Search - Manowar :: Into Glory Ride: Silver Edition (Dig)

Don't Judge an Album by it's Cover

Matthew Szymonik | Elgin, IL | 09/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You know, as much of a die hard Manowar fan as I am, and trust me, I listen to Manowar EVERY day, I laugh each and every time I see this album cover. Like Kiss meets Conan the Barbarian! And when I bought this album for the first time as Geffen records import, I thought that I was going to be greatly dissapointed. Most sophmore efforts can be after all. However, I hit play and sat back and braced myself for the worst. Starting out like an audio from a z-grade skin flick, it quickly picks up at the same tempo as the first album "Battle Hymns" with the song 'Warlord', a possble continuation of 'Death Tone'. As we move on in the album though, things get slower and more brooding. This is also the debut of their new drummer Scott Columbus. As I said, this album does slow things down a bit, but musically is quite elaborate. Apparently most of these songs were recorded in one-take sessions, genuinely giving it a "live in the studio" feel. With the exception of the first track, this whole album is themed in the days of warriors, wizards, demons and battle. And Scott's drumming is aptly suitable for this with the galloping rythms on 'Gloves of Metal' and 'Gates of Valhalla'. The former being a fantastic example of the classic rock abilities of guitarist Ross "The Boss" and the near operatic vocal abilities of singer Eric Adams. Joey DeMaio's bass playing is simply heavy and dark with flashes akin to Spanish Flamenco guitar style, as evidenced on the second track 'Secret of Steel'. The song 'Hatred' is one of those songs that sometimes I'm in the mood for, sometimes I'm not. Again, a long, slow, dark ode to hate with a long instrumental break in the middle, that returns to vows of destruction and ending in a speeding frenzy before blowing out to the winds. The song that follows is for me all the justification one needs for buying this. 'Revelation' has it all. The pounding of drums like hooves of horses, the ever escalating rythms of the guitar and bass with fantastically classic solo breaks, and of course the vocals that soar higher and higher and higher......... and then all clears the top of the mountain to come bearing down hard giving no sign of remorse. The ending song 'March for Revenge' is the longest of all of these lengthy tracks, clocking in at 8min. 29sec. Once again, this is a story song that would be retold a few more times on later albums with more refinement.

In all, not a bad album but a bit much for most who like simple, pointless thrash songs that have more in terms of speed that they certainly do in true musical ability. One must have true appreciation, and moreover knowledge, of what ability is in this music to enjoy this album. In other words, if you are impressed with three string power chords being hammered on to death and unintelligable lyrcs screamed repeatedly, you will not like this album."

Epic Metal of the Highest Degree.

Mattowarrior | Madison, WI United States | 09/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like alchemists coming up with the right formula to make steel out of muscle, Manowar pushed forward twenty years ago with what probably is their magnum opus "Into Glory Ride". Black Sabbath,Mountain, Maiden and Priest go together with other 70's epic rock influences and are refined and honed into an epic metal masterpiece which stands on its own. This is seriously one of the best metal albums made, period. The cheese factor explored on later albums (still good though) hasn't shown up too much other than on the cover, and what results is also what many term Manowar's "Doom" album. Some of the slow Pounding pace of the sounds just take you to a place out of "Conan the Barbarian" or a Frank Frazetta painting and the melodies surge in your mind as the journey begins. The first song "Warlord" starts with a silly sample but the song is basically their statement about the way they want to live. The real journey begins on "Secret of Steel" and doesn't let up. Basil Pouledoris must have been another influence on these guys with their epic compositions (Bassist Joey Demaio is a huge Richard Wagner fan) and there are hardly any keyboards, just the four kings, and power, metal and might and that's all they need to create a musicical masterpiece up there with epic opera. Buy it immediately!"

Gloves of metal fales metal heads die

thomas f carter jr | hilton, new york United States | 04/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this was the first manowar lp i picked up many many years ago.
manowar has always been one of those metal bands you either liked or hated.me being one who loved manowar.this is metal the
way it should be played hard and heavy.trcks like gloves of metal
secrets of steel and the awsome hatred this is one of metals all time greatest releases pick this one up and death to false metal
we know there is a lot of that out there"