•
Rating: I know, I know, the site is relatively full of reviews of Manowar (although for now Queen are unreachable) and this album alone already has three (even though "two and a half" would be more correct :D), however, not having seen yet an exhaustive one and this being one of the first albums that introduced me to metal, I decided to attempt an analysis, well aware that Manowar, except for some die-hard fans, the great Defenders of Steel, are not well regarded by the rest of the world due to accusations against them of fascism, self-celebration, and such.
That doesn't change the fact that the album, released 6 years after the already good "Louder Than Hell," opens in the best way with the in my opinion splendid and highly underrated "Call To Arms", a true summation of the Manowar-thought, with the homecoming of the Kings Of Metal who call all their followers to gather, who approve noisily with the usual, masterful choirs while DeMaio's bass hammering is relentless.
The next track, "Fight For Freedom", is the rightful continuation of the one preceding it, but without the same emotional involvement, while "Nessun Dorma" is a fun and ultimately due experiment by Manowar with a decent vocal performance in Italian by the great Eric Adams. After the decent "An American Trilogy", another tribute, this time to the godfather of rock Elvis Presley, which proves to be "only" enjoyable, two absolute masterpieces follow in succession even if antithetical in form: "Swords In The Wind", I dare say, even beats its source of inspiration, the much-celebrated "Master of the wind" from "Triumph of steel", and is one of the best war-themed ballads ever produced by the New York group.
The title track is instead monumental, one of the best Manowar songs ever with sacred monsters like "Hail and Kill" or "Brothers of Metal", with an incredible performance by Adams, DeMaio, and the choir, with an intro marked by the bass and drums that's nothing short of epic, and a part towards the end almost whispered where the singer begs his companions to tell his family how he was killed in battle and swears that as long as he has strength, he will fight to the end, and then he strikes again with the incredible chorus. Obviously, phrases like these can be seen as clowns or mere bravado at first glance, but if one manages to place them in today's everyday life, one discovers that they have a certain relevance; there are still people who, having read two random lyrics, will forever brand Manowar as failures or at best, inflated. The album still concludes with a high-level trio, "Hand of Doom", "House of Death", and the other masterpiece of the CD "Fight Until We Die", all three characterized by a bulldozer bass and the incendiary guitar of Karl Logan that pays little attention to technicalities and very much to substance.
Concluding the review which indeed is a bit long after rereading it, I would like to simply recommend this album, perhaps not the whole thing but just a few songs, to those people who do not know Manowar or have always dismissed them negatively due to prejudice (their fans obviously will know it by heart and will have differing opinions on it); if there is a slightly more easy-listening yet simultaneously high overall quality album, it is this one. 4.5 would be the score, I don't go to 5 because it represents perfection, and this is a great album, not a perfect album.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Call to Arms (05:29)
When They See Us They Will Run For Their Lives
To The End They Will Pay For Their Lies
So Long Did We Wait Now We Are Home
Here Once Again There's A Battle To Fight
Gathered Together For The Sound And The Might
So Long Did We Wait Now We Are Home
Now We Will Fight For The Kingdom Fighting With Steel
Kill All Of Them Their Blood Is Our Seal
Fight Till The Last Of The Enemy Is Dead
Ride Through Their Blood That We Gladly Have Shed
I Now Issue The Call Are You Ready To Fight
Fight All Together As One For The Right To Be Free Once Again
Tonight We Will Win
I Can See By The Look That You Have In Your Eyes
You Came Here For Metal To Fight And To Die
Defenders Of Steel Now We Are Home
Fight For The Kingdom Bound For Glory
Armed With A Heart Of Steel
I Swear By The Brothers Who Stand Before Me
To No Man Shall I Kneel
Their Blood Is Upon My Steel
Blood Is Upon My Steel
Fight For The Kingdom Fighting With Steel
Kill All Of Them Their Blood Is Our Seal
Fight Till The Last Of The Enemy Is Dead
Ride Through Their Blood That We Gladly Have Shed
I Now Issue The Call Are You Ready To Fight
Fight All Together As One For The Right To Be Free Once Again
Tonight We Will Win
I Can See By The Look That You Have In Your Eyes
You Came Here For Metal To Fight And To Die
Defenders Of Steel Now We Are Home
Fight For The Kingdom Bound For Glory
Armed With A Heart Of Steel
I Swear By The Brothers Who Stand Before Me
To No Man Shall I Kneel
Their Blood Is Upon My Steel
03 Nessun dorma (03:27)
Nessun dorma, nessun dorma . .
Tu pure, o Principessa,
Nella tua fredda stanza,
Guardi le stelle,
Che tremano d'amore
E di speranza.
Ma il mio mistero e' chiuso in me,
Il nome mio nessun sapra', no, no,
Sulla tua bocca lo diro'
Quando la luce splendera'.
Ed il mio bacio sciogliera' il silenzio
Che ti fa mia.
Dilegua, o notte!
Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle!
All'alba vincero!
Vincero!
Vincero!
Dilegua, o notte!
Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle!
All'alba vincero!
Vincero!
Vincero!
(IAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)
--- English translation ---
No one sleeps, no one sleeps
Even you, Princess,
In your cold room,
Watch the stars,
that tremble with love
and with hope.
But my secret is hidden within me,
My name no one shall know, no, no,
On your mouth I will speak it
When the light shines,
And my kiss will dissolve the silence
That makes you mine.
Vanish, o night!
Set, stars!
Set, stars!
At daybreak I shall conquer!
I shall conquer!
I shall conquer!
06 An American Trilogy (04:19)
Oh I Wish I Was In The Land Of Cotton
Old Times They Are Not Forgotten
Look Away, Look Away, Look Away Dixieland
Oh I Wish I Was In Dixie, Away, Away
In Dixieland I'll Take My Stand
To Live And Die In Dixie
In Dixieland, Where I Was Born
Early Lord One Frosty Morn
Look Away, Look Away, Look Away Dixieland
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
His Truth Is Marching On
So Hush Little Baby
Don't You Cry
You Know Your Daddy's Bound To Die
But All My Trials Lord Will Soon Be Over
Glory, Glory Hallelujah
His Truth Is Marching On!
His Truth Is Marching On!
09 Hand of Doom (05:43)
Hands of doom are reaching out to crush all infidels who stray
Time to know the pain, no time to run within
And these hands you see before you will end the light of day
Your ashes will be cast into the wind
Your blood's upon the soil, your body fed to wolves
Not one of you will be left alive
Hear the sound pounding and the army of the night
By the hammer of Thor you now shall die
[Chorus:]
Tonight we strike, there is thunder in the sky
Together we'll fight, some of us will die
But they'll always remember that we made a stand
And many will die by my hand
We are high atop the mountain, with hammers in the wind
Lusting for blood and death again
In a flash of lightning strike now the house of death invites you
Body and soul to come within
I see the fear you have inside, you can run but never hide
I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb
Nothing shall remain, not your memory, your name
It will be as though you never, ever lived
[Repeat chorus, 2nd verse, chorus]
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By korn
The second part is a real punch in the stomach of pure black metal and a real fury that never stops.
The last three songs are fired from start to finish, pure hits like house of death.
By Ragnaròk
This is the only album I appreciate from this American band with over 20 years of career behind them.
An album of pure epic metal, 11 tracks, for a total of 46min and 37sec.
By Starblazer
Warriors Of The World represents the definitive rebirth of Manowar.
Swords In The Wind is poignant, magical, epic, combative, and solemn.
