Manowar - Sons Of Odin EP, Immortal Edition Review
Posted by Evocator Manes on 11.10.2006
Teaser for new studio album and new DVD release...
Manowar Sons Of Odin EP, Immortal Edition
2006
Magic Circle
9.5
This should not be taken to mean that this is a hastily-cobbled together waste. It is anything but. Like all things Manowar, this is not undertaken lightly. The band does not know the meaning of half-assed and even though this EP features only 5 songs, some of which will make it on the next full-length, itself delayed due to Karl Logan's penchant for injuring himself on motorcross racing bikes, the Immortal Edition contains a gatefold digipak with the usual excellent artwork that fans are accustomed to.
The EP first...After a band has been around for 26 years, one can forgive them somewhat for resting on their laurels and doing endless greatest hits tours (looking at you, KISS). Any band that's been around that long has paid their dues many, many times and the mere fact that they're still around is a commendation to their longevity. Manowar continues to push forth, adding more and more bombast to their music and doing more and more challenging and demanding material. When the full-length studio disc, tentatively titled Gods Of War finally surfaces in 2007, it will likely be their most accomplished release ever and will once again raise the bar for heavy metal acts. On the other hand, the band really has no contemporaries left anymore and are, quite frankly, worlds beyond everyone else out there.
Vocally, Eric Adams sounds as good, if not better, than he ever has and guitarist Karl Logan has really locked into what the songs need. Joey DeMaio and Scott Columbus remain as rock-solid as always and are probably the best 1-2 punch rhythm section of all-time. If you're not familiar with Manowar's masculine, throat-throttling, anthemic, warrior music by now, you do yourself a disservice, but if you are familiar with it, you already know what you're in for. Manowar is the most consistent act in the history of music, yet a steady progression and refinement can be heard from album to album. The only complaint I have is the sound effects used on The Sons Of Odin, in which the sword clashes sound more knives being sharpened instead of mighty blades being struck together in combat. The axes meeting helmeted heads effect is slightly better, but the song sounds almost incomplete, as if those were just placeholder effects, to be replaced later with better-sounding effects later.
Getting to the DVD, there are 5:1 audio mixes of the EP, a nice treat in itself, a very well-done promo for the Earthshaker Fest 2005 DVD coming out in mid-November 2006, a slideshow (set to those 5:1 mixes of the fan convention, a handheld cam video of the band rehearsing Heart Of Steel with a full orchestra (and if you've never understood how great of a vocalist Eric Adams is, this will make you a believer). The real highlight here is the Fan Convention Documentary, which shows the incredible lengths that Manowar goes for their fans and vice versa. There will never be another band-fan relationship like this one, ever and much of it is captured on film in a way that comes across. Watching this lends both instant understanding and a feeling of camaraderie, good if you couldn't make it there.
Once again, Ken Kelly is at the helm for the artwork, though what is on the foldout is a bit restrained compared to previous efforts. Opening the gatefold, which also includes fully reprinted lyrics and credits, reveals one of Kelly's greatest masterpieces, the new artwork called "King Of Kings", which is nothing short of incredible. In fact, the art alone is worth the admission price here.
The 411: Manowar has cemented their status as the premier heavy metal act a thousand times over and
has nothing yet to prove, yet continues to not only soldier on, but also to progress. Their music and
statement only gets stronger and stronger over time and their very existence is a testimony to the power
and glory of heavy metal. This EP only whets the appetite for the forthcoming Gods Of War
and The Day The Earth Shook - The Absolute Power DVD chronicling the historic Earthshaker
2005 event. It also functions equally well for fans as well as newcomers to the band. Recommended.
