Sweden's HAMMERFALL performed at this past weekend's run (August 2nd - 4th) of the annual Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. A video interview with frontman Joacim Cans and guitarist Oscar Dronjak conducted by ZDF Kultur is available below.

Pro-shot video of HammerFall's entire Wacken Open Air 2012 set, which was broadcast in Germany via the NDR network Livestream, is also available:

In the midst of celebrating their 15th anniversary of the album Glory To The Brave and the subsequent taking of the metal world by storm, HammerFall recently announced that they will take an extended break immediately following the festivals this summer.

"It has been an unbelievable first 15 years, to say the least," says guitarist Oscar Dronjak, "and now we are taking a pause to ensure that we have another 15 years ahead of us."

There will be no HammerFall activities in 2013, but the band promises to return strong the next year. "The plan is to use the year off to recharge our batteries and come back more vital than ever with a new album in 2014," explains singer Joacim Cans.

Anniversary shows: Therefore, the two biggest shows of the year will be Dalhalla in Sweden, on July 28th, and Wacken Open Air in Germany a week later, and the band will celebrate their 15 year anniversary properly at those two events.

Says Joacim: "Obviously, the gig to attend is the one in Dalhalla, that will be the biggest and most special show we have ever done! Two hours of music, special effects and guest artists! But we will not forget that it all started at Wacken for us once upon a time."

The German festival was the first show HammerFall ever did outside of Sweden, and marked the beginning of the long and passionate relationship the band has enjoyed with the German metal fans.

"This is why we have decided to pull out all the stops for these two shows, and really make them special," Oscar says. "It will be a fitting end to the first 15 years of our career."