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Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on Fantasy fiction (particularly sword and sorcery) and mythology (particularly Norse mythology and Greco-Roman mythology) as well as numerous songs celebrating the genre and its core audience. The band is also known for a loud and emphatic sound. In an interview for MTV in February 2007, bassist Joey DeMaio lamented that "these days, there's a real lack of big, epic metal that is drenched with crushing guitars and and ... so it's nice to be one of the few bands that's actually doing that". In 1984, Manowar was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for delivering the Loudest band, a record that they have since broken on two occasions. They also hold the world record for the longest heavy metal concert after playing for five hours and one minute in Bulgaria (at Kavarna Rock Fest) in 2008. They are known for their slogan "death to false metal".
Following the album's release, Manowar embarked on their first tour. They played support for hard rocker Ted Nugent for a few months and then continued on their own. Following the tour, Hamzik left the band and was replaced by Scott Columbus.
Manowar subsequently went into the studio to produce what, in the intentions of the group, would have been a simple Extended play, but which instead turned into their second full-length album, Into Glory Ride, issued in 1983. An EP was actually published in 1983, with the title Defender, containing, as its main track, the eponymous song, which included more work by Welles. The track was later re-recorded and included on the 1987 album Fighting the World. In 1984, Manowar released Hail to England and followed it with Sign of the Hammer, only ten months later.
The band switched to Atlantic Records in 1987, subsequently issuing Fighting the World, which enjoyed more extensive distribution and increased their prominence in the international heavy metal scene. Album art was designed by Ken Kelly.
In 1988, Manowar released Kings of Metal, the band's best-known work. Songs like "Heart of Steel", "Kings of Metal", and "Hail and Kill" are performed regularly in concerts. The album is Manowar's highest-selling album worldwide.
The band then embarked on a world tour, for a period of approximately three years, with stops in almost all European nations. During that tour, DeMaio fired Ross the Boss. According to a 2008 interview with the guitarist, "Joey felt that Manowar would be better without me". He was replaced by David Shankle, who was chosen by members of the band after a search among approximately 150 candidates. Scott Columbus later also decided to leave the band, during the Kings of Metal tour. He picked his replacement, Kenny Earl Edwards, soon nicknamed "Rhino".
In 1996, Manowar issued Louder Than Hell, their first new studio album in four years. The band went on to release the compilation Anthology, and their first live album, Hell on Wheels, through BMG. This was followed by a second live record, Hell on Stage.
In 2003, DeMaio founded his own record label, Magic Circle Music, which became the band's official home.
Manowar's subsequent release, in November 2010, was a re-recording of their 1982 debut album, Battle Hymns. Titled Battle Hymns MMXI, it included narration by Sir Christopher Lee. On July 21, 2011, the band embarked on a UK tour for the first time in 16 years and performed Battle Hymns in its entirety.
Manowar's next studio album, The Lord of Steel, was released in June 2012, exclusively on iTunes and on the band's own online store. The song "El Gringo" is featured in the soundtrack to the film El Gringo.
After the Lord of Steel tour was over in 2013, Manowar released a live EP, titled The Lord of Steel Live, which included six tracks recorded during the tour.
On May 25, 2016, the band announced that they would embark on their next world tour, dubbed the Final Battle. They recruited drummer Marcus Castellani from the Brazilian tribute band Kings of Steel for the tour.
On October 25, 2018, it was revealed that guitarist Karl Logan was arrested on August 9 in Charlotte, North Carolina, for allegedly possessing child pornography and was charged with six counts of third-degree exploitation of a minor, ultimately resulting in a conviction and a prison sentence. Manowar issued a statement shortly after, saying that Logan would not perform with them any longer. They then said that their upcoming album and tour would not be affected. Following Logan's arrest, former guitarist David Shankle expressed interest in rejoining the band.
On January 1, 2019, Manowar announced that guitarist E. V. Martel would join them on their tour. On March 22, the band stated that they would release a trilogy of EPs based upon the Final Battle world tour. The first one, The Final Battle I, came out on March 29 in an exclusive pre-sale at the merchandise booth in Frankfurt and also during European shows. It was then issued on iTunes worldwide. Former HammerFall and Yngwie Malmsteen drummer Anders Johansson was announced as the new live drummer shortly after and made his debut at the March 25 show in Brno, Czechia. Despite the tour's name, bassist Joey DeMaio dismissed any claims of Manowar's retirement, mainly due to fans' demands to have them continue to perform.
In June 2019, the band's appearance at Hellfest was canceled for undisclosed reasons. Manowar clarified that the festival had canceled the performance, not they. Swedish band Sabaton replaced Manowar in the lineup. DeMaio later said that the band filed a lawsuit against the Hellfest organizers.
In May 2020, Manowar announced that they would embark on a tour, beginning in April 2021 in Europe, to celebrate their 40th anniversary. This did not take place, however.
On June 4, 2022, the day of the first show of their Crushing the Enemies of Metal Anniversary Tour '22/'23, it was announced that drummer Anders Johansson could not perform with the band due to family commitments, and he was replaced by Dave Chedrick. On September 2, following a statement by guitarist E. V. Martel that he would not be available for touring the following year, the band announced Michael Angelo Batio as their touring guitarist.
On October 15, 2023, the band announced that in 2024, they would re-record their album Sign of the Hammer, to be released under the title Sign of the Hammer 2024, while also confirming that their new, long-awaited, still-untitled studio album would come out in 2025. However, as of December 2025, there had been no news of either release. In January 2025, Manowar embarked on the Blood of Our Enemies Tour 2025.
In a May 2002 interview with Metal-Rules.com, vocalist Eric Adams was asked, "Who is that guy in your album cover? Do you have any name for him?" He replied, "No because he is you, he is her, he is this person he is that person and so on. He has no face and that was in sic purpose because everyone needs a heroes sic in their life and our music is all about heroes and you know being the leader not the follower. It's picture sic of hero and you being that hero is that what it is all about. So there is no real name for it. It's a fantasy world man. Put your face there are you are the hero!"
The first official appearance of the gesture was on the front cover of the band's fifth album, Fighting the World, where vocalist Eric Adams is shown making the gesture in a drawing of the band members. It then appeared in the official music video for "Blow Your Speakers", shown being made by the band members and crowd during a concert, as well as in the full cover art of the 1992 album, The Triumph of Steel.
They have influenced heavy metal bands around the world, including Abbath, Amon Amarth, Angra, Arch Enemy, Atlantean Kodex, Avatar, Battle Beast, Beast in Black, Brainstorm, Brothers of Metal, Burning Point, Children of Bodom, Coronatus, Crystal Viper, Death, Destroy Destroy Destroy, Doomsword, Elvenking, Ensiferum, Exmortus, Falconer, Firewind, Grand Magus, HammerFall, Holy Dragons, Hysterica, Immortal, Imperial Age, Jack Starr's Burning Starr, Khemmis, Korpiklaani, Lost Horizon, Majesty, Moonspell, Orden Ogan, Pegazus, Rhapsody of Fire, Sabaton, Seven Kingdom, Seven Witches, Sons of Apollo, Steel Attack, Stormwarrior, Sulphur Aeon, Symphony X, Therion, Trick or Treat, Trivium, Týr, Unleash the Archers, Van Canto, White Skull, Wintersun, Wizard,
Past
Timeline
|- | 2012 || Joey DeMaio || The Golden God ||
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