HammerFall with a little help from ex-Helloween and current Gamma Ray great, Kai Hansen, do a very impressive cover of the Helloween classic, "I Want Out". Joacim Cans does a good overall job at the vocals on the album... not easy singing songs originally sung by Ronnie James Dio & Michael Kiske. This EP album also includes Rainbow's classic, "Man On The Silver Mountain". Also, features an original HammerFall song, "At The End Of The Rainbow", from their second album, Legacy Of Kings.

I totally recommend this album to anyone. A must to all HammerFall fans! If not familiar with this band, then this would be a perfekt introduction to the band since 2 of the songs are well known. Plus, don't lose much at (this price)... a real bargain!

RAISE THE HAMMER!!

The only Hammerfall original on here is "At the End of the Rainbow..." "I Want Out" is a cover of the 1987 Helloween classic tune, and "The Man on the Silver Mountain" is a remake of the Dio era classic. They do a nice job here, and Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray (and earlier Helloween) sings a few bars in each tune. However, Joacim Cans is unable to replicate the power that Dio possessed in the Rainbow cover... otherwise, it makes a worthy edition to any power metal collection.

As much as I enjoy power metal, the whole Mighty Metal Warriors schtick was never my cup of tea, so I can't say I'm a Hammerfall fan, even though they're obviously quite talented. I am, however, a sucker for a good cover song, and since this disc features not one but two covers of metal classics, I had to add it to my collection.

Hammerfall pulls off a very faithful and respectful cover of Helloween's classic I want out. Helloween had an enormous influence on virtually all modern power metal bands, so it is only fitting that Hammerfall pays them homage. The fact that Helloween/Gamma Ray founder Kai Hansen appears on the song is icing on the cake.

Their by the numbers rendition of Rainbow's Man on the Silver Mountain is somewhat less impressive. If you're going to cover a Ronnie James Dio song, you have to put a lot more energy into your performance than this. Hansen was on board for this one as well.

The disc also includes a Hammerfall original - At the End of the Rainbow - a moving ode to being mighty and glorious and taking a stand (presumably for metal and/or your metal brethren). Again, not my thing. It seems like a Manowar cover would have been far more appropriate.

Call this a 3.5 star release. The Helloween cover is first rate, the remaining songs merely average. Still, with its relatively low price tag it's worth picking up if you're a power metal fan.

Hammerfall's "I Want Out" EP (1999) features a cover of perhaps the most recognized power metal anthem of all time: Helloween's trademark tune, "I Want Out." Featuring guest vocals by none other than Gamma Ray's current vocalist and one of Helloween's original guitar players (and one-time singer), Kai Hansen, this song is actually very true to the original, the only difference is the key it is played in. But that doesn't change the basic feel of the song whatsoever, it's an amazing cover, and the remaining couple of tunes don't suck either. Even so, the reason you should get this is because of the unbelievable cover.

While anyone who has heard hammerfall could figure out that they like Helloween and Dio, this is still quite good. I'm not sure why At The End Of The Rainbow is here (it doesn't quite fit) but I like their interpretations of both Man On The Silver Mountain and I Want Out. For some five bucks, you can't go wrong.