Manowar - With Pen And Ink

Published by : Nowa Fanastyka
Author: Jakub Ostromecki
Published on : September 2002

An excerpt from the article "FANTASTYCZNY HEAVY METAL (2)", published in the biggest Polish Science Fiction magazine "Nowa Fantastyka"

The band's debut album was an American answer to the revival of Heavy Metal in Great Britain; still full of Hard Rock influences, with a bright "motorcycle" spirit, already shows (concretely the B-side) a monumental and barbarian orientation. The albums "Fighting the World" and "Kings of Metal" go along with the commercial metal genre, popular in the USA at that time. "Triumph of Steel" with the 28 minutes long "Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in 8 Parts", full of bass shows, is a collage of pure power metal sounds and Wagner-like moods. Common feature of all albums is the sparing use of orchestral elements within typical, heavy metal tunes. Yet it appears in the more quiet tunes, which have the character of hymns or ballads. Paradoxically the band achieved greatest fame after the release of their album "Louder than Hell" in 1996. Currently the band excels in popularity the greatest of the former stars such as Saxon, Accept and Wasp.

Specific code of behaviour and values emphasized the looks of the musicians, who presented themselves as violent warriors and heroes, performing on stage clothed in animal skins, leather and wearing savage war equipment. An important role played the liking of the band members, especially of the vocalist, for showing off their musculature. Numerous women fainted, men reacted ardently and critics smiled indulgently.

The prototype for Manowar lyrics is the prose of Howard. "Kill with Power", "Blood of My Enemies" or "Sign of the Hammer" refer to "Tigers of the Sea", "Swords of the Northern Sea" and "Night of the Wolf". "Dark Avenger" employs the theme of the warrior-renegade and clan vengeance, known from the short stories of Conan's archetypes - Turlogh O'Brien or Cormac Fitzgeofrey. The heroes in "Secret of Steel" celebrate steel forged weapons, like their archetypes in "Conan the Barbarian".

The band often puts themselves in the roles of powerful warriors ("Warriors Prayer" and cover illustrations for the albums "Into Glory Ride" and "Fighting the World").

The explicit attitude towards women, an element also known from the beginnings of American fantasy, while not as extreme as in metal, can be seen in the refrain of the song "Pleasure Slave": Woman be my slave! That's your reason to live. It's the most blatant and provocative creation in heavy metal of the picture of a woman as award and instrument for the warrior.

In the creative power of the band the infantility of building a black-white picture of the world may offend. Churlishness and crudeness, especially in the early years of the band, or the emotionalism in the later years, may irritate. The message, today culturally incorrect or even dangerous, may anger. But wasn't Howard accused of similiar things? The analogy between two such, as it may seem at first sight, different media, makes Manowar a great transporter to a world where men are strong, women beautiful and life full of adventures.

Jakub Ostromecki
Fantastyczny Heavy Metal (2) (Fantastic/Fantasy Heavy Metal)
Nowa Fantastyka, Issue 9(240), September 2002