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Manowar was formed by ex-Dictators and Shakin' Street guitarist Ross the Boss. The original lineup included vocalist Eric Adams, bassist Joey DeMaio, and drummer Donnie Hamzik. The group's kitschy approach was designed to be the raw, primal, macho antithesis of classic rock. Their music was based on raw, aggressive riffs, and their lyrics were mostly about fighting, violence, and death. The group dressed in animal skins in concert to underline the point. Their first album featured a solo bass arrangement of the "William Tell Overture," and the press branded the group as a joke. The band tried to become even more extreme with each album and usually ended up dropped from their labels. They tried to take a more commercial direction in the late '80s, but this approach failed too, and Ross the Boss quit in disgust in 1988; undeterred, Manowar continued recording into the next decade, issuing records including 1992's Triumph of Steel, 1994's Hell of Steel, and 1996's Louder Than Hell. With each release and subsequent tour, Manowar began to build a devoted fan base, especially in Europe, where the group regularly sold out stadiums. A flurry of live DVDs followed, each boasting hours of music, interviews, and Viking machismo. The band returned to the studio in 2002 for Warriors of the World, followed by the Sons of Odin EP in 2006 and Gods of War in 2007. Manowar is a classic style heavy metal band that prominently features mythology and fantasy in their lyrics as well as songs about Metal and a theme of comradeship with rebellious attitude. Though each member is from USA, the band was founded in England.
Manowar was founded by bassist Joey DeMaio and guitarist Ross the Boss in 1980. Joey DeMaio was a bass/pyro technician for Black Sabbath, who were playing a show in England at the time, and Ross the Boss was the guitarist of a band called Shakin' Street. The whole thing started when the two locked themselves in a locker room to find out which one could play the guitar harder and faster.
After agreeing that they would found a band, the two took in Eric Adams, the "man with lungs of leather", as their vocalist, and Donny Hamzik as their drummer. They released their first album, "Battle Hymns", with this lineup in 1982. On their second release, "Into Glory Ride" (1983), Scott Columbus was introduced as their new drummer, along with his custom made stainless steel drums (regular ones would not endure his aggressive style). The contract for Into Glory Ride was also signed in the band's own blood.
Manowar's third album, Hail to England (1984), started a tour in Great Britain. However, the band were fed up with their current record company's dominant nature, and released yet another record during the same year; "Sign of the Hammer" was published by 10 Records - hence the song "All Men Play on 10" included on this album.
In the beginning of 1987, "Fighting the World" was released, featuring hit songs such as "Fighting the World", "Black Wind, Fire and Steel" and "Defender". Followed by a tour in Europe, "Fighting the World" was a success.
Their next album, "Kings of Metal" (1988), was widely dedicated to the fans of Manowar all around the world, as can be told by looking at the cover (plenty of different flags scattered around). This album also featured recordings with a large male choir, such as "Blood of the Kings" and "The Crown and the Ring (Lament of the Kings)". The title of this album is the reason that their fans (and also themselves) dub them "The Kings of Metal".
Not being pleased by his career with Manowar, Ross the Boss quit the band at this point, and was replaced by David Shankle. Also, the drummer known as "Rhino" took Scott Columbus's place on Manowar's next release, "The Triumph of Steel" published in 1992. After finishing their "Secrets of Steel" tour, they were voted as the band that fans would most like to see in Russia, beating out Beatles and Michael Jackson.
1996 saw the release of "Louder than Hell", with Scott Columbus back in the drums and a new talent, Karl Logan, in lead guitar. This album included hit tracks "Gods Made Heavy Metal", "The Power", "Brothers of Metal (Pt.1)" and "Return of the Warlord".
After some more touring and the change of millennium, "Warriors of the World" was released in 2002, featuring tracks "Warriors of the World (United)" and one dedicated to Italian fans, "Nessun Dorma", which was earlier performed by Eric Adams on their show in Italy.
