''BORN TO LIVE FOREVERMORE, THE RIGHT TO CONQUER EVERY SHORE''
Manowar started their first small gigs around their home place, trying to become well-known by people and get a record deal. But things were not so easy for a band like this: ''On June we had already finished the recordings of the album and we booked a show in a small club in Florida. So, we played our setlist and when we finished our show we saw that the walls building had collapsed,along with the roof! The other band who played with us didnt wanted to continue their set!! Then came the guy who owned the place and told us that we were the best band he had ever seen, but next time we should not play so loud and not come naked!'' (Joey De Maio)
In 1982 Manowar hired the former Kiss manager Bill Aucoin and finally signed a record contract with Liberty/EMI in the U.S and the four warriors Joey De Maio, Eric Adams, Ross The Boss and Donnie Hamzik recorded their first album called Battle Hymns on August of the same year. All tracks are written by Joey De Maio/Ross The Boss, except Metal Daze written by De Maio.
The album has also an instrumental track called William's Tale, a classical cover of Gioachino Rossini played by De Maio on bass, showing the talent and the skills of Manowar's leader. The instrumental bass tracks is something that would continue in many Manowar albums.
The four tracks on side A are good examples of 80's heavy metal with Metal Daze and Shellshock to be the best moments of this side. But the other side of the record has all the magic and greatness of the glorious Epic Heavy Metal that would build Manowar's legend in the following years: Songs like Dark Avenger and Battle Hymn revealed to the world that this band was here to stay for evermore!
Some special notes from the Battle Hymns album:
Manowar's same track is the opening one in every live gig from the band's beginning until now.
Battle Hymn would be the last song to be played in every show of the band for 2 decades, gaining the respect and admiration of anyone that has seen the band perform on stage,a real Spectacle Of Might.
Another tradition that the band keeps from its beginning is the introduction theme called the ''Miracle And The Finale'' composed by Miklos Rozsa, from the 11 Oscar movie ''Ben Hur'' in 1959.
But the most important fact about this album is the collaboration of the legendary actor and director Orson Welles (the Citizen Kane in the 1941 film and many others) with the band in the narration history of Dark Avenger ''and his horse called Black Death''.. One of the greatest moments of Heavy Metal history.
Along with the album release, Ross the Boss on behalf of the band gives the very first interview in Kerrang!
Manowar's determination and will can be clearly seen in his words:
''Everyone's scared. Record companies are scared and so are the radio stations.But at the top of the list are bands. They are the ones doing all the damage..We are not afraid! We just dont give a shit!!''
The album sold 8-10.000 copies for EMI and Manowar would be the support act in Ted Nugend's American Tour. But things didnt go well for the band and after only 5 shows they were dropped out of the tour. The band said that a lot of people liked them a lot and this was something that Nugent couldnt stand.
''He (Ted Nugent) told me that he wanted to stay in the top for another 10 years'' stated sarcastically Joey De Maio. So, the band left without any major touring in U.S something that made difficult for the band to make its music heard by many people..
Along that, after only 2 months EMI broke the contract with the band and so Manowar was without a tour and without a record company behind....Within the next months drummer Donnie Hamzik left the band. He would rejoin Manowar in a suprise move in 2008. But in the end of 1982 things didnt look so optimistic for them...Despite all the difficult situations and bad luck that Manowar faced, this band was not like others. They started rehersal,writing new songs and seeking for a new drummer. Nothing could stop them on their ride to Glory...!
BATTLE HYMNS MMXI
On November 2010, 28 years after its original release Manowar with the same line up (with Karl Logan instead of Ross The Boss) re-recorded the album as Battle Hymns MMXI, with the addition of 2 bonus live tracks from their support shows with Ted Nugent. Another famous actor, Christopher Lee narrates the story of Abaddon with his magestic voice this time. A decent try from the band even if not at the same level and as passionate as their debut album, back in 1982. But why Manowar re-recorded Battle Hymns?
The truth is that the band was never satisfied with the production and the final result. There are interviews of Joey De Maio back in 1983 saying '' how can a heavy metal album be recorded with dolby sound?? It has nothing to do with us, we are not satisfied at all '' . So i think this is why Manowar decided to do this.
''Finally, technology has caught up with MANOWAR's custom-built touring and recording equipment. The band decided that their fans deserved to hear the songs from their debut album Battle Hymns with the massive sound and production that has become their signature over recent years and records.''
