MMXIV - kings of metal - Manowar - Itunes online version released, I Grumble and Cursed the marketing strategy, but still bought 9 of the 18 songs.

~ This post is a dedication.. a quick(y) at the workplace. lol!! Only excitement of this magnitude deserves all these risks!! haha. 

Two things
1st- Shit on you Joey Demaio!! You took money from me twice this time. There is no way I will ever get the patience to wait for the physical cd album release of Kings Of Metal MMXIV later this month while reading how others are heaping praises on this re-recordings and new interpretations of these awesome songs.
So for the first time ever, I purchased songs online through Itunes although I personally don't use any Apple gadgets.
This shows how much the original Kings Of Metal album means to me through all these years.

2nd - Kudos to Joey and Manowar. I think what they did for the fans who got screwed up for the first show last night is fabulous and respectful and a sign they really treasure their fans... One of the reasons why they have their ever loyal, dedicated hardcore fans worldwide who sacrifice a lot for this band.

yES! yEs! YeS! YEs! yeS! YES! I know I am not really a fan of current Manowar nowadays.

I start giving up on them since Warriors Of The World album and worse with all the bullshit in the news about the late Scott Columbus departure from the band.
I only ever bought their DVD "the day earth shook" or something, because ex-members especially Ross The Boss and Rhino plays with them that night and all the fabulous  conventions and rehearsals footages. Still its one of my favourite rock music DVDs ever.
If I want a dosage of newer Manowar, I always have the two cds by ROSS THE BOSS band which are superior in my opinion.

But when news of Manowar re-records Kings of Metal after over 20 years later, with Donnie Hamzik and Karl Logan, and using Brian Blessed (Black Adder's father, the King Richard IV, in the original Blackadder series) narrating the MMXIV version of Warriors Prayer, I know its going to be an album that I want to hear. But then I heard the first snippets of "Blood Of The Kings", with the additional countries on it, I know I am going to get this MMXIV album ASAP

ok, there is actually 18 songs on Kings Of Metal MMXIV. Personally I dont understand whats some of the intsrumental songs are in there for unless Karl Logan soloed on top or something. They should just had made it into one cd isn't it?? MONEY MAKING SESSION???

Kings Of Metal MMXIV Track List (FINAL):

Hail And Kill MMXIV
Kings Of Metal MMXIV
The Heart Of Steel MMXIV (Acoustic Intro Version)
A Warrior's Prayer MMXIV
The Blood Of The Kings MMXIV
Thy Kingdom Come MMXIV
The Sting Of The Bumblebee MMXIV
Thy Crown And Thy Ring MMXIV (Orchestral Version)
On Wheels Of Fire MMXIV

Thy Crown and Thy Ring MMXIV (Metal Version)
The Heart Of Steel MMXIV (Guitar Instrumental)

Hail And Kill MMXIV (Instrumental)
Kings Of Metal MMXIV (Instrumental)
The Heart Of Steel MMXIV (Orchestral Intro Version - Instrumental)
The Blood Of The Kings MMXIV (Instrumental)
Thy Kingdom Come MMXIV (Instrumental)
Thy Crown and Thy Ring MMXIV (Orchestral Version - Instrumental)
On Wheels of Fire MMXIV (Instrumental)

As I know I will purchased the cd next time when the physical copy is released, I just decide to purchase NINE songs of the online version first. The ones in PINK above. One song is about S$1.28 so it cost me about S$11.

My Opinion and review of these 11 songs I purchased online of Kings Of Metal MMXIV..


Hearing it a few times AT WORK now. See?? I am really freaking crazy over this release. Anyway its Saturday.. (no gahmen haha).

a) complete reshuffle of the sequence we know so well. This album won't kick off with the roaring accelerating engines of Wheels of Fire.
b) a few slight rename of song titles if you notice, besides the MMXIV at the end.
c) no more fade-ending if you get what I mean. So the "KICK YOUR ASS" and "MANOWAR KILL" chorus chants will stop when its still loud and proud.

d) there is additional lyrics of " I was" added before "Born to walk again the wind..." on Hearts of Steel MMXIV. The "guitar instrumental" of Hearts of Steel MMXIV is Karl Logan "soloing" on top of the instrumental version of the song. I love it. I LOVE KARL LOGAN ON THIS SONG!!
e) (THY) Kingdom Come MMXIV is a song that got me worried about for this re-make because the original version is supreme and so beautiful. But not to worry, Eric Adams nails the song especially the singalong ending. I want to hear Eric Adams sings live!!!.

f) The Crown And Thy Ring MMXIV. The ORCHESTRAL VERSION IS AWESOME, but I AM LESS INCLINED ON THE METAL VERSION.
 I always got a problem when I go thru youtube on different performances of this song at different locations and the drums kick in and whole band joining in during the last chorus when this song is played live. I don't like it because to me....
This song works perfectly with just ERIC's voice, the backing CHOIR, and the Church ORGAN or keyboards plus those distant thunders and "KEBABOOMMSS" effects. The best would be with the synchronised fireworks display.
That footage of this song with the synchronised fireworks on the DVD of The Earth Shook always makes me sad, but I always like to watch it again and again.

g) On Wheels of Fire MMXIV - still the fabulous Eric dual singing is used. HAPPINESS always when listening to this song.
h) KARL LOGAN is fabulous through out. He has exciting solos without affecting the Ross The Boss footprints on these legendary songs. I think now I can say I like Karl Logan, at last. 
i) BLOOD OF THE KINGS MMXIV, if the remake of this song failed, the whole MMXIV album will have failed.
Not to worry, its a tremendous remake, Karl Logan solo is superb but still the footprint of Ross The Boss remains untouched,
and if you had the heard the sample, and which I blog about a week ago, "Raised Your Hands And Fight For Metal" is now changed to the final product of additional two countries added "Poland and Israel Fight For Metal".

j) lastly, SORRY but no Pleasure Slave included as its actually a cd bonus and not part of the original album. So we won't know how the MMXXXRATEDXXIV intro of this song will be like. HAHAHAHH!!!!!
k) Karl Logan really attracts me on this album, Joey Demaio lets wait for the cd with his Sting Of The Bumblebee, Donnie Hamzik is not flashy type isn't it, but the MAN OF THE MATCH for this MMXIV version of Kings Of Metal is to me their singer Eric Adams. After all these years..


Now I shall wait for the physical album.

And I want to hear Brian Blessed when he narrates - "They meet the Armies of the World.. WITH A MIGHTY CLASH!!!!!"


and I hope to see Manowar plays live one day... of course with a setlist that I choose. No Warriors Of The World Unite, no cry HAHA.
I will choose songs like Mountain, Bridge of Death, Black Wind Fire & Steel, