[.ca] Sign Of The Hammer

setting the record straight on this straight-up record:
There's so much misinformation and so many contradictory opinions regarding this album floating around that I feel compelled to try to set the record straight. First of all, cheaply produced does not mean poorly produced. This album sounds the way it does for a reason. This is a unique recording; it doesn't sound like the garage-band sludge of early Manowar, such as the forgettable "Hail to England" (thank goodness), nor is it the slick, polished "eighties metal" of every record they made afterwards. This is as close as you can get to "Manowar unplugged". It's not really a metal album, but a hard rock album. The sound is dry, clean and tight, to match the songwriting. There are all sorts of brilliant little production touches throughout: the zany discombobulated choir of scattered voices on "Animals' is intentional, as some people don't seem to understand, and adds to the song. Likewise, the album cuts off suddenly after Eric Adams sings "mother, mother, mother" on "Guyana"(which by the way sounds a thousand times better here than on a later version on their second live album). This is a reference to the fact that Jim Jones famously shot himself just after saying those very words, as anyone who knows anything about the People's Temple cult will tell you. These are just two examples among dozens of the thought that went into making this record. Small label, yes, over twenty years old, yes, but high quality. About the songs: The only problem is that there are only eight of them (really seven, since the bass instrumental really just acts as an intro to "Guyana"). Every song is a world of its own; they're all different. The first is an old-fashioned strutting rocker; the second one of the very few times Manowar has done an "I like girls" song (I guess when you wear leather underwear on stage you have to make sure everybody knows that on occasion); "Thor" is a melodic battle hymn; "Mountains" is the softest thing they have ever done and as good as anything they have ever done; "Sign of the Hammer" and "The Oath" are weird, energetic, scary battle hymns; and "Guyana" is an eerie, long, atmospheric epic. This album is the place where DeMaio truly found himself as a songwriter, and this album is the place where Adams' vocals are at their absolute peak. His is in great voice, and he shows off both his vocal and emotional range to super effect, and in so doing takes what would otherwise be a very good album and makes it into a real classic. This is the hardest to find and usually most expensive Manowar cd. It has only seven real songs, and clocks in at around forty minutes. Is it really worth buying? You'd better believe it. In the final analysis, it's just one of those records that has that special "something" that makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts, even though some people just don't seem to "get" it. It is not, as some critics think, their best album, but I can understand why someone could seriously make that case, which is more than I can say for the opinion of anyone who believes early Manowar is the best, or that this album is just thrown together, or that it has anything in common with "Hail to England", etc., etc.

not too good:
I love manowar. They are among my favorite bands. This, however, is by FAR their weakest album. Sure, there's some catchy lyrics and riffs. Some of the songs are quite good. But overall, it's just weak. I see Manowar's music progression in 3 stages. 1. Into Glory Ride & Battle Hymns - the original sound. Raw, full of emotion and vinegar. Awesome, awesome work, if it is more than a bit dated now. 2. Sign of the Hammer and Hail to England - their weakest 2 albums. The sound is more 'metalic', partially due to the prodution. Sure, the musicanship is outstanding, but the songs are overly cheesy, and they sound 'thin', with no depth of music. 3. Fighting the World --> and on. - About Fighting the World, the lyrics are still cheesy, but the music is *thick* with layers, the lyrics are well delivered, and it is good, good metal. Of all the albums, Sign of the Hammer is the 'weakest link', but it's sister album (Hail to England) is a close 2nd. Still, if you're a fan of Manowar, it's worth having in your collection.

Onward Pounding...:
Yes, Manowar pounds onward. I will propably catch alot of heat for uttering this, but I think that Sign of the Hammer is a great improvement over Hail to England, which I felt lacked some of the power you expect from Manowar. This time Manowar follow their old reciept, fast and furious metal, mixed with awe-inspiring hymns and exelent musicianship. Even for non-fans there can be no doubt of the technical exelence of the members of the band. The album starts out with All Men Play on 10, a good traditional Manowar tune. After that follows Animals, which I consider the albums weakest track. Thor(The Powerhead) is Manowar as we know them, fast, agressive, in-your-face metal. Mountains a Vietnam-hymn, and a traditional Manowar power-balad, is just as awe-inspiring as one would expect. The Oath and Thunderpick are good tunes too, although I feel that the title track and Guyana(Cult of the Damned) stand out here. Both I feel are Manowar classics. I doubt any Manowar fan would be disapointed in this album. It contains all the qualities that you would expect from the Kings of Metal

Another great recording from Manowar:
This is a great ablum as is customary for Manowar. Mountains is very majestic and awe inspiring. The Oath is heavy, fast, and has great vocals. Guyana is my favorite, but I can't really describe it. I strongly recommend this album as well as Hail to England and Fighting the World.

All Men Play on 10:
Manowar plays true metal and again real heavy metal songs: "All Men Play on 10", "Animals", "Thor the Powerhead", "Sign of the Hammer", "The Oath". Maybe one not so good track is an instrumental track, "Thunderpick", which has annoying sounds. "Mountains" and "Guyana" are again really masterpieces of Manowar, they have silent and fast moments. Manowar hasn't given up its metal. They are true metal heads!

• All Men Play on 10
• Animals
• Thor (The Powerhead)
• Mountains
• Sign of the Hammer
• Oath
• Thunderpick
• Guyana (Cult of the Damned)