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Manowar
- Warriors Of The World
2002 Metal Blade
Track
Listing:
1. Call To Arms
2. The Fight For Freedom
3. Nessun Dorna
4. Valhalla
5. Swords In The Wind
6. An American Trilogy
7. The March
8. Warriors Of The World Unite
9. Hand Of Doom
10. House Of Death
11. Fight Until We Die
Line-Up:
Vocals: Eric
Adams
Guitars: Karl Logan
Bass: Joey DeMaio
Drums: Scott Columbus
Website: www.manowar.com
Horatio's Rating: C-
Average Album Rating: C-
Also be sure to read:
Manowar
- Hail To England by Horatio
Manowar
- Hell On Stage by Horatio |
Horatio's Review:
It took me almost half an hour to locate this CD, as it wasn't in its
case. I discovered it sandwiched in with Survivor's 'Caught
In The Game', a really great album if there ever was one. When
this surfaced two years ago, Manowar had somehow turned into the
metal version of AC/DC in terms of releasing new studio albums,
witness the gaps of 1992 to 1996 and then 2002. 96's 'Louder Than
Hell' wasn't all that memorable in all honesty, and taking such an
inordinate time to record a new album hardly did them any favours.
In 96' I was a firm believer of Manowar and their quest for true
metal. By 2002 I was already jaded and no longer cared. By the
time the next one comes out these guys will be 55 years old, if they
already aren't.
This is easily Manowar's weakest
album. In the 80's during the Ross The Boss era, the music
seemed genuinely heavy, with each album improving on the last. Somehow
the plot was lost drastically, and musically there is little here to suggest
that 1988's 'Kings Of Metal' wasn't recorded last week. Manowar
for all their dedication to metal and all that tosh, have become heavy metal
karaoke, with nonsense like 'Nessun Dorma' (Pavarotti's party piece)
and 'An American Trilogy' (oh I wish I were in Dixie!) on the same
level as some of Status Quo's worst moments. The symphonic
metal element is overdone, the reliance on synthesizers for atmosphere
overshadowing the bands basic four piece might, which sadly is rarely
showcased, save for 'Hand Of Doom' and 'House Of Death'.
Although reasonably fast and riff heavy, both aren't anything we haven't
heard before, and opposed to 'The Oath' (1985) are weaker than MD
45. I interviewed Scott Columbus when this was released and every
question I asked him was met with answers like 'we're Manowar we do our
own thing and we don't care what anyone else does, we're in it for the fans'.
The only problem is fans sometimes become unenthused with what their
favourite bands do (not that I claim to be a staunch Manowar
loyalist), especially when it's this dull.
Song summaries include...
- Call To Arms - 'Fight for the
kingdom, fighting with steel...' Nothing here in the
production or overall sound that indicates any progression from 'Louder
Than Hell', not that you really want any from Manowar.
Still the idea of being 'armed with a heart of steel' retains
no sense of charm as it once did. Not even a heavy and
melodically mish mash of a hundred other Manowar songs. C-
- The Fight For Freedom - A
unifying rallying call for Manowar and its legions
worldwide! Never heard that one before, right? With a
military style drum pattern, this never gets going. C
- Nessun Dorna - On the surface
this appears a joke, but you know it was meant to be taken
seriously. Dedicated to Adam's mother, the man does his best to
emulate Pavarotti with his powerful voice, but instead brings back
wonderful memories of the 1990 World Cup when Pavarotti made this
known worldwide. It's possible to picture Maradona in tears
during the final awards ceremony as this plays as some sort of
delicious irony. A
- Valhalla - It's shocking it took Manowar
this long to create a track with this worn out title. After Pantera
did it in '85 it was all over. A ten second instrumental anyway
with shades of Virgin Steele and their played out symphonic
metal direction. D
- Swords In The Wind - Crude synths
abound as Adams sings of Odin and leading the charge with his
sword. Grindingly slow and only marginally better than European
trash like Thunderstone. C
- An American Trilogy - While Elvis
made this a staple I remember it more fondly from the classic film 'The
Lords Of Discipline' when the cadets sing it as a tribute to the
big fat fart who fell of the top the building after being tormented by
secret organization 'The Ten'. Manowar must have
been hurting for ideas this time round. Black Oak Arkansas
did a better version. A
- The March - Proven even more by
the inclusion of another instrumental, this time the synth work taken
to 1986 like levels and recalling a low budget jungle action film set
in Laos. B
- Warriors Of The World Unite - The
theme of this album appears to be Manowar taking their brand of
metal to the masses of their fans around the world. Didn't they
already do that on 'Kings Of Metal'? Even the cover of
this album is a copy of that, their faceless muscle bound mascot
holding a U.S. flag amongst other nations' flags. More plodding
recycled material. 'We alone are fighting for metal that is
true'. How many times have we heard that line? Does
Joey sit at home every day listening to classic 70's metal?
Isn't he too old to keep on fabricating this scam? C
- Hand Of Doom - Finally a fast
track, but lacking the killer instinct that made 'Battle Hymns'
so great a now astounding 22 years ago. Back then Joey used to
sing about Vietnam and disgruntled veterans Rambo style.
Now it's a steady feast of fantasy metal boredom. C
- House Of Death - Clearly the
heaviest track, with some mighty riffs, but far too late in the day to
save this confused album. It might as well be 'Outlaw' or
'Power' from '96 in it's predictable approach, both in the
melody and speed. Just listen to it and you'll get my
drift. B
- Fight Until We Die - Another
heavier selection, but equally as worn, witness the line 'brothers
of metal together again'. Joey must have been on autopilot
for this one. C
Horatio's Rating: C-
Discography (last updated 12.10.05):
Battle Hymns - 1982
Defender EP - 1983
Into Glory Ride - 1983
All Men Play On 10 EP - 1984
Hail To England - 1984
Sign Of The Hammer - 1984
Blow Your Speakers EP - 1987
Fighting The World - 1987
Kings Of Metal - 1988
Kings Of Metal/Herz Aus Stahl EP - 1988
Manowar Kills - 1992
Metal Warriors EP - 1992
The Triumph Of Steel - 1992
The Hell Of Steel - 1994
Courage EP - 1996
Louder Than Hell - 1996
Number 1 EP - 1996
Return Of The Warlord EP - 1996
Anthology - 1997
Courage Live EP - 1997
Hell On Wheels Live - 1997
Secrets Of Steel box - 1997
Steel Warriors - 1998
The Kingdom Of Steel - 1998
Hell On Stage - 1999
Live In France - 1999
An American Trilogy EP - 2002
The Dawn Of Battle EP - 2002
Warriors Of The World - 2002
Warriors Of The World United EP - 2002
King Of Kings EP - 2005
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