I've always liked Hammerfall for the most part. Glory to the Brave was one of the earlier "internet band finding" era albums I came across. I still think it is a great album, and their best. They've matured over the years, but they still encompass that same style/sound underneath everything. They're like Manowar, Rhapsody, Priest in that, when you pick up a new album from them, you know what you're getting into and you shouldn't expect too much more than what you've already heard from them. About the only album I didn't care much for was Renegade. Other than that, their stuff is pretty solid and straight ahead metal.
Plus, there aren't many bands that can use the same keywords (let's see, steel, glory, templar, fight, metal, warrior...oh you get the picture...) from album to album without having the balls to do so!
I can't comment on their new album yet so we shall see...
