I need some help with some power metal sales figues.

[AngraRULES]

Legacy of Kings was the second disc.
Glory to the Brave was the debut.

Yeah, I realized that afterwards. Thanks, though!


Now Glenn, I just noticed this on Billboard as well: http://www.billboard.com/album/angra/holy-land/262488#/album/angra/holy-land/262488/review

Does this mean they both got on the actual magazine, or just on their website (with the review through AMG)? It seems like they're also mistaken on the album release date by a mere... 10 years...

 

[1000 Faces]

Yeah, I realized that afterwards. Thanks, though!


Now Glenn, I just noticed this on Billboard as well: http://www.billboard.com/album/angra/holy-land/262488#/album/angra/holy-land/262488/review

Does this mean they both got on the actual magazine, or just on their website (with the review through AMG)? It seems like they're also mistaken on the album release date by a mere... 10 years...

It looks like it's just a repost of the AMG review, as does the HammerFall review.

 

[Harvester]

No idea. I remember them getting mainstream publicity when they were doing the tours back then (with Death, etc). Regardless, I'd still bet the house that Hammerfall outsold Angra everywhere except South America and Japan.

 

[AngraRULES]

No idea. I remember them getting mainstream publicity when they were doing the tours back then (with Death, etc). Regardless, I'd still bet the house that Hammerfall outsold Angra everywhere except South America and Japan.

Ah... see, I was betting on South America and Japan...

Hammerfall toured the US with Death? Wow..

 

[1000 Faces]

Hammerfall toured the US with Death? Wow..

Well, HammerFall was originally a side project of members of In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, either of whom would have been a somewhat sensible tour partner for Death at the time.

 

[Mosquito]

Ah... see, I was betting on South America and Japan...

Hammerfall toured the US with Death? Wow..

They sure did! In 1998 if my memory serves. Jim Raggi actually did an interview with Hammerfall on that tour believe it or not. It's an interesting read. I still have that copy somewhere I think.

 

[MysticX9]

Hammerfall toured the US with Death? Wow..

Yeah, was fortunate to see that show at The Masquerade in Atlanta, killer...

 

[AngraRULES]

That is awesome. The first time I caught Hammerfall in the States was with Dio and King's X. I actually thought that was their first time...

 

[AeonicSlumber]

Ah... see, I was betting on South America and Japan...

Hammerfall toured the US with Death? Wow..

and Dio. But yeah, in one of Chuck's last interviews he said that Hammerfall and Primal Fear are the future of metal. I don't agree obviously, but yeah Hammerfall was always loved AND hated by many people. They were never an obscure band.

However, alot of people HATED Hammerfall starting out. Some people even printed shirts with Hammerfall's logo crossed out and that was a popular item for Europe. I think to a lot of people, it was far too cheesy to be taken seriously, and many (like when 3 Inches Of Blood came onto the scene) thought they were a parody band. But now of course they are lauded one of the most successful true metal bands of recent times. In Sweden they play huge stadiums and rake in millions of euros per year.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

Alot of people are now speculating that Sabaton will be the "new" Hammerfall, as well.

 

[johnfrank1970]

Well, HammerFall was originally a side project of members of In Flames and Dark Tranquillity

Yeah, I still recall my response: "Side project from two of the Big Three of melodic death? Cool!" Then I heard the album, and all enthusiasm was quickly erased.

I actually had no idea they were so popular and were credited with the Europower resurgence. Interesting.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

They were helped by Rhapsody, Stratovarius, Edguy and Nocturnal Rites to varying degrees. I'd say that Rhapsody had almost as much to do with the popularity of power metal in Europe in the late 90s as Hammerfall did although Hammerfall was definitely the initial surge. From my memory and magazines at the time people were going nuts over Rhapsody around 98. There was lots of "Have you heard Rhapsody? You've got to hear them they're something else!" happening.

With maybe the exception of Edguy, none of these bands are as big worldwide as Hammerfall is. Rhapsody and Stratovarius do well in Europe (Strato always seems to do well in Finland), but nobody really cares about either in the States. In fact, I think the new Evergrey outsold the last Rhapsody and Stratovarius albums which speaks volumes. Nocturnal Rites is pretty much obscure to most people.

 

[adaher]

Hammerfall, Edguy, Strato, and Gamma Ray may all be power metal, but Hammerfall were the ones who spawned the zillion "Swords, dragons, and wizards" power metal bands. The other existing power metal bands were writing about more contemporary subjects. It was a little different. It's like we'd heard it all before, but we hadn't. Classic while being fresh.

 

[1000 Faces]

Alot of people are now speculating that Sabaton will be the "new" Hammerfall, as well.

Five albums in? I dunno. Part of what was spectacular about HammerFall was their almost immediate ubiquity. Sabaton's already been around for over a decade.

 

[Metal_Camden]

Hammerfall, Edguy, Strato, and Gamma Ray may all be power metal, but Hammerfall were the ones who spawned the zillion "Swords, dragons, and wizards" power metal bands. The other existing power metal bands were writing about more contemporary subjects. It was a little different. It's like we'd heard it all before, but we hadn't. Classic while being fresh.

I would say that BG and Rhapsody were responsible for the fantasy content of power metal bands that came to be, after them. I never once looked at Hammerfall as a fantasy band when talking about influences. If we want something cheesy and awesome, you look to Hammerfall. Not for things regarding flames, swords or dragons!

 

[mel_progson]

I'm glad some of the old guard who were actually were around and remember what was going on came on and backed up my opinion. I was a fan of power metal in its dark old days of the early 90s and I just really remember feeling the impact that Hammerfall brought - and I'm in Australia, so thats saying something!

 

[AeonicSlumber]

Five albums in? I dunno. Part of what was spectacular about HammerFall was their almost immediate ubiquity. Sabaton's already been around for over a decade.

Who cares how many albums or how old the band is? That has nothing to do with success. Behemoth didn't gig big until like 5 or 6 albums in, and Amon Amarth didn't get big in the US until like 7 albums in. Sabaton just opened for Iron Maiden in Sweden in front of 50,000 people.

 

[1000 Faces]

Who cares how many albums or how old the band is? That has nothing to do with success. Behemoth didn't gig big until like 5 or 6 albums in, and Amon Amarth didn't get big in the US until like 7 albums in. Sabaton just opened for Iron Maiden in Sweden in front of 50,000 people.

My bad...I thought that career trajectory may have been part of the comparison. I'd like to see Sabaton obtain that kind of success (I like them a hell of a lot better than I like HammerFall), but in order for that to happen, their next album needs to be a damn sight better than Coat of Arms.

 

[gilpdawg]

Ah... see, I was betting on South America and Japan...

Hammerfall toured the US with Death? Wow..

They did. I wasn't into underground metal at the time and I met both bands at a truck stop restaurant in Indiana and kicked myself years later when I realized I met Chuck and didn't appreciate it at the time.