Battle Hymns 2011

[Jevil]

Hail, brothers of true metal! One of the best albums ever is being re-recorded.

100% crabcore free!

Feel the power and might of Manowar in your rectum!


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccHwmplbw&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

 

[StefTD]

I saw a video of Joey in the studio a few weeks ago and he was like:
"We get that CD as loud as it can be, it's going to be the loudest album EVER!!!"
My first thought was: "30 years of recording albums and you still want the loudest?"

 

[Skinny Viking]

I'm in dammit!

 

[BrettT]

This is what happens when a band runs out of ideas. Fucking lame idea, IMO.

 

[korpse pop]

I like the original better. Unnecessary re-recording IMO, I like my True Metal with the vintage sound!

 

[Jevil]

You are false metal bastards, this will be LOUDER!

Seriously...original Battle Hymns was perfect, why doing this? They'd better do another new album.

 

[P-E]

I DEFINITELY prefer them remaking this than making an album similar to their last one.

 

[Jind]

You are false metal bastards, this will be LOUDER!

Seriously...original Battle Hymns was perfect, why doing this? They'd better do another new album.

^^^ This ^^^ The original is still a classic album and rerecording it is just plain stupid. I agree that it truly is a sign that the idea tank has run dry.

I have to admit though that of all the early albums (as all the later sort of suck), I always preferred "Hail to England" the most.

 

[El_Gato]

Impossible!

No Orson Welles to narrate!

I'd listen to it but they should record new material.

 

[P-E]

they need to bring back ross the boss.. they need that rock n roll edge back

Impossible!

No Orson Welles to narrate!

Definitely agreed though.

 

[El_Gato]

wht? the boss out? I missed that

But I always believed he was the actual boss..

 

[Harry Hughes]

The songs I had heard from Manowar at times had this ridiculously high pitched vocal and then lyrics were just completely laughable, so I always assumed they were like Dethklok, Steel Panther and Spinal Tap, just meant to be a humorous project.

Then I found out that wasn't the intention of the band and I just kinda went

Guess this shows how little I know about pre 1990s metal

 

[El_Gato]

The songs I had heard from Manowar at times had this ridiculously high pitched vocal and then lyrics were just completely laughable, so I always assumed they were like Dethklok, Steel Panther and Spinal Tap, just meant to be a humorous project.

Yep, I can't stand some of the songs but I love others. I've been listening to the ballad Heart of Steel live lastly again because I love the writing, both music and lyrics. It has some high pitches but he's only one of the few who can do it right as he's an amazing vocalist.

 

[Felix Neumann]

Hail to Manowar! Up the Ales!

 

[Jevil]

Guess this shows how little I know about pre 1990s metal

 

[kaomao]

Well I think the first Manowar record is their most "hard rock" album to date, besides of course the title track, that is pure epic metal.
I mean is not really metal like the other albums. it has that late 70's first 80's hardrock/metal feel to it.
It wasn't necessary, I consider that record a masterpiece. I didn't listen to any clip of this new album, I have to anyway.
Manowar died many years ago for me, last great record: "triumph of steel" after that just average records.

p.s.
Overkill covered death tone
great song.

 

[Lurch1111]

I'm listening to the new version of Battle Hymns as I write this, & I can honestly (& sadly) say this is the first time I've ever truly disliked a Manowar album. It's slow, it's sterile, it's overproduced, and it's actually painful to listen to for anyone familiar with the original classic, lacking any of the fire & drive shown by Manowar in 1982 (the original version of "Battle Hymn" remains my favorite Manowar song & the one that cemented my fandom). The only good tracks are the bonus live performances of "Death Tone" & "Fast Taker" from back in the day; everything else feels like a rehearsal. Christopher Lee's narration on "Dark Avenger" feels surprisingly phoned-in & does nothing to improve on Orson Welles' epic original take, and even Eric's mighty voice sounds limp & flat, even tired at points; the whole album feels to me like nothing but a soulless cash grab from a band who seems to be running out of ideas, out of steam, & out of time. I've always found a parallel can be drawn between Joey DeMaio & Gene Simmons: at first it was just that they were both bass players who acted as near-sole spokesmen for their bands, but over the years I've seen Joey become ever more greedy & controlling, running the band with an iron fist and slapping the Manowar logo onto anything & everything just like Gene does (Condoms? Really?). Add in the whole Scott Columbus debacle & it's clear something has gone very wrong in the Kingdom of Steel.

I hate to say all this as a huge fan of Manowar since the beginning, but if you're looking into this album you're probably a fan yourself so you deserve an honest review. I'm holding out hope that future releases will be better than this, but based on this album it's becoming apparent IMO that, like KISS or the Misfits, Manowar is a band that should probably have hung it up several years ago before they become nothing but an empty shell riding on their logos & nostalgic appeal to sell branded merchandise, thus becoming the very thing they once claimed to hate.

 

[El_Gato]

Sad to hear that but I can't say I wasn't seeing that coming. That's what happens when re-recording old material, I guess.

 

[Skinny Viking]

That's what happens when re-recording old material, I guess.

My friend my friend ...

thats a rather unfair and inaccurate statement ... I think has to do more with the band themselves and not the act of re-recording an older album or old material. Testament did just fine with that little endeavor, as did Exodus. Its all about how they approach their old material. If they've lost the fire and are just going through the motions, well, it'll show no matter what band is doing it

I'm a die hard Manowar fan for many many moons now. I'll probably pick this up just cause I'd like to hear what they do with it but from the sounds of things it won't come close to touching the original release but more because of their performances and not because "old shit sounds better" or "how can you touch a classic like that"

 

[El_Gato]

My friend my friend ...

thats a rather unfair and inaccurate statement ... I think has to do more with the band themselves and not the act of re-recording an older album or old material. Testament did just fine with that little endeavor, as did Exodus. Its all about how they approach their old material. If they've lost the fire and are just going through the motions, well, it'll show no matter what band is doing it

I'm a die hard Manowar fan for many many moons now. I'll probably pick this up just cause I'd like to hear what they do with it but from the sounds of things it won't come close to touching the original release but more because of their performances and not because "old shit sounds better" or "how can you touch a classic like that"

I guess you're right. I like many live recordings more than the originals now I realize. Why not re-recording old stuff, I've been thinking of it for my band lately TBH

I'll have a listen to the new Manowar stuff when possible, for sure.