Review by Mike Oliveri

MANOWAR: HELL ON STAGE LIVE Metal Blade Records

Several years ago I was browsing the cassette aisle (this is back when CD was just taking off, mind you, and they were still sold in those oversized cardboard packages), and happened an album cover featuring a muscular dude, his face hidden in shadows, wielding a bloody sword and holding a gold ring over his head. Beneath his feet lay the flags of several nations, and fiery clouds surrounded him.

Being as I was still into Dungeons & Dragons at the time, I thought "hey, cool!" And grabbed it. The band was MANOWAR, and the album bore the rather boastful title KINGS OF METAL. I'd been let down by obscure metal bands before, but curiosity got the better of me and I bought it.

I was pleasantly surprised, and before long returned to seek out more MANOWAR albums.

The band, far more popular in Europe than here in the States, mostly features songs in a heroic fantasy vein. Songs about war, honor, or magic. Most of their album THE TRIUMPH OF STEEL focuses on the Trojan War. And when they're not singing about conquering or destruction, they're singing about heavy metal, with a sound closest to '80s metal.

Bassist Joey DeMaio is the main driving force behind the band, writing nearly every one of their songs. Most of the others are collaborations between DeMaio and others. Lead singer Eric Adams has the perfect voice for metal: loud and powerful with a wide range capable of tackling everything from ballads to violent epics. Guitarist and keyboard player Ross the Boss is another mainstay of the band, and shows real skill on the axe, particularly on the speed-metal remake of the classical piece "Flight of the Bumblebee" called "Sting of the Bumblebee."

This newest album is MANOWAR's second live album in a row, and is actually a two disc set. A limited edition version also contains a third bonus disc with three additional tracks recorded in Germany. Like most of their album art, this one features a demon, a lot of flames, and a couple of nude succubi: everything a young, testosterone-fueled man needs to go with his metal.

Despite there being two CD's as the core of the album, however, there is not an abundance of songs. There are only eight on each disc. Still, the running time of each disc runs close to an hour, so this is forgiveable. The tracks span nearly the full Manowar catalog, and includes some of favorites like "Heart of Steel" and "The Crown and the Ring," but leaves off their signature song "Hail and Kill."

"The Warrior's Prayer" opens disc two, complete with the narrative prelude to the song. "Sting of the Bumblebee" recorded lives surpasses the studio version, and the ballad "Master of the Wind" comes off with more strength and balls than the original. The recording is very clean, and the quality of the band's playing is testament to their years of touring experience. While I would have liked to hear some new songs from the band, they manage to keep these tracks fresh and exciting.

In all a great release, and I hope that the consecutive release of live albums only means that DeMaio is hard at work putting together their next studio album. I give this one four Perplex Skulls.

This review copyright 2000 E.C.McMullen Jr.

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