Editing HammerFall (section)

=== Early days (1993–1996) ===
HammerFall was formed when guitarist [[Oscar Dronjak]] quit [[Ceremonial Oath]] and invited [[Jesper Strömblad]] (from [[Ceremonial Oath]] and [[In Flames]]) to join him as a drummer in a new musical project he had been contemplating for some time. Dronjak had already composed the song "Steel Meets Steel," which was later included on HammerFall's debut album. Dronjak and Strömblad were later joined by lead guitarist [[Niklas Sundin]], bassist [[Johan Larsson (musician)|Johan Larsson]], and vocalist [[Mikael Stanne]]. When Niklas Sundin and Johan Larsson left HammerFall the following year, [[Glenn Ljungström]] (then guitarist of [[In Flames]]) and Fredrik Larsson (bassist of the former Swedish [[death metal]] band [[Dispatched]]), replaced them.

[[File:Masters of Rock 2007 - Hammerfall - Joacim Cans - 01.jpg|left|thumb|165px|Joacim Cans joined the band in 1996.]]
All five members played in other bands at the time. Dronjak and Larsson played in ''Crystal Age''; Strömblad and Ljungström played in [[In Flames]] and Stanne sang for [[Dark Tranquillity]]. Both of these bands influenced Swedish [[melodic death metal]]. HammerFall was relegated to being a side project of them all for several years. Their concerts were limited mostly to a local music contest named ''Rockslaget''. The band had few songs of their own and played mostly covers from bands such as [[Pretty Maids]], [[Judas Priest]] and [[Alice Cooper]].

In 1996, HammerFall reached the semi-finals of ''Rockslaget''. When Mikael Stanne could not perform with the band in the semi-finals, they found [[Joacim Cans]], who agreed to play with them for the night. The concert was a success although the judges disqualified HammerFall for the finals. By the end of that day, Joacim had already been made an official member of the band.