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The year 2007 that has just passed was a memorable year for metal: on one side, the Dream Theater with "Systematic Chaos," featuring the gems "The Ministry Of Lost Souls" and "In The Presence Of The Enemies pt.2", and on the other, Manowar, the Defenders of True Metal, who have delivered an absolute masterpiece, their best album since "Kings Of Metal".
"Gods Of War" is a concept album on Norse mythology that combines Epic, Symphonic, and Power in a magical pot absolutely fascinating and enthralling, like a movie without images: an album to be listened to while letting your imagination wander among Norse gods, warriors, battles, and magic. It begins with "Overture To The Hymn Of The Immortal Warriors": here, the question isn't whether it's metal or classical music: this is a symphonic masterpiece of rare power: the brass gives majesty, and the female choirs and strings provide intensity and pathos, creating an epic whirlwind that opens the doors to the evocative "The Ascension", which begins with choirs, giving way to a majestic narrating voice (a characteristic of this album) and finally to an inspired Eric Adams. Then everything changes: Scott Columbus and Joey DeMaio burst in like Vikings on the assault, commencing the magnificent "King Of Kings", a very fast and power song, absolutely compelling, with a beautiful slow symphonic interlude, somewhat in the style of "Warriors Of The World United". With "Army Of The Dead pt.1" the waters calm again: this track is a beautiful a cappella choir, I really don't understand those who consider it a mess! Well, here comes Sleipnir (Slepnir in Wotanist mythology is Odin's horse, and indeed you can hear the hoofbeats in the intro) an extraordinary piece, especially for that chorus that alone would be worth listening to the album, probably destined to become a classic in live performance.
"Loki God Of Fire" is faster, with the great Joey DeMaio making his legendary bass vibrate like a jackhammer. (for those who don’t know, Loki is the god of fire, Odin’s evil brother, who will fight in Ragnarok alongside the giants). Very well, now it's time for the ballad: after the orgy of the previous "Warriors Of The World" which brought "Fight For Freedom", "Swords In The Wind" and "An American Trilogy", here there is only "Blood Brothers", which closely resembles in sound to "Master Of The Wind", in other words, it's soft, touching and deep like very few other Manowar songs. "Overture To Odin" is another symphonic experiment, beautiful but this time somewhat self-referential, followed by "The Blood Of Odin", where the narrator dramatically tells us the myth of Odin, who sacrificed an eye to drink from the well of wisdom, thus acquiring the attributes of the deity of poetry, witchcraft, and death. Well, finally we arrive at "Sons Of Odin", launched by a stratospheric guitar riff, bringing us back to power and headbanging, with another killer memorable chorus. "Glory Majesty Unity" is the warrior's prayer, the invocation of divine protection, the call to the values of honor and pride before the battle, which begins with the majestic title track: seven minutes of pure epicness where guitars and brass alternate in performance creating a Ragnarok-like atmosphere: solemn, majestic, and militant. Impressive is Eric Adams' final high note.
The calm after the storm is marked by "Army Of The Dead pt.2", identical to pt.1 except for the beautiful organ intro. Finally, we arrive at "Odin", a song that partly reclaims the mood of old Manowar pieces like "Each Dawn I Die": stunning, mysterious, and intriguing, with a breathtaking ending that reprises the theme of "Army Of The Dead". Our journey into Valhalla began with the Overture, and now it closes with "Hymn Of The Immortal Warriors": solemn, heartfelt, epic, simply moving and liberating, ending the journey in the best possible way. Now the battle is over, and the valiant warriors have finally entered the Court of Odin, Valhalla, yet our 4 heroes had a great piece ready there: "Die For Metal", and it would have been a shame not to include it. Here it's credited as a bonus track (like the legendary "Pleasure Slave"), and it reaffirms Man O' War's eternal fight against posers and false metal.
"Gods Of War" is a masterpiece, highly recommended not only to defenders but also to all lovers of good music.
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN, WITH SWORDS IN THE WIND, HAIL, GODS OF WAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
11 Glory Majesty Unity (04:41)
Deep into the heart of the battle they fought.
Covered on all sides as all converged on them,
until the four could no longer be seen.
As time passed I feared them lost,
then slowly the armies separated,
many were dead.
I saw the four
each down on one knee,
all stopped to watch and gaze upon them with a smile of victory
before sending them into the ground.
Then they rose together
to make a final stand.
With their last bit of strength
they raised their arms into the air
pointing blood stained weapons to the sky.
They called upon the god of war and made ready to die.
But Odin would not call them this day to Valhalla,
instead he sent thunder and lightning
to strike the ground, bestowing upon them the
One gift every warrior lives in hope of - the Berserker rage!
Now filled with that strength,
the power of a thousand men was given them.
No longer mortal
they were touched by the gods.
This time when they took up the attack,
men fell not by tens,
but by hundreds,
by thousands.
And when the smoke did clear,
the four spoke the words
and the masses answered the response of the warrior's prayer.
Gods of War I call you
My sword is by my side
I seek a life of honor
Free from all false pride
I will crack the whip
With a bold mighty hail
Cover me with death
If I should ever fail
Glory, majesty, unity
Hail! Hail! Hail!
12 Gods of War (07:26)
Down from the sky
Into the fight
Hearts full of rage, full of thunder and glory
Swords in the wind
Crossing the sky
Lords of doom bring an end to their story
Father on bended knee
I ask thee, raise thy hand
We, the sons of Odin await thy command
Born under the sign of the hammer we stand
And here we all may die!
Our blood on the ground,
the battle horns sound!
Let thy Valkyries fly!!
Down from the sky into the fight
Hearts full of rage, full of thunder and glory
Swords in the wind
Crossing the sky
Lords of doom bring an end to their story
Today is the day we Die in the fight
None shall remain to pass one more night
Now Valhalla's calling us immortal
We are gods immortal!
We are Gods Of War!!
Odin!
Hear the fallen waits
To join thee
By thy side
Let Valhalla's gates
Open wide.....
Born under the sign of the hammer they lived
And here they fought and died!
Their blood on the ground
The battle horns sound!!
Let thy Valkyries fly!!!
Down from the sky
Into the fight
Hearts full of rage, full of thunder and glory
Swords in the wind
Crossing the sky
Lords of doom bring an end to their story
Today is the day we Die in the fight
None shall remain to pass one more night
Now Valhalla's calling us immortal
We are gods immortal!
We are Gods Of War!!
Down from the sky
Into the fight
Hearts full of rage, full of thunder and glory
Swords in the wind
Crossing the sky
Lords of doom bring an end to their story
Woooooa!
Wooooooa!
Woooooooa!
Wooooooooa!
Woooooooooa!
Woaaaa!
Wooooa!!!!
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Other reviews
By mick7
Manowar's music is truly exhilarating if you take the "Conan-like" attitudes with humor.
It's not an exaggeration to almost talk about a "film to listen to" and there is a suspicion that the intent was to create a possible soundtrack for a potential sequel to Excalibur.
By JoHnRoMyunG
Gods Of War is a superb song starting with Adams singing to a rhythm kept by the timpani, in this song there are practically all the typical Manowar elements.
With this album Manowar have shown a desire to stop imitating themselves by always retracing the same melodies.... Here there is something new!
