Customer Reviews

Battle Hymns

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

manowar debut,1982 no one sounded like this,manowar embraced and took metal to a whole new level-they were young and cocky and supremely talented,they were metal and proud of it, musicianship wise they were untouchable-lyric wise they were original and now often imitated,at that time no one sang about metal and fantasy ,you could sense the beleif and confidence they had in themselves,manowar has always been original and you can hear a lot of things that no one else was doing at the time in battle hymns,this is the recording that started it all, over the top guitar soloing,vocals and screaming that made you standup and listen with disbeleif,a bass sound that was truly original and heavy,you could actually hear every bass note in this recording,the weak link musicianship wise was probably the drumming a little generic in comparison to the caliber of the other musicians,ive neve heard a better narraration in music than orson welles part in dark avenger just one of the many original things about manowar,another original thing was the bass solo and the subject matters of the songs,so buy this cd and hear how it all started and see why manowar has one of the most loyal fanbases ever,and why they are still around 25 years later,always believe.

Rolling Stone Magazine reviewed this CD by simply writing one word, "Comicbook-rock". Battle Hymns is also one of the great metal CDs of all time.

Battle Hymns could sound a bit more polished or refined for my tastes (for other fans it works the opposite way), but all the songs on this CD are really good. Vocalist Eric Adams is at his most powerful at least, here on this their first CD, but isn't that the stereotype of the 'great' heavy metal singer? Orson Wells himself narrarates the song 'Dark Avenger' - one of the great metal songs of all time. 'Fast Taker', 'Shell Shock', 'Death Tone', 'Battle Hymns' and possibly my favorite, 'Metal Daze' - "Own-ly, one, thing, really sets me free, heavy metal, loud as it can be", fill up the rest of the CD. Orson Wells would go on to narrarate 'Defender' another great great Manowar song found on 'Fighting the World', their most commercial sounding CD.

Manowar were probably influenced by Black Sabbath (like evey metal band somewhere along the way) tho they play, generally, a little faster. Manowar hail from NYC tho most people think they are European (where they are considerably more popular). They've written some truly great songs over the years, 'Dark Avenger', 'Defender', 'Mountains'. . . long live true metal.

I'm a huge Manowar fan and I'm not sure I would be if it wasn't for Battle Hymns. I might have picked up one of their other CDs and thought to myself ~'There's one or two songs on here I like but that's it'. Thank goodness for Battle Hymns introducing me to this great band and making me a believer.

let me say that the first time i heard this album it ripped right threw my chest, it was in 1984 at the height of metals reign. I got to witness the performance of MANOWAR many times at Lamour's in Brooklyn, New York, the rock capital of earth at the time. Let me say that this was one of the rare occasions that the live performance blew away the album , but the spirit that lives in that recording is once of strength and excellence, a must for any metal devotee, and a collectors piece with the orson wells narration....

"Battle Hymns" was the second Manowar CD I've bought, the first being "The Triumph of Steel." I knew enough that this was their first effort as a band, and was anxious to hear how they started it all. I actually read most of the liner notes before I played the CD for the first time, and I was very impressed, ready for a great album. What I heard when I DID play the CD was everything I expected: Old-school heavy metal, with the trademark Manowar sound already evident from the first notes of "Death Tone" (after the sound of those Harleys taching up, of course!) Highlights are many: The aforementioned "Death Tone," "Metal Daze" (The first of MANY Manowar anthems!), "Shell Shock," "Dark Avenger" (Eric's signature vocals and Orson Welles' haunting narration make for a DEADLY combination!), and "Battle Hymn" (In a word, AWESOME!!) It only took one or two listens through the CD until I put it on the list of my all-time favorite CDs. The only gripe I could possibly have is that it is a little on the short side. But I'll willingly overlook that and say HAIL MANOWAR!!

I first heard Manowar's music back in 1985. At the time I was a huge Iron Maiden fan (Still am).But when I bought Battle hymns (On cassette- Ha Ha)and listened to it from beginning to end I knew I had me a new favorite group.I couldn't get enough of this album.It sounded unlike anything else out at the time(Even though it was 3 years old already). It did not have that Prototypical Heavy Metal sound to it either.In fact the first 4 tracks on the album are pretty much straight ahead Hard rock songs.The last 4 songs( even "Williams tale" which is Bassist Joey DeMaio proving that the bass can be a lead instrument too) are what set Manowar apart from the rest of the pack.From the song titled after the group "Manowar" to the Orson Welles narrated " Dark Avenger" and finally the title track, they took Heavy Metal to a new dimension.All the musicians in this band are great and play their own unique styles. But I was totally blown away by the vocal ability of singer Eric Adams. This is definitely an album that has stood the test of time. It is a must for any fan of Manowar, Heavy Metal/Hard Rock or people with good taste.I own every Manowar album and I would have to rate this in the top three(3)of all of their albums.

I was in 7th or 8th grade when I first heard this album, and I must say it was all I listened to back then. It was truly amazing the way a metal band could combine the elements they did. How many metal bands at that time (or now) could display an utter mastery of their instruments (and voice), meld that with great compositions and the right "attitude" and lyrics? Well, Manowar sure as heck could!

This album is already a classic! A lot of people might think the imagery in the lyrics, or the compositions are a little overly melodramatic but this was a truly new music that Manowar was performing. Many people talk of the freshness of a certian jazz artists music, or a pop artist with a new image or sound. Well, Manowar was all that in this release! Who cares who's the fastest guitarist, flashiest frontman, in the pocket bassist, or the most thunderous drummer! Do yourself a favor and buy this disc!

Finally! It's here on CD, and there isn't a let-down at all. The songs on this album have always been great, (esp. faves:Metal Daze, Fast Taker, Dark Avenger) but now they're even better on this remastered version. The booklet is probably the best thing about it; lots of pictures and quips from the band. The only thing that I find lacking is the production, especially for it being remastered. Yes, I know this was originally done a long time ago, but when I buy something remastered, I expect top quality. Still, it's a must-have for any self-respecting Manowar fan. You gotta love these guys!

Originally released in 1982 as this is the classic debut record from Manowar.This is the legit release,taken direct from the master tapes.Believe there used to be a piss-poor quality bootleg of this title in circulation several years back.It's easy to describe Manowar's music,L-O-U-D&HEAVY,I MEAN H-E-A-V-Y M-E-T-A-L!!You know,the kind that can get you evicted from your apartment if you play the record on '10' enough times.All eight tracks totally rip,but the best are the in-your-face opener "Death Tone","Metal Daze",the band's namesake "Manowar" and "Dark Avenger".Sort of dug the Orson Welles narration that goes along with the disc.For any 'newcomers' that may be reading this,'Battle Hymms' should appeal to fans of Bathory,Hammerfall,Slayer and maybe Testament.

Manowar's first and what a great album. It was awesome to hear this for the first time today. Dark Avenger and Battle Hymn are terrific. I loved hearing the two songs that set the foundation of Manowar's triumphant sound. I love the other songs on the album as well. It has a great 80's sound that I enjoy. Hail To The Kings Of Metal!

this is a great album and paved the way for a long list of metal bands that now sing about epic wars and vikings,the best songs of the album are(the album does not have any bad song anyway);metal daze,manowar, and the master piece battle hymn! this is true metal,so whimps and posers(a.k.a.fans of linkin crab and metallica)dont buy this album,for fans of real metal this is a great album to buy!