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Rating:
The discography of Manowar can ideally be divided into two quite distinct parts. On one side, the dark Epic Metal of their beginnings, on the other, the Heavy Metal of their success, which is much more accessible.
"Sign Of The Hammer" was released in 1984, after "Hail To England" and before "Fighting The World", thus positioning itself between these two extremes. The production, as was always the case with the early works of Manowar, is rather rough, but in my opinion, it doesn't manage to detract in the slightest from this masterpiece, nor do the first two tracks, real fillers.
The first, "All Men Play On Ten" is an anthem to the label of the moment, 10 records, and to not lowering themselves to a more commercial level to sell more, something the four Kings would eventually do with "Fighting The World", not long after. Meanwhile, the second, "Animals", is another anthem, this time to wild life, of which I think no one felt the need. Once past the hurdle of two not particularly exciting tracks, the show begins and "Thor (The Powerhead)" arrives, where De Maio is inspired in the lyrics by Norse mythology, a certainly recurring theme in Metal, and in Epic Metal in particular. Thor battles the giants in what seems to be the final battle where, according to Norse mythology, the Gods will meet their demise and the world will end, the Ragnarok. Adams showcases an impressive vocal and interpretive performance, culminating in a final note lasting 31 seconds, which likely represents the death scream of the god.
"Mountains" is a majestic ballad, characterized by several tempo changes, from an atmospheric slow to mid-tempo up to a march. Adams demonstrates he also has a warm voice, in addition to strong lungs, and here too he gives the song an excellent rendition. A thunderclap followed by De Maio's bass and Adams' scream introduces the title-track, a gallop marked by a chorus that, despite being rather simple, remains among the most beautiful ever written by the band, where keyboards draw a choir that adds an incredible boost and epicness to the whole.
After the gallop, the pace continues to accelerate with "The Oath", a track of excellent American speed metal, perhaps a bit less dramatic and epic than the previous three tracks, but still very compelling, with great screaming from Adams. The following "Thunderpick" is the usual bass solo by De Maio, providing a definitive stop to the frantic speed of "The Oath", serving, if you can say so, as an interlude, a brief pause where you can catch your breath before the grand finale, "Guyana (Cult Of The Damned)". This last track, the true masterpiece of the album, talks about the mass suicide of the reverend Jim Jones’ cult in 1978: convinced that the end of the world was near, or simply eager to test his charisma on the masses, Reverend Jim Jones ordered the 911 members of his cult, gathered in the sanctuary of Guyana in the forests of South America, to commit suicide by drinking a concoction based on cyanide. Not only consenting adults brainwashed by the reverend's persuasive voice, but even children received the concoction and died as well. The grim final march, opened by a bass arpeggio, adorned with dramatic choruses and mournful keyboard effects, perfectly fits the role of an adept about to carry out the last macabre order, and manages to send shivers down your spine by perfectly conveying the horror of those events, thanks especially to the always inspired Adams, who plays the role of the adept, and the lyrics, which, it must be said, are truly beautiful and almost moving.
In conclusion, "Sign Of The Hammer" represents the end of an era for Manowar, but also its greatest expression. The band has reached a high level of maturity, evidenced by the mix of slow and fast tracks that characterize the work and manage never to fall into banality.
An album recommended to lovers of the most classic sounds of epic and heavy metal, but it might prove less accessible to newcomers of the genre and the band.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 All Men Play on 10 (04:01)
Original lyrics
I made a rock'n'roll sin
When I tried givin in to
Make money had to turn down low.
They said, "why be proud, don't play so loud,
Be like us and get a sound that's real thin.
Wear a polyester suit, act happy look cute,
Get a haircut and buy small gear"
That's when I turned to them and said,
"hold it, right there!"
Well it's more to me than just a job,
And while I'm playin' you won't get robbed.
Nobody tells a man how to play,
It just ain't that way hey, hey, hey,
Can you hear me say...
All men play on ten,
Never gonna turn down again.
All men play on ten,
Never gonna turn down.
I'm jet fuel honey, plug me into 220
Step back and let my fingers fly
While I'm burning up my gear
There's a fire in your ear
That won't stop until the day you die.
I really put it to the floor when I hear the crowd roar
Oh it's music to my ears when they scream
Then I run back to the power rack
And deck all of my gear.
Well it's more to me than just a job,
And while I'm playin' you won't get robbed.
Nobody tells a man how to play,
It just ain't that way hey, hey, hey,
Can you hear me say...
02 Animals (03:33)
Hear The Call Of The Wild In Us All
It Waits For The Night To Fall
I'm Getting Hot, I'm Ready For The Night
No Holdin' Back, Let's Ball
I'm Gonna Give All You Can Take All Night
And Leave You In The Morning Feeling Right
I'm An Animal, There's An Animal In Me
Gonna Set It Free
I'm An Animal, There's An Animal In Me
Gonna Set It Free
I've Been Looking, You've Been Watching From The Side
There's Something You Just Can't Hide
Oh, Your Getting Wet, Your Working Up A Sweat
Your Hairs Standing Up On End
Your Skin Is Screaming, Glad We Met?
