Manowar
Gods Of War

So... I've noticed that this album has been reviewed far too little for my tastes, let's remember we're talking about the gods of metal, so here I am with my second review (after the last DT one... I'm quite enjoying this!!!!!).

Before analyzing the tracks... I want to compliment the person who designed the album cover, which features 5 beautiful women each clinging to the leg of their knight... Typically Manowar.

Let's start with the first track ‘'Overture to the Hymn of the Immortal Warriors'' (talk about a title!!!) which can be defined with one word: Epic... although definitely toooooo long, and can only be fully appreciated by someone who loves classical music, for the typical metalhead, it might be particularly boring, especially around minute 5 where even the music seems to decrease in volume, leading the listener to change the track.

The second track... also with a very modest title, ‘'The Ascension'' where our Manowar fan, complete with a horned helmet, hopes to find the clattering sound of DeMaio's Rickenbacker... unfortunately will be disappointed again since this track is also orchestral... But watch out, because around minute 1 a rather powerful and majestic voice can be heard that almost compels the listener to open the lyrics booklet to see what it says... too bad it's in Ancient Finnish, by minute 2, after hearing someone speaking without understanding a damn thing!!! You hear (Finally!!) Eric Adams's voice which with a decisive yet melodic tone leads to the next track... and finally.. Here are the MANOWAR!!!

‘'King of Kings'', and finally that plumber Scott Columbus kicks off with a typically Manowar gallop... with Adams's screaming yet unique voice, DeMaio's distorted bass that almost drowns out the guitar... and then, the inevitable choruses!!!!!! Around the 3-minute mark, the previous voice returns for a few seconds to make way for a lightning-speed guitar solo and Adams singing the main riff again.

More choruses, and only choruses in track 4 ‘'Army of the Dead Pt.1'' which at first might seem like an alpine chant will later on be taken up (the lyrics) in some of the following tracks. Then... a gallop, again that voice we're fed up with, and Adams shouting Glorious to then begin another Manowar piece at 180 Bpm with the choruses and everything else, it's ‘'Sleipnir'' a really beautiful track around the 4-minute mark comes the inevitable guitar solo, for the rest it remains a beautiful track.

Distorted guitar for the 6th song ‘'Loki God Of Fire'' which opens with an interesting guitar riff.... Or at least it seems like a guitar since with DeMaio you can never be sure. Anyway, it starts frantically and is also full of solos of all kinds.
‘'Blood Brothers'' is truly a song that would make you leave home to head into battle.... it really gives a superb charge, urging you to sing along with Adams, it feels like standing on a battlefield.

‘'Overture to Odin'' is a track that, as the title suggests, announces the song we'll listen to only 5 tracks later, namely ‘'Odin'' indeed ‘'Overture to Odin'' is again an orchestral track that towards the end makes way for a truly beautiful church organ! Here's to you the part of the album entirely dedicated to the ancient Viking god of thunder, namely Odin! ‘'Blood of Odin'' opens with a nice 3-minute chat from the narrator, and then... that's it! But we can't reach Odin right away, first the sons, the next song, aptly named ‘'Sons of Odin'' is a piece that perhaps isn't the best of the album, but which from the Manowar perspective, is quite innovative, especially from a vocal standpoint, the piece opens after a nice guitar riff with DeMaio and a whispering yet warm Adams and then a fierce chorus. An excellent track!!

‘'Glory Majesty Unity'' is practically a speech that 'maybe' a general gives his soldiers to urge them to fight, with an ending that would make anyone scream at a hypothetical Manowar concert... Glory!... Majesty!... Unity!! Hail!! Hail!! Hail!!!! The first part might have a nice text too bad that unless you have a degree in 'philology of ancient Northern European languages'... it will be very difficult for you to decipher the lyrics booklet! Then the tracklist... or Superb Masterpiece worthy of note. In fact, ‘'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. Starting from Columbus's very raw drums, through the choruses to reach the bells and olifants! Naturally, we will also find bass and guitar in this Manowaresque masterpiece!

And here we are with ‘'Alpini Pt. 2'' a.k.a ‘'The Army of the Dead Pt.2''. Both the first and second part might seem like songs in themselves, instead we will find them again in a verse of ‘'Odin''. In this track, we don't find anything particular except for the alpini and the usual powerful church organ. And after a long pilgrimage here it is the other highlight of this album... namely ‘'Odin'' which is a very particular song especially for the truly very metallic melody and the presence of an organ that occasionally makes an appearance without ever being unpleasant. After a breathtaking guitar solo, here is ‘'Army of The Dead'' Metal version... Perhaps the best part of the song, and one of the best of the album.

The next track also very beautiful ‘'The Hymn of The Immortal Warriors'' opens with what seems like a harp to then continue with the melody of the first track of the album... really powerful as a piece! The refrain seems like a national anthem!!! And Logan's solo is beautiful. Avoiding reviewing the last track (Bonus Track) ‘'Die for Metal'' which to me seems a bit of a joke... it has to be said that with this album Manowar have shown a desire to stop imitating themselves by always retracing the same melodies.... Here there is something new!

There are ideas, there's the unbridled passion DeMaio has for Wagner which has driven him to compose many orchestral pieces. There's a new narrator who, even if he certainly isn't Orson Wells, still manages to narrate the feats of these Poets of the Gods of War.

What else to say but...HAIL!!!!!!!!!!