HAMMERFALL guitarist Oscar Dronjak has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"The Winter Olympics 2006 are over, and it ended on a high note for us: Sweden beat Finland 3-2 in the ice-hockey final, in a very exciting and nerve-racking game. Actually, the Finns were the most impressive team in this tournament, winning every match decisively until the final round and easily beating the second best playing team this year, Russia, in the semi-finals. But the Swedes played a beautiful game on the ice, cutting the Finns short on almost every occasion. I know our neighbors in the east (or west, for that matter…) won't agree with me, but it was a most fitting end to the XXth games, with Sweden winning their seventh (!) gold medal. Congratulations to everyone who made this the by far most succcessful Winter Olympics for our nation. And thanks for the great memories! I have only one question: what am I supposed to fill my days with now? :-)

"Well, maybe writing a little music would be a good start. Actually, we have more or less completed half the songs for the album, scheduled to be released in the end of October this year. I have a very good feeling about this, the music so far is very varied and, I think, of high quality. My gut tells me we will be building on the foundation of 'Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken' and expanding the horizons of what is HAMMERFALL even further. You all will find out eventually. I will post more news on this as we go, with some song titles and such in the coming months.

"The new issue of Sweden Rock magazine features an extensive eight-page tour diary I wrote on the STRATOVARIUS/HAMMERFALL tour last fall, and Anders [Johansson, drums] have written something as well which will be published in various Metal Hammers around Europe. Look them up if you want an insight in life on the road, I think you’ll find the reading both amusing and interesting."

HAMMERFALL's latest album, "Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken", was released in March 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Crimson Thunder" was produced and mixed by Charlie Bauernfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, HELLOWEEN).