Kings of Metal MMXIV [Silver Edition]

by Manowar

Overview

On their anthemic mission statement "Kings of Metal" Manowar once again proclaim their metal superiority thusly: "Other bands play, Manowar kills." The twin sentiments of the group's metal mastery and the majesty of medieval heroism in battle are doggedly repeated on their sixth full-length release, Kings of Metal. There aren't many surprises on the disc, with the possible exception of bassist Joey DeMaio's blinding 64th-note bass playing on a reworking of Russian classicist Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" entitled "Sting of the Bumblebee." Considered by some fans to be a classic of its own, the 1988 release might have a few too many ballads for power metal enthusiasts brushing up on the genre's history. Even devout Manowar enthusiasts would have to admit that the band's staunch metal formalism isn't for everybody, and the most open-minded of listeners still might struggle with the muscle-bound pretense of slow-motion tracks like "Heart of Steel," "Crown and the Ring," and "Hail and Kill." Speedier tracks like "Wheels of Fire" demonstrate the groups talents much better, and are conspicuously low in number on this release. Besides their refreshingly totalistic loyalty to form, Manowar's most admirable trait is their prodigious metal musicianship, but with so much slow, balladic material, Kings of Metal makes little use of the band's fundamental musical strengths. ~ Vincent Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	03/11/2014
Label:	Magic Circle Music
UPC:	4042564149579
Rank:	92693

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Blood of the Kings MMXIV
2. Hail and Kill MMXIV
3. Heart of Steel MMXIV
4. Kingdom Come MMXIV
5. Kings of Metal MMXIV
6. Sting of the Bumblebee MMXIV
7. The Crown and the Ring MMXIV [Orchestral Version]
8. The Warrior's Prayer MMXIV
9. Wheels of Fire MMXIV
10. Heart of Steel MMXIV [Guitar Instrumental]
11. The Crown and the Ring MMXIV [Metal Version]

Disc 2

12. Blood of the Kings MMXIV
13. Hail and Kill MMXIV
14. Heart of Steel MMXIV [Acoustic Intro]
15. Heart of Steel MMXIV [Orchestral Intro]
16. Heart of Steel MMXIV
17. Kingdom Come MMXIV
18. Kings of Metal MMXIV
19. Wheels of Fire MMXIV