MANOWAR – Sign Of The Hammer
Manowar is a band that has meant very much to very many Metalheads worldwide, with their to-the-bone attitude and undisguised (ab)use of Denim & Leather, thundergodz, iron underpants and the like. This image has lately been adopted by quite a lot of younger bands – the Italian Accent-Metal league for example, but although gods and warriors have been common subjects since the dawn of Heavy Rock, but Manowar is the one band who took these themes to the uttermost degree. While not everyone agree with me when I say that Warriors of the World is a great album, and quite some agree with me when I say (or write) that the four and a half hour long drum solo in the middle of “Achilles – The Eight-legged Freak” of Triumph of Steel was very necessary, most will agree if I say that Sign of the Hammer is an all-time classic. From the mid-tempo, groooovy, opener “All Men Play on Ten” (eventually “All Women play on 11” – the all-time classic of feminist Metal, “All Men play IN Ten” – the all-time classic tribute to Bob Catley’s boys), with it’s fabulous drum and vocals-only verses where the unadulterated emotion of the young Eric Adams really shines through, and the bombastic, almost Black Sabbath-ish chorus to the speedy title track, “The Oath”, and especially “Animal”, where especially the latter has to be the perfect blend of Punk and Metal. All three are very basic, and does little to hide that fact, but still they rock like nuttin’ else. The title track has a Saxon vibe to it, “The Oath” is all screaming vocals and whining guitars (and bass!), and “Animal” is pure madness. Especially the last chorus, after a long drum crescendo, hits you like the Mighty Iron Hammer of Thor Blazing At …READ MORE