute. It is appropriate to spill a bit on the ground during "Glory to the Brave" in honor of fallen warrior brethren.

In some places available for as low as 9.99, this 2-disc set is a perfect way in for a new fan or a casual fan who doesn't have the funds or the need to own the band's complete discography. Hammerfall's arrival was a major event in 90s melodic metal, as they are nowadays credited with kicking true metal into higher gear after it had spent years struggling under the weight of grunge and pop-punk, not to mention the underground's preoccupation with 2nd-wave black metal. There is an even spread of songs from all of Hammerfall's albums from Glory to the Brave through Threshold and some live tracks. The songs follow the basic order of original release, which is in contrast to common reverse-chronology practice, and include a couple of new tracks top it all off. It's also worth the package as there are some good liner notes about the history of the band and a lot of pictures, as well as lyrics to the two new songs. Joacim Cans may be the band's centerpiece here as his crystal clear voice propels the heavy songs along while lifting the soaring ballads to majestic heights.

This is old school, fist-in-the-air, sing along, energetic and enthusiastic heavy metal to get the blood flowing and your spirits high. Recommended to new listeners.

This album has an awesome song selection. New fans looking for a sampler will not be dissapointed. The four new tracks (including the 2007 version of Hammerfall) are the real gems. The gods of metal still reign strong with the amazing new tracks Last Man Standing, and Restless Soul. I own every Hammerfall CD and bought this one just for the bonus tracks...and I was not dissapointed. ROCK ON METAL FANS!

I am a huge Manowar fan. I heard some songs about this group. This compilation is a great introduction to Hammerfall. Very versatile group without leaving the commitment to pure heavy metal. Great voice, solo guitars and a great drums become a nasty swedish band. I feel very happy that such a band still remains alive in our days. If you haven't heard about Hammerfall, just ask if you like power metal such as Helloween, or classics like Maiden, sabbath or anthrax (classic). You'll like Hammerfall. NOT trash like old megadeth or exodus, more like manowar like.
Lots of changes of rythm avoids the monothony created by some similar groups. Great lyrics, at least for medieval kind of stories. If you are a Manowar fan, Hammerfall is a must to hear.

This is the best (and only, but still the best) compilation of Hammerfall music on the market. Two CDs worth of hits like Glory to the Brave, Natural High, Heeding the Call, Bloodbound, Crimson Thunder, Hero's Return and way more will satisfy your taste for the boys from Sweden. And considering the quality of the recordings (the quality from the original recordings), it's well worth the asking price.