Tonight's One Night You Won't Forget
I'm An Animal, There's An Animal In Me
Gonna Set It Free
I'm An Animal, There's An Animal In Me
Gonna Set It Free
03 Thor (The Powerhead) (05:23)
Black Clouds On The Horizon
Great Thunder And Burning Rain
His Chariot Pounding, I Heard The Heavens Scream His Name
I Watched As He Shouted
To The Giants who Died That Day
He Held Up His Hammer High
And Called To Odin For A Sign
Thor The Mighty, Thor The Brave
Crush The Infidels In Your Way
By Your Hammer Let None Be Saved
Live To Die On That Final Day
Gods, Monsters And Men
Will Die Together In The End
God Of Thunder, God Of Rain
Earth Shaker Who Feels No Pain
The Powerhead Of The Universe
Now Send Your Never Ending Curse
I Watched As He Shouted
To The Giants Who Died That Day
He Held Up His Hammer High And Called To Odin For A Sign
Thor The Mighty, Thor The Brave
Crush The Infidels In Your Way
By Your Hammer Let None Be Saved
Live To Die On That Final Day
Gods, Monsters And Men
Will Die Together In The End
Swing Your Hammer To Crack The Sky
Lift Your Cape So That You Might Fly
Back To Odin And The Gods On High
And Leave This Mortal World
Thor The Mighty, Thor The Brave
Crush The Infidels In Your Way
By Your Hammer Let None Be Saved
Live To Die On That Final Day
Gods, Monsters And Men
Will Die Together In The End
04 Mountains (07:39)
So Tall, Silent Against The Sky
Up Through The Clouds Where Eagles Fly
Wind And Rain Beat Down On One So Strong
They Cut But Never Change, What Stood So Long
Tall As A Mountain, I'm Gonna Tear Through The Sky
Life's For The Takin'
Like A Man Is A Mountainside
Greatness Waits For Those Who Try
None Can Teach You, It's All Inside
Just Climb
I Am In The Ground, I Am In The Air, I Am All
I Live In The Hearts Of All Men
I Am The Call To Greatness
Not All Can Hear
I Awaken The Creator, In Those Who Dare
And The Day Will Come, When We All Must Die
And Enter The Mountainside
Tall As A Mountain, I'm Gonna Tear Through The Sky
Life's For The Takin'
Like A Man Is A Mountainside
Greatness Waits For Those Who Try
None Can Teach You, It's All Inside
Just Climb
I Have No Fear
Death And Glory
Both Draw Near
Like A Man Is A Mountainside
Greatness Waits For Those Who Try
None Can Teach You, It's All Inside
Just Climb
05 Sign of the Hammer (04:18)
The Spell Has Been Broken, The Curse Has Been Lifted
Black Is The Wind On The Heels Of The Gifted
Four Sworn To Vengeance, See The Hate In Our Eyes
Called By The Gods And Given A Sign
Onward Pounding Into Glory Ride
Sign Of The Hammer, Be My Guide
Final Warning All Stand Aside
Sign Of The Hammer, It's My Time
Pounding, Pounding, We Are Back From The Dead
Those Who Denied Us Are Delivered Instead
Into The Hands Of Four Sworn To Ride
Now The People Will Triumph And Live By The Sign
Onward Pounding Into Glory Ride
Sign Of The Hammer, Be My Guide
Final Warning All Stand Aside
Sign Of The Hammer, It's My Time
The Spell Has Been Broken, The Curse Has Been Lifted
Black Is The Wind On The Heels Of The Gifted
Four Sworn To Vengeance, See The Hate In Our Eyes
Called By The Gods And Given A Sign
Onward Pounding Into Glory Ride
Sign Of The Hammer, Be My Guide
Final Warning All Stand Aside
Old Men And Young Boys, It's My Time
Sign Of The Hammer, Be My Guide
Sign Of The Hammer, It's My Time
06 The Oath (04:54)
Burning Embers Of The Second Death Will Come In The Night
Priests And Kings, The Alpha And Omega, Poison Bites
False Prophets And Deceivers, Swing From The Trees
Now. Dawn The Age Of Birds
Drunk With Blood, Like Lepers With Disease
Lord Of The Sky, Mercury The Guide
Lord Of The Underworld, I Swear The Sacred Rite
I Will Crucify, Slay Them With Their Tribe
Hear My War Cry
They'll Find No Sanctuary Hidden In Their Ancestral Halls
Let Loose The Knot That Binds
The Spirit And Flesh, Let It Fall
For Only Courage And Heroism Linger After Death
So, Hold Fast Thy Sword, Rejecting Pain, Feel The Dragons
Breath
Lord Of The Sky, Mercury The Guide
Lord Of The Underworld, I Swear The Sacred Rite
I Will Crucify, Slay Them With Their Tribe
Hear My War Cry
I've Sworn The Oath
I've Sworn The Oath
I've Sworn The Oath
Lord Of The Sky, Mercury The Guide
Lord Of The Underworld, I Swear The Sacred Rite
I Will Crucify, Slay Them With Their Tribe
Hear My War Cry
Burning Embers Of The Second Death Will Come In The Night
Priests And Kings, The Alpha And Omega, Poison Bites
False Prophets And Deceivers, Swing From The Trees
Now. Dawn The Age Of Birds
Drunk With Blood, Like Lepers With Disease
Lord Of The Sky, Mercury The Guide
Lord Of The Underworld, I Swear The Sacred Rite
I Will Crucify, Slay Them With Their Tribe
Hear My War Cry
I've Sworn The Oath
I've Sworn The Oath
I've Sworn The Oath
08 Guyana (Cult of the Damned) (07:10)
We thank you for the cool aid, reverend jim
We're glad to leave behind their world of sin
Our lifeless bodies fall on holy ground
Rotting flesh, a sacrificial mound
Were you our God or a man in a play
Who took our applause and forced us to stay
Now all together we lived as we died
On your command by your side
Guyana in the cult of the damned
Give us your word for the grand final stand
Guyana in the cult of the damned
Give us your word for the grand final stand
In the cult of the damned we all worked the land
Too afraid to look up we all feared his hand
Hurry my children there isn't much time
But we'll meet again on the other side
Be good to the children and old people first
Hand them a drink they're dying of thirst
Bigfoot bigfoot thrown in a well
Pulled under water screaming like hell
He told us life was just a hotel
Time to check out when he rang the bell
Mother, mother
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