Review | Hammer King – Make Metal Royal Again

Reaper Entertainment

From the opening chord onward `Make Metal Royal Again’ asserts itself as both a continuation and an evolution of the metal saga the band Hammer King has constructed since their 2015 debut. Singer and guitar player Titan Fox V and his court consisting of guitarist Gino Wilde, bass player Günt von Schratenau, return with a renewed purpose. Packed by the thunderous inaugural presence of drummer Count Shandorian on drums. This fifth studio opus builds on the momentum of its predecessor `König und Kaiser’ from 2024, and crowns the band with a new level of theatrical grandeur and musical ambition, setting the stage for their upcoming European tour.

THE LEAD SINGLE OF THE ALBUM

The introduction unfolds with the anthemic ,,King for a Day” ushering the listener into Hammer King’s polished metallic universe with sweeping orchestration and anthemic (over the top) vocals, setting the tone for what’s to come. The title‑track follows immediately, a ready‑made anthem that serves as the band’s credo, a fist pumping hammer for their live shows. It’s addictive sing along chorus, 80s‑inspired power metal riffs and pitching licks, and Shandorian’s powerful drumming, make it an instant live favorite. No surprise it was chosen as the album’s lead single, garnering exposure and finding praise from their loyal fanbase.

Throughout the album, the songwriting balances pompous elements with narrative flair. Though extremely slick on its output, the band manages to walk a fine line between cliché and predictable, without falling prey to the lurking label of the latter. Hammer King balances the scale and evokes true at heart metal moments while maintaining its typical flavour. The centrepiece ,,Schlaf Kaiser Schlaf” is a perfect example. It may polarize with its reimagined lullaby melodies and the tongue‑in‑cheek lyrics, but the guest vocal cameo adds emotional depth and drama to its execution. There’s something enchanting to it. Its placement within the Hammer King mythos is without doubt, the song is constructed on hammering drums and slick melodies, tilting the balance of cliché to sing along.

CRAFTED FOR IMPACT

Meanwhile, ,,Hammerschlacht” churns forward with heavy jagged riffs and lyrical imagery that stays in your head long after the song’s deadliest hook has dropped and you are banging your head. The rousing outcalls add a glass-raising vibe that fits the band, and with ,,For Crown and Kingdom” the band hits home with a dramatic track that has Titan Fox hitting the high notes. The synths and chants are intertwined with chants and outcalls; the guitar propel the song atop its dynamic driving drum and bass interaction. Shandorian’s debut is a revelation. It is fierce and disciplined, his contributions on tracks like ,,Major Domus” and ,,Hell Awaits the King” elevate the band’s sound and propel the songs. His powerful double bass, and his floor ‘n tom interaction breathe new energy, attack, and compositional balance into Hammer King storming machine. Each song feels meticulously crafted for impact.

,,Hoheitsgebiet” blends martial precision and steep melodic hooks with German‑English interplay, while ,,Kneel Before the Throne” is certainly built for crowd participation with its epic and direct bombast, its speed bursts and dramatic vocals and choruses. Of course there’s enormous chops of bombast on display here! Thanks to mixing and mastering by Jacob Hansen, and the production team of Charles Greywolf and Titan Fox V himself, the result sounds razor‑sharp instead of bloated. It fits the band’s cinematic tendencies well.

HAMMER KING – THE CONCLUSION

The closing ,,The Last Kingdom” displays the band’s melodic prowess and powerful discharge, well balanced in the dynamics of the mix. The choirs and vocal solo at the end bring more drama than Manowar’s ,,Battle Hymns” ever did and is even slicker than Joey DeMaio’s oiled torso. Making the package a sealed deal, is Péter Sallai’s impressive cover art which underscores the band’s themes of power, its dark identity, and the allegiance of metal and epic storytelling with visual grandeur. It perfectly adds to the exposure of the band and this album.

All told, `Make Metal Royal Again’ is Hammer King at its best with triumphant melodies, and live‑worship energy, this is a triumph. Steffi Stuber’s guest vocal, the sneak‑attack bonus track ,,Danger Zone,” the tightness of Shandorian’s drums, it all gels well. It all leads to a band confident enough in its identity, while crossing paths of familiar melodies and likewise melodic metal outputs of bands like Sabaton and Powerwolf. Sure, we heard it all before, the uniqueness is not their focal point, but being performed with such flair, it enjoyable. All in all, `Make Metal Royal Again’ is an album packed with splendid moments and melodic metal and epic hymns galore.

Release date: 15 August 2025