Manowar started their first small gigs around their home place, trying to become well-known by people and get a record deal. But things were not so easy for a band like this: ''On June we had already finished the recordings of the album and we booked a show in a small club in Florida. So, we played our setlist and when we finished our show we saw that the walls building had collapsed,along with the roof! The other band who played with us didnt wanted to continue their set!! Then came the guy who owned the place and told us that we were the best band he had ever seen, but next time we should not play so loud and not come naked!'' (Joey De Maio)
In 1982 Manowar hired the former Kiss manager Bill Aucoin and finally signed a record contract with Liberty/EMI in the U.S and the four warriors Joey De Maio, Eric Adams, Ross The Boss and Donnie Hamzik recorded their first album called Battle Hymns on August of the same year. All tracks are written by Joey De Maio/Ross The Boss, except Metal Daze written by De Maio.
The album has also an instrumental track called William's Tale, a classical cover of Gioachino Rossini played by De Maio on bass, showing the talent and the skills of Manowar's leader. The instrumental bass tracks is something that would continue in many Manowar albums.
The four tracks on side A are good examples of 80's heavy metal with Metal Daze and Shellshock to be the best moments of this side. But the other side of the record has all the magic and greatness of the glorious Epic Heavy Metal that would build Manowar's legend in the following years: Songs like Dark Avenger and Battle Hymn revealed to the world that this band was here to stay for evermore!
 |
| Manowar's first promo photo |
Some special notes from the Battle Hymns album:
Manowar's same track is the opening one in every live gig from the band's beginning until now.
Battle Hymn would be the last song to be played in every show of the band for 2 decades, gaining the respect and admiration of anyone that has seen the band perform on stage,a real Spectacle Of Might.
Another tradition that the band keeps from its beginning is the introduction theme called the ''Miracle And The Finale'' composed by Miklos Rozsa, from the 11 Oscar movie ''Ben Hur'' in 1959.
But the most important fact about this album is the collaboration of the legendary actor and director Orson Welles (the Citizen Kane in the 1941 film and many others) with the band in the narration history of Dark Avenger ''and his horse called Black Death''.. One of the greatest moments of Heavy Metal history.
 |
| Manowar and Orson Welles at studio 1982 |
Along with the album release, Ross the Boss on behalf of the band gives the very first interview in Kerrang!
Manowar's determination and will can be clearly seen in his words:
''Everyone's scared. Record companies are scared and so are the radio stations.But at the top of the list are bands. They are the ones doing all the damage..We are not afraid! We just dont give a shit!!''
 |
| First interview Kerrang! 1982 |
The album sold 8-10.000 copies for EMI and Manowar would be the support act in Ted Nugend's American Tour. But things didnt go well for the band and after only 5 shows they were dropped out of the tour. The band said that a lot of people liked them a lot and this was something that Nugent couldnt stand.
''He (Ted Nugent) told me that he wanted to stay in the top for another 10 years'' stated sarcastically Joey De Maio. So, the band left without any major touring in U.S something that made difficult for the band to make its music heard by many people..
 |
| Manowar live 1982 |
Along that, after only 2 months EMI broke the contract with the band and so Manowar was without a tour and without a record company behind....Within the next months drummer Donnie Hamzik left the band. He would rejoin Manowar in a suprise move in 2008. But in the end of 1982 things didnt look so optimistic for them...Despite all the difficult situations and bad luck that Manowar faced, this band was not like others. They started rehersal,writing new songs and seeking for a new drummer. Nothing could stop them on their ride to Glory...!
BATTLE HYMNS MMXI
On November 2010, 28 years after its original release Manowar with the same line up (with Karl Logan instead of Ross The Boss) re-recorded the album as Battle Hymns MMXI, with the addition of 2 bonus live tracks from their support shows with Ted Nugent. Another famous actor, Christopher Lee narrates the story of Abaddon with his magestic voice this time. A decent try from the band even if not at the same level and as passionate as their debut album, back in 1982. But why Manowar re-recorded Battle Hymns?
The truth is that the band was never satisfied with the production and the final result. There are interviews of Joey De Maio back in 1983 saying '' how can a heavy metal album be recorded with dolby sound?? It has nothing to do with us, we are not satisfied at all '' . So i think this is why Manowar decided to do this.
''Finally, technology has caught up with MANOWAR's custom-built touring and recording equipment. The band decided that their fans deserved to hear the songs from their debut album Battle Hymns with the massive sound and production that has become their signature over recent years and records.''
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου