When HammerFall released their debut album Glory To The Brave twenty years ago, the five Swedes launched a true heavy metal revival almost overnight. While the mainstream still concentrated on grunge and the metal scene was dominated by tedious nu-metal and black and gothic acts, this traditional metal record was like a godsend and heralded a new era.

“For us, the immense success was a real shock in the beginning,” singer Joacim Cans remembers, because suddenly, HammerFall were considered to be the saviours of true metal. They received countless rave reviews from magazines, Wacken Open Air booked the band at prime time on the main stage, Kai Hansen invited the band personally to join as support on the Gamma Ray tour and the CD entered the German album charts at the amazing position of number thirty eight – an unbelievable achievement during this time. “Our advantage was that no one had expected us and our album. We only did what we wanted and felt compelled to do.”

This passion was not least influenced by German metal acts like Accept, Helloween and Stormwitch but also by other underdogs like Warlord or Picture. “I’m still very proud of this album, it has turned our lives upside down” the vocalist sums up, and is equally proud of the extensive re-release of the cult album, which will be released on December 1st. The re-release includes the completely re-mastered version of Glory To The Brave, a radio edit of the legendary title track as well as the great cover version of the Stormwitch classic Ravenlord. The bonus CD will include six live versions of The Metal Age, Steel Meets Steel, Stone Cold, Glory To The Brave, Hammerfall and The Dragon Lies Bleeding as well as a medley from numerous tracks off of their first-class debut album, which was recorded live this year at a show in Berlin.

In addition to this, the double CD will also be enhanced by a bonus DVD containing the first chapters of their The First Crusade documentary, which was originally published on VHS, as well as four new, historically edited interview chapters plus a live recording of their Dynamo Open Air show at Eindhoven in 1998 (I was there! – excited Ed). It will be available as a Digipak in an attractive box set, including a booklet containing detailed liner notes, many photos from the private archives of the musicians as well as magazine reports, flyers, posters and much more. Besides the 2-CD/DVD, you can also purchase the audio part separately, which includes bonus tracks as a double-vinyl in various colours.

There has been no other album that was quite as important for the development of heavy metal in the nineties and now, the milestone will be published in a comprehensive deluxe edition that leaves no wish unfulfilled!

Glory To The Brave – 20 Year Anniversary Edition will be released with brand-new cover artwork and is now available for pre-order!
Get your copy here

Brave

Tracklist:

DIGI, ALBUM TRACKS REMASTERED
CD1
The Dragon Lies Bleeding
The Metal Age
HammerFall
I Believe
Child Of The Damned
Steel Meets Steel
Stone Cold
Unchained
Glory To The Brave
Bonus:
Ravenlord
Glory To The Brave (radio edit)

CD2 (bonus) – Live
The Metal Age (1998)
Steel Meets Steel (1998)
Stone Cold (1998)
Glory To The Brave (2012)
Hammerfall (2012)
The Dragon Lies Bleeding (2012)
Glory To The Brave Medley (2017)

BONUS DVD

The First Crusade:
Introduction
Steel Meets Steel – First Live Show
Glory To The Brave – Clip 1
HammerFall
Steel Meets Steel – Live
Glory to the Brave – Clip 2
The Making of „Glory To The Brave“
Ravenlord – Live (Stormwitch cover)
The Metal Age – Live
Nominated for the Swedish Grammy Award
Stone Cold -Live
Interview

Interview 2017:
Chapter I: The Early Days
Chapter II: The Rockslaget Festival
Chapter III: The Album
Chapter IV: New Members, Wacken & Touring

Live: Dynamo Festival 1998
Child Of The Damned
The Metal Age
Steel Meets Steel
Eternal Dark
The Dragon Lies Bleeding
Stone Cold
HammerFall

2LP (140g, 33 RPM) ALBUM TRACKS REMASTERED
Side A
The Dragon Lies Bleeding
The Metal Age
HammerFall
I Believe
Child Of The Damned

Side B
Steel Meets Steel
Stone Cold
Unchained
Glory To The Brave

Side C (Bonus)
Ravenlord
The Metal Age (live 1998)
Steel Meets Steel (live 1998)
Stone Cold (live 1998)

Side D (Bonus)
Glory To The Brave (live 2012)
Hammerfall (live 2012)
The Dragon Lies Bleeding (live 2012)
Glory To The Brave – Medley (live 2017)