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Rating: Given the comments from the previous review, let's say it once again: Manowar almost never offer anything innovative, they continuously risk becoming a caricature of themselves, they aren't technically excellent (compared to renowned colleagues), and live, they certainly don't make anyone shout about a miracle.
Let's think then about the authentic energy they manage to convey, their exaggerations, without forgetting the splendid ballads with which they've enchanted us, and the even more spectacular mid-tempo tracks (one above all: "Army of Immortals"). In short, it might be predictable, but just say "Manowar" and your headache has already arrived...?
This album, with its gruesome cover, does not stand out as a particularly cohesive work, even though at least half of the tracks are more than valid. In fact, it's quite evident a brutal attitude, but not yet well-defined: our guys attempt to write "epic" pieces where the hyper speed ("in fashion" at the time) gives way to a kind of metal which, all things considered, is NOT yet metal. And the result is quite disorganized, it almost seems like listening to three bands in one: the first prefers the hard, cadence-heavy sound which makes up their trademark, the second goes wild only once with the fantastic "Warlord", and the third grapples with trying to find their own style, without fully defining it. The result is that much of the album passes in total boredom.
Indeed, the riffing is quite repetitive, and the drums certainly don't shine with originality (almost always in unison with the power chords): the soul is all in the immense voice of Eric Adams and the bass of De Maio, which in this work almost acts as a second guitar. It's quite unusual, moreover, to hear an album of this kind where the bass often and willingly overshadows the guitar - which in itself is fairly predictable (much to the chagrin of good old Ross "The Boss"). "Hatred" seems to be a contender for the worst track in Manowar's history, but just listen to it without haste to realize that all things considered, it's quite enjoyable, even if too long like much of the epic "dances" offered here. Unforgettable "March for Revenge...", along with the amazing "Revelation...", which has the merit of being the track based on which our guys created the immense "Hail to England".
The flaws are not lacking, beyond the banal songwriting: without discussing the artistic merits of Adams and De Maio, it seems to me that the somewhat rough distortion and not very varied riffing penalize a work that, for better or worse, made our guys famous as "epic metallers".
The least suitable album to start listening to Manowar (it was initially a demo tape), decidedly curious for those who do not know them well enough: if you then do not like them, resign yourself to the fact that you'll never like them...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Warlord (04:15)
When you see me comin' flying down the road
You know I ain't afraid to lay it down
Yea got me some leather. Leather is my skin
Black'n'chrome flashin' through the town.
Some call me the WARLORD 'cause I'm a god-damn
bad machine, young'n'hungry, not too proud'n'mean
Ride, ride, ride, I'm the WARLORD of the road,
Riding, riding, riding, ain't never growin' old.
Take what I want and I go where I please
Got the world right by the balls. This world ain't
big enough to keep me down. Yea we're livin'
in a sick world. The man on the T.V. said we
got lotsa trouble overseas, well what the hell
do I care? Think they care about me?
Stop sending money send'em all a bomb.
Ride, ride, ride, I'm the WARLORD of the road,
Ridin', ridin', ridin', ain't never growin' old.
Born to live in the fast lane on a chopped up
Harley-D, smell that oil and high test gasoline.
Never got a shortage of girls to share my seat.
Well they all want to know what people say is true,
You know, get a biker started 'n he'll drive all
damn night. Well hold on honey 'cause this ride's
for a ride.
Ride, ride, ride, ride, ride, ride, ride
I'm the WARLORD of the road.
Ridin', ridin', ridin', ain't never growin' old
04 Gates of Valhalla (07:12)
Valhalla the gods await me
Open wide thy gates embrace me.
Great hall of the battle slain
With sword in hand.
All those who stand on shore
Raise high your hands to bid a last
farewell to the Viking land.
Death's chilling wind blows through my hair
I'm now immortal, I am there
I take my place by Odin's side
Eternal army in the sky.
I point my hatchet to the wind
I guard the gates and all within
Hear my sword sing, as I ride across the sky
Sworn by the sacred blood of Odin onward ride.
Valhalla the gods await me
Open wide thy gates embrace me.
Great hall of the battle slain
With sword in hand.
Behold the kingdom of the kings
Books of spells and magic rings
Endless knowledge, endless time
I scream the final battle cry.
05 Hatred (07:42)
I taste your blood as it showers from my blade
I eat your heart, from evil it was made
With heart filled hatred black blood runs through my veins.
I take your powers to the ancient ones who reign
I conquer evil, let evil know my name
Come forth ye wicked, know the gruesome pain
I am the omen, the one that cannot die
I am the flame, hatred burns inside.
My strength is hatred, torment and pain, HATRED, HATRED
With heart filled hatred black blood runs through my veins.
I crush your bones, I kill your face
I rip your flesh, I end the chase
You meet with terror, you draw the ace
I rule the world the rats that race.
My strength is hatred, torment and pain, HATRED, HATRED
With heart filled hatred black blood runs through my veins.
HATRED
07 March for Revenge (By the Soldiers of Death) (08:31)
Ride, Ride, Ride, Ride Up From Hell
Armed with magic sons of demons and men
This song of greeting written for your tragic end.
So long our stride the world doth tremble with fear
Black winds blow where we ride near.
Maim and kill them, take the women and children.
Hot pitch and chain take to the air
Our ramming blades lay their ships hold bare.
Steel meets steel, axes, broadsword and shield.
Their heads ride our spears and bodies cover the fields.
Maim and kill them, take the women and children.
Fallen brother as I hold closed your side
I fear this wound your last.
Mighty earth now doth drink your blood
And I remember days long past.
Your sacrifice so great, rest now take thy sleep
For you shall not awake, let revenge be sweet.
For when we march, your sword rides with me.
For when we march, your sword rides with me.
For when we march, your sword rides with me.
For when we march, your sword rides with me.
You who killed my brother and all who take your side
This be your last hour. Let your steel be tried.
Now turn to face me upon the timeless plane
Kill me if you can.
Death is life!
By the full moon they rise from their graves.
Through seas of blood, fighting with hell bent rage.
Swear the creed of unity, by the circle of blood
We are one, we know not fear! Born to fight not run.
Maim and kill them, take the women and children.
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By Eschaton
Into Glory Ride is a bomb ready to explode, destined to give birth to and grow a genre of heavy metal founded on epic themes.
Just close your eyes and they will appear before you, while the band’s gifted singer narrates of a warrior sitting beside Odin.
