Review Summary: Its like British Steel but without the suck.
Are you the kind of listener who likes thought provoking lyrics? Do you like the sound of complex and technical instrumental arrangements? Do you like an over all sophisticated sound from a band? If so, then I shall tell you straight up. Manowar is NOT for you.
For those of you who are not familiar with Manowar, they are a heavy metal band (with elements of power metal) that is really not meant to be taken seriously. The album cover says it all. Their music could not be any more simple and straightforward. But there is one important detail about them that makes the difference in it all: they rock! And “Fighting the World” is one of the best albums of their career.
The success of Manowar lies mainly in their fantastic lineup:
Eric Adams (vocals): This guy is quite the trooper. Not only does he have the pipes, for he also has one of the manliest voices in metal. He also has quite a bit of range. Just when you think his shrieks and screams can’t get any higher, they do! He is essentially the perfect vocalist for Manowar. No one can replace him.
Joey DeMaio (bass): Joey is another highlight of the lineup. Some people would criticize his playing because the use of a pick, but it’s the pick that makes his playing special. It adds the rough edge to the music, and creates a ridiculously solid rhythm section. His playing style is somewhat similar to Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister. He tends to play the bass in the style of a guitar.
Ross the Boss (guitar): Ross is a decent guitarist to say the least. His playing is amusing, but nothing incredible or unique. He is really just a riffs and solos guy. But his contributions are still significant none the less.
Scott Columbus (drums): Scott is also decent at what he does. Like Ross, he is not an amazing musician, but he gets the job done. He knows where the fills belong and don’t belong, and keeps a steady beat.
The main highlight of “Fighting the World” is its overall catchiness. The album is jam packed with memorable moments, such as the drum intro to the title track, the main riff in “Violence and Bloodshed”, and the chorus to literally every song on the album. I could go on but it would just be a ridiculously long paragraph. All I can really say is that there is no boring part of the album (well the tracks “Drums of Doom” and “Master of Revenge” are short filler tracks meant to lead into the next song, but I happen to enjoy them). Another important detail is that the only power metal songs on this album are “Defender”, “Holy War”, and the epic “Black Wind Fire and Steel”. The rest is just good old fashioned 80’s metal, which makes the album less repetetive.
But the catchy hooks in the music are what might turn some listeners off. There are not a whole lot of technical moments in the music, and some people will just get bored fast. Sometimes I don’t really enjoy this album because I am just not in the mood for it. The music is not really repetitive, but the ideas are all the same. It’s just simple but catchy music that pumps you up. And if you have a small tolerance for mildly generic music, then you will most likely despise this album with a passion. You either love all the songs, or hate all of them.
The lyrics are another thing that might get on some listeners nerves. They are arguably the cheesiest lyrics I have ever heard. If they aren’t about being a true metal person, then they are about slaying or condemning the “false metal” and other forms of evil. The over all stupidity of the lyrics is bound to persuade some people into turning off there speakers immediately instead of “blowing” them. But I see it in a different way. Like I said earlier, Manowar aren’t really meant to be taken seriously. I see Manowar’s lyrics as a form of humor that you either understand or you don’t. I shall give you an example. The following is from the title track:
"Now people keep asking if we're going to change
I look'em in the eye
Tell'em no way
Stripes on a tiger don't wash away
Manowar's made of steel not clay"
When I first heard the last line in that I had a good chuckle. To be accurate, the whole album is like that. I sound kind of foolish for saying this, but Manowar (lyrically) is like the Napoleon Dynamite of music. It’s something so ridiculous that it is funny. And if it doesn’t amuse you in the way it amuses me, then you should steer clear of this album.
Manowar is kind of like a cheesy action movie. Despite the absence of a solid plot, there are still amusing fight scenes and funny one liners here and there. It’s something that can really satisfy you, but only when you are in the right mood. If not, then you just get annoyed. Sure Manowar may be some what of a joke. All of there songs may have something to do with killing, fighting, and steele. They may be the cheesiest band on the face of the earth (and that says A LOT). But hey… it’s Manowar!
Pros:
- some of the catchiest metal songs of all time
- all the members contribute something nice
- its badass
Cons:
- you have to be in the right mood to truly enjoy it
- the lyrics are somewhat ridiculous (but sometimes in a funny way)
- it’s generic nature may not tickle most listeners fancy
Personal Favorites
- Fighting the World
- Blow your Speakers
- Black Wind Fire and Steele
- Defender
