Great Metal Albums of 1987: Manowar- Fighting the World

With each album from Manowar I listen to, the more I think that Kerrang Magazine should apologize for calling them a joke band in a 1986 issue. Manowar are definitely not a joke band, they are as serious as any other metal band in the world. True, their image may be over the top but that doesn’t stop their music from being as good as it is. When I listened to the 1987 album, “Fighting the World,” I did so with these thoughts in mind. By the time the album finished, I was in no doubt that they were never a joke band.

According to sources, the single released from the album was “Blow Your Speakers” and I must say that it is a fantastic song. The true heavy metal power railing against commercial radio stations who refused to play heavy metal. It is my favourite track on the album and when I listen to it, I do want to blow my speakers with it. Here’s the weird thing, over a decade ago, I picked up a compilation album and the Manowar song on the album was the title track. So, you can see why I found this a little confusing. If anything, I’m surprised it wasn’t released as one because it is that good. It also was an inspiring song when I wrote “Rock and Roll Children,” because by 1987, it seemed that heavy metal was fighting the world.

Right after the two opening songs comes the hidden gem, “Carry On.” I think several bands who came later drew influence from this song. The intro is something right out of a Strativarius song and then after that acoustic intro, you get a song which could have inspired both The Darkness and the Black Veil Brides. It is a very enjoyable song which you can’t help to move your head along to. It also has a great guitar solo from Ross the Boss. Some might say that the repetition of the chorus “Carry on, carry on, forever carry on” might drag on a bit at the end but it doesn’t bother me.

Very interesting sound effects such as police sirens begin the track, “Violence and Bloodshed.” This is a very fast paced song with some more interesting sound effects at the guitar solo. “Defender” starts with a spoken word from a father to his son. The father isn’t there but he charges his son with the task of defending the helpless to the end. The background music is very suspenseful and sounds great with the words. Eric Adams sings the response of the son saying he will take up the task. The guitar and bass comes in harder but still has that gloomy feeling before going into what could be Ross’s best guitar solo on the album. After that, the spoken voice and Eric’s vocals join together with the chorus “Ride like the wind, fight on, you’re the defender.” It is a cool concept song.

Sandwiched between two minute and a half tracks, the first an instrumental, is “Holy War.” The track starts with the clapping thunder of where the instrumental left off. After a slow build up, it explodes into the fastest song on the album. It does slow down a little for the second verse but the energy cannot be held in and just explodes again. While we get another great guitar solo, my ears are more tuned into the rhythm section, especially Joey DeMaio’s bass. Closing the album is “Black Wind, Fire and Steel.” While it’s rather fast paced, the melody of the song makes it perfect for the closer. The background guitar during the verses gets my attention as does how it all comes together as it winds down to the end.

Track Listing:

1. Fighting the World
2. Blow Your Speakers
3. Carry On
4. Violence and Bloodshed
5. Defender
6. Drums of Doom
7. Holy War
8. Masters of Revenge
9. Black Wind, Fire and Steel

Manowar

Eric Adams- vocals

Ross the Boss- guitar, keyboards

Joey DeMaio- bass

Scott Columbus- drums

Not that I ever thought it in the first place, but “Fighting the World” put to rest any thought that Manowar were a joke band. They play their metal as good as anyone else. Kerrang should be ashamed and it could be why it has basically sucked since the mid 1990s.

Next post: Nuclear Assault- Game Over

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com