Manowar has also released five live-DVD's, titled "Hell on Earth I-IV" and the last is titled "The Day the Earth Shook - The Absolute Power", with the unbelivable event of the Earthshake festival. A new EP called "Sons of Odin" also released in October 2006. Their lastest album was released at the end of February - beginning of March 2007, entitled "Gods Of War".
Albums 2007 Gods of War: Live 2007 Gods of War [CD/DVD] 2007 Gods of War 2006 The The Sons of Odin 2005 Into Glory Ride [Silver Edition] 2005 Hail to England [Silver Edition] 2002 Warriors of the World 2002 Warriors of the World [Japan Bonus Track] 2002 Warriors of the World [Ltd Box Set] 2001 Skillz Dat Killz: The First Dimension 2001 Fire and Funk 1999 Hell on Wheels Live 1999 Hell on Stage Live 1998 Secrets of Steel 1998 Hell on Wheels Live [Germany] 1996 Louder Than Hell 1992 The The Triumph of Steel 1988 Kings of Metal 1987 Fighting the World 1985 Sign of the Hammer 1984 Hail to England 1983 Into Glory Ride 1982 Battle Hymns
Compilations & Boxed Sets 1999 Hell on Stage Live [France Bonus CD] 1999 The The Kingdom of Steel: The Very Best of Manowar 1998 The The Very Best 1998 Steel Warriors 1997 Anthology 1994 Hell of Steel: The Best of Manowar
EPs & Singles 2006 The The Sons of Odin [Bonus DVD] 2003 Dawn of Battle 2003 Warriors of the World United [Single #2] 2003 Warriors of the World United [Single #1] 2002 An An American Trilogy 2002 Warriors of the World United, Pt. 1 1999 Live in France
After getting everything right on the previous year's Hail to England, Manowar rushed back into the studio to record 1985's Sign of the Hammer -- and it shows. Despite the return of Hail producer Jack Richardson, the album sounds noticeably flat when compared to its predecessor, seriously dulling the impact of promising cuts like "Thor (The Powerhead)" and "The Oath." Uneven songwriting is also to blame, as becomes painfully obvious on the pair of epics contained here: the Vietnam tale "Mountains" and the Jonestown bio "Guyana (Cult of the Damned)," both of which alternate moments of brilliance and pointless excess. And there's little to write home about in terms of the uninspired title track, the dull, uneventful bass solo "Thunderpick," or the downright lousy "Animals." A cheesy but undeniable highlight does arrive in "All Men Play on 10," another amusing vehicle for Manowar's career-long mission to bring "death to false metal." The irony of it all, however, is that the band would promptly sell out the very next year, signing to a major label and betraying their hardcore fans with their overtly commercial next record, Fighting the World.
Laugh all you want at their absurd macho posturing and "death to false metal" hootenanny, but with 1984's Hail to England, New York's Manowar delivered one of the quintessential power metal albums of all time. Yes, tales of war and conquest like "Army of the Immortals" and "Hail to England" are patently absurd from a lyrical standpoint, but how far do they honestly exceed, say, Iron Maiden's worse transgressions? Musically, bassist Joey DeMaio and guitarist Ross the Boss are in top songwriting form here, finding the perfect blend of old-school metal and thrash intensity (power metal defined) -- all of it executed with incredible technical skill, and, believe it or not, heartfelt conviction. This is heavy metal, kids, warts and all. Along with the tracks mentioned above, Hail to England also finds the self-appointed metal warriors unleashing an absolute classic with "Blood of my Enemies"; possibly their finest epic composition ever in "Bridge of Death"; and their best all-out thrasher, the awesome and positively hysterical "Kill With Power." And who else could concoct a sonic curiosity like "Black Arrows," a DeMayo solo performed on piccolo bass at blinding speed following a spoken intro of gut-busting hilarity. Do not be frightened, this is indeed Manowar's finest hour.
