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Rating:
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..."
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
03 Ride the Dragon (04:32)
Demon's blood and dragon fire, falling on my wings
Racing to the battle in the sky ancient Gods are
Calling me I hear them when they sing, of all the
Heroes who wait for me to die
Beneath a cloak of magic, I'll meet them in the air, I am
Invisible, I move without a sound they look but cannot
Find me, they think that I'm not there with a spell I
Send them crashing to the ground
Wait for me dragon, we'll meet in the sky
By fire and magic I am sworn. Hell is calling! We
Cannot be denied fly to the bllackness
Of the storm, we must die to reborn
I wear a sacred talisman, I make a secret sign
Now welcome me into this wicked wind, on
The journey of a shaman a dragon I must
Ride, the Gates of Hell are open! Let me in!!!
Rule of Hell or serve in Heaven
Choose an altar or a throne, all
Commandments and the laws of
Man disown. Now eat the fruit of
Knowledge, unto no one ye alone
Into the fire, with your soul!
05 Burning (05:10)
We have come from the ashes, of the burning away
Pouring blood in the fire, on the altar of pain
Led into temptation, now the black Gods align
Here there is no salvation, and your blood is my wine
Here's a world that is waiting, between the living and
The dead, here the flesh and it's pleasure are
Eternally wed, all is all for the taking, for a life or a
Lie, at the end of the breaking I'll be watching you die
Crawl to the silince, renounce and deny
The stars and the numbers, fortold of this time
To the words and the wisdom, too the promise of lies, by
Their angel and fury
The strong will survive
07 The Demon's Whip (07:50)
Black candles slowly burning, white fangs and flashing eyes
Hell's wind and incantations summon living fire,
Darkest forces and your demon's black order, black king
The cult that serves the living, accept this offering
Black candles slowly burning, white fangs and flashing eyes
Hell's wind and incantations summon living fire,
As the seven steps await, hear the great bell toll
With a dead man's bones conjure, the enemy of the soul
From the misery and sadness, of the molten seas of hell
Mystic love and mystic symbols in evil dreams there dwell
Darkest forces and your demon's black order, black king
The cult that serves the living, accept this offering
A deadly drink, a meal of hearts, now sacrifice and die
In darkness and destruction, behold the evil eye
And the Demon's whip
Armies of the gods of hell ride across the astral plane
Bearing curses of destruction, sworn beyond the grave
Children of the darkness, all born but to deceive
By the ancient code of evil grant not one reprieve
In the place where evil dwells death can live when all life dies
Wage eternal war on heaven immortal hate below the sky
Your scripture and your sermons, are leaves born on the wind
To heal the unrepentant one needs a greater sin
Night winds, Oblivion see my dark desire
Come forth, appear he is living fire
Feel the Demon's whip
Armies of the gods of hell ride across the astral plane
Bearing curses of destruction, sworn beyond the grave
Children of the darkness, all born but to deceive
By the ancient code of evil grant not one reprieve
In the place where evil dwells death can live when all life dies
Wage eternal war on heaven immortal hate below the sky
Your scripture and your sermons, are leaves borne on the wind
To heal the unrepentant one needs a greater sin
Feel the Demon's whip
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Other reviews
By James1
Imagine yourself in a medieval plain... armed with a long golden sword forged by the gods and an invincible armor... this is Triumph Of Steel.
You must have it if you're a fan of the genre, at least to listen once to The Power Of Thy Sword or Master Of The Wind.
By Starblazer
"28 minutes of boredom and unnecessary technicalities."
"Eric Adams sings like a god, greatly supported by a band that seems to have rediscovered the glory days."
