Manowar
The Triumph Of Steel

THE REVIEW

This review:
1) Has already been written (too short for my taste!)
2) Talks about Manowar, which, as the cliché goes, "you either love them or hate them." Scaruffi calls it "metal-pomp" (sic, with the easy jokes that come to mind...), others define them as the pagan gods of the genre, while some would set them on fire or ridicule them in the most colorful ways: in a word, I appreciate them.

I believe that "Triumph of Steel", ultra-classic heavy metal, with 50,000 piercing screams of Eric Adams per song, the super-tight power chords, the beautiful and ultra-fast solos, is an album that deserves recognition. Courageously beautiful. How can we forget the 28 minutes and 30 seconds of the wonderful suite "Achilles Agony and Ecstasy in 8 Parts", inspired by Achilles' revenge in the Iliad? It is a track to which I am particularly attached, both for my love of the Homeric saga (the lyrics remain quite faithful) and because it is a piece with an unusual (for the time) musical complexity, yet without qualifying as progressive. Full on distortion, double pedal, and an alternation of furious parts with more reflective ones (some chilling: "I hear the silent voices, I cannot hide, the gods leave no choices, so... I must die") make this piece a gem for some, a mortal bore for others. It continues with the classic "Metal Warriors", steady and relentless, the almost-thrash "Ride the Dragon", and then one of my favorites: "Spirit Horse of Cherokee". Focused on the massacre of Native Americans and the "trail of tears" that followed, it's based on a heavily intense, perhaps monotonous, but very captivating bass riff. Its main strength draws from Adams' voice, reaching an almost inhuman height here. It proceeds with the horrendous "Burning": frankly, it’s unclear what this piece (?) is doing in a little masterpiece. Then we have "The Power Of Thy Sword", where glistening swords enter on a riff with the usual distorted guitar (strictly palm-muted), double bass drum (obviously!), and choirs worthy of the Ride of the Valkyries: a proper mosh pit anthem, which is needed. The following "The Demon's Whip" is a hard rock track that eerily resembles "Burning" but evolves much better (in the end) along the lines of the previous track: a frenetic and captivating run towards the end of the album. Here's the true gem of the album, something that has moved every true metalhead at least once in their life: of course, I'm referring to "Master Of The Wind". Only acoustic guitar, almost imperceptible, and Adams' voice in all its splendor: every dream is allowed, let's believe in them, and move forward at any cost. We are convinced...

Now, putting aside sentimentalities: assuming you're able to accept the (pseudo)warrior and mega-flashy aesthetics, assuming the stereotypical lyrics don’t bother you, nor seeing them dressed like "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" (...Metal Universe, of course!), nor hearing a monolithic sound that has changed very little throughout their career, this album might even really delight you. Be aware that there are positive aspects to the band that the easy ironies overshadow: Joe De Maio's technique, partly overshadowed by the choice to use a distortion/compressor on his bass, Eric Adams' incredible voice that admits no criticism, and the compositional depth of the great Ross "The Boss" (at his best here), who honestly and garishly does his job. The production, however, isn't great, maybe it's intentionally so. I have nothing more to add, sorry for the length...

"To fight and die by the open sky..."