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Manowar

From page 98 of Classic Rock Magazine June 2011

Cover of June 2011 issue.

Birmingham Academy

All hail! The lords of metal return for a rare appearance.

It’s all too easy to mock Manowar. The band’s live show – not witnessed on these shores since 1994 – is a painfully over-amplified heavy metal pantomime which, disconcertingly, they seem to take as seriously as life and death itself – possibly more so. “Wimps and posers, leave the hall!” Manowar demand during Brothers Of Metal and a bedenimed legion waves its fists in exaggerated fury.

They arrive to a classical intro tape, followed by Orson Welles’ declaration: “All hail, Manowar!”, the anthem Manowar despatched at ear-splitting volume. With its exaggerated feedback and elongated, gladiatorial closing powerchord, the band might even say more about heavy metal in this one single song than others manage in full careers. They don’t waste time justifying their absence, all but ignoring the audience until near the show’s denouement and a promise of: “We will return”.

Seven of eight newly re-recorded tracks from their debut album, Battle Hymns , are aired, Joey DeMaio’s bass solo William’s Tale following later along with Metal Warriors, Heart Of Steel, Kill With Power, Sign Of The Hammer and a simply glorious Hail To England .

Rumoured to be 56 years old, Eric Adams still has a voice to strip paint and there’s enough leather onstage to give a member of PETA a coronary. It’s all completely ludicrous, though of course that’s the whole point. But what’s more preposterous still is that a band this monumentally good has been away for so long.

Dave Ling