Achilles, Agony, Hail and Kill!!

The most metal to ever be mettled!  Welcome back to this week's midweek addiction, and I'm FINALLY writing about the #1 METAL band of all time, MANOWAR! Why are Manowar the greatest act in the history of metal? Well, because.. and I swear, if I start another anecdote with "back in my day" I'll give up the bottle for the rest of my life..  I don't always do that do I?  BACK IN MY DAY!!  Ok, yeah I do, so .. DO YOU HAVE 28 minutes to spare today?  Well, just hit play on that track above, and I shall tell you a tale!  Yeah, it's a 28 minute song.  Deal with it!

BACK IN MY DAY!  :P A friend and I had just discovered that we both loved metal, I had only experienced Metallica, Pantera, Megadeth, Testament, maybe a few outliers, but really I was still a youthful explorer of metal with virgin blood coercing through my veins. We had some time to kill after school and ventured to the nearest record/CD shop to look for some new music. 

At the time I would explore music by flipping through the used sections CD's at WeeBee CD's in Wausau, WI. I loved that place, you could pluck a stack of CDs and plop down by a player, put on some headphones and try music before you buy 'em!  A perfect way to spend an evening honestly. However, on this suspecting night, we wanted to grab something new and chill in a car and BLAST the speakers while cruising Grand Ave.  (Don't ask)  I saw one CD cover stick out above all the others!

Then I saw her... "The Triumph of Steel", which was my first foray into Manowar, and OMG, it's brilliant!  The longest song I'd ever heard, outside of the orchestral renaissance! (Which is another discussion for a future post on how close the two genres are tied)

Let's take a deep dive shall we?  How does it sound? What do these guys look like?  Oh dear...

Just look at these men.

Prepare yourselves, for we delve into the heart of a true metal behemoth! "Achilles, Agony, and Ecstasy," the monumental opening track from Manowar's epic masterpiece, The Triumph of Steel, isn't just a song; it's a journey through the ages, inspired by the legendary tales of Homer's Iliad, the ancient Greek epic that echoes with the clash of titans!

This is a sprawling saga, a sonic tapestry woven with threads of war, loss, and ultimate vengeance! The lyrics plunge us into the most legendary chapter of the Iliad, where the valiant Trojan hero Hector unleashes his fury upon the Greek forces, culminating in the devastating slaying of the noble Patroclus. But this act of valor will ignite a firestorm of retribution, as Patroclus's dearest friend, the indomitable Greek hero Achilles, vows a vengeance that will shake the very foundations of Troy!

As the title boldly proclaims, this epic is a multi-faceted experience, unfolding in eight distinct movements, each one a sonic reflection of the story's dramatic shifts. The opening salvo crashes down upon the listener like a thunderous battle cry! The first part erupts in a furious torrent of sound, a relentless assault that thrusts you headfirst into the chaotic heart of the Trojan War, the clash of steel and the roar of warriors engulfing your senses!

But the tide turns, and the second movement descends into a realm of sorrow. Here, the tempo slows, the music softens, mirroring the profound grief that washes over Achilles upon the death of his beloved Patroclus. A wave of mournful melodies washes over you, a testament to the depth of their bond.  DUELING GUITARS!  I fell in love with this, and you should too!

Then, the instrumental prowess of Manowar takes center stage! The third and fourth parts are instrumental epics in their own right. First, a guitar-driven funeral march for the fallen Patroclus, a somber procession of sorrow played with crushing weight. Then, prepare for a display of pure, unadulterated power! 

A DRUM SOLO APPEARS!!!

A colossal drum solo erupts, a percussive storm that emulates the very forging of Achilles' new, god-crafted armor, each beat a hammer blow from the heavens!

The narrative then shifts, the tension mounting in the fifth part. Hector, the valiant Trojan, is now faced with a grim choice, contemplating the inevitable challenge from the enraged Achilles, a confrontation that promises to be his final stand. The air thickens with anticipation, the weight of fate hanging heavy in the musical atmosphere.

But the moment of truth arrives, and the sixth part explodes with a blinding speed! This is the clash of legends, the ultimate duel between heroes! The music becomes a whirlwind of furious riffs and pounding rhythms, a sonic representation of the brutal, high-stakes battle that will decide the fate of both warriors.

Prepare for a descent into raw, primal power in the seventh movement! A truly brutal and extended bass solo from the legendary Joey DeMaio takes hold, a sonic onslaught that vividly portrays the visceral desecration of Hector's fallen body, a testament to Achilles' unbridled rage.

And finally, the epic culminates in a cataclysmic finale! The song explodes with earth-shattering volume as the mighty voice of Eric Adams soars, recounting Achilles' grim plans for Hector's remains and the solemnity of Patroclus's final rites. This is the sound of legend, the echo of a hero's triumph and a warrior's ultimate sorrow!

While this monumental track has only been performed in its entirety once, a truly historic moment in Athens, Greece, the spirit of "Achilles, Agony, and Ecstasy" lives on! Even when played in part, with the final, glorious "The Glory of Achilles" resonating through the halls, it's a reminder of the sheer power and storytelling prowess that defines the one and only Manowar!

Also, their album cover art work is excellent!  You can see why I picked them out of a crowded CD store!!  Ready for pure adulterated adrenaline!!??  

Did I hype that enough for you?  It's fukk'n stellar!  What a journey, what a tale!  Manowar- HAIL AND KILL!! Well, I'm spent- I'll see ya'll next week!