“Father I look up to you”
They were an unknown band at the time but that didn’t stop Manowar from securing the services of screen legend Orson Welles who (clearly recognising that he was in the midst of fellow geniuses) agreed to record narration for their debut album: 1982’s Battle Hymns. His narration was used on that album’s Dark Avenger but in the same session Welles also recorded two more pieces: a cool stage intro (that the band has used ever since) and narration for a strange and glorious second song, Defender.
Mostly spoken word set to music, it’s the kind of thing other bands would have used to flesh out an album. But Manowar are not “other bands” so Defender was released as a non-album single in 1983. Not the kind of stuff to tear up the charts but a great introduction to Manowar’s barbarian muscle metal. Windswept Conan tones in the mellow intro, Welles’ baritone gravitas, that killer “ride like the wind” chorus and goosebumps galore when vocalist Eric Adams finally chips in.
I slightly prefer the more direct, streamlined Fighting The World version from 1987 (which used the same narration but re-recorded and rearranged the rest of the song) but the original has its own appeal. It almost sounds like a metallized take on classic Kansas with Adams’ soaring vocals and Ross The Boss’ bluesier guitar solo. And best of all it has a longer, more epic atmosphere with the “Tree Of Woe” vibe that characterized the band’s early work. It’s a must-hear and a must-have rarity for any Manowar fan. This is the music God has sent.
I like how you have to wait a full 3 minutes for the vocals – neat to read 38 years later, they’re still using the Welles stage intro
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It’s the best stage intro ever. “Ladies and Gentlemen. From the United States Of America… all hail… Manowar”.
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That is a score on their part. Wells was a legend even then. He sounds great on it.
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He was great. The Fighting The World version was done as a tribute after he died. They re-did Dark Avenger later as well, but that time they got Christopher Lee to do the narration.
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Christopher Lee is no slouch either.
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No. Nothing but the best for Manowar!
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I recall being blown away by this debut at the time. My buddy Muc bought Battle Hymns and they had a sound all there own on this debut.
Welles I thought was a crazy at that time. Cool you found that pic.
Nice throwback review Scott
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One of the great debuts. First song of theirs I ever heard was the title track.
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Flight of the Bumble Bee was just nuts haha. What a ripper on the 4 stringer
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It’s crazy. DeMaio > Rando!
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There’s only one Tool and he’ not in Tool either.
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Wow, this sounds like something I would call ‘cowboy metal.’ I mean the first part of the song sounds like what Johnny Cash would have sounded like if he made a metal record. Fantastic guitar solo on it though.
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Don’t hear that at all, sorry!
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In that case, I’ll blame the fact that I’ve been fighting off a cold for the past two days. đŸ™‚
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Haha that’s ok, we can hear things different ways. It’s interesting you get that from it. But… maybe have a Lemsip just in case!
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I just took one.
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Maybe… Welles’ deep voice and the slow delivery? Wouldn’t have made that connection though… very interesting! đŸ¤”
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It was probably those two factors.
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Ride
Ride like the wind
Manowar is a cult favorite of mine
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Huh?! Orson Welles narrating an ’80s metal album?! Why was I not informed about this until now etc etc…
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It’s weird people don’t know about it. It was the peak of his career, after all.
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Personally, I always preferred his uncredited cameo appearance on ‘Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)’ by the Cheeky Girls. Genre defining, I’d say.
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I thought that was Brian Blessed?
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Easy mistake to make, he WAS one of the cheeky girls.
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Ah. That was a weird wank then.
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Come on we’ve all had a Brian Blessed-based sexual fantasy haven’t we? haven’t we? hey, guys, don’t go ….
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I love these creative collaborations that work. Thanks for this HMO
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It was cool event. Even better than the time they signed their record contract in their own blood.
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Just a creative bunch of guys.
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Right. That’s brilliant that is. Absolutely brilliant.
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High praise from J!
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You bet… and I’m being serious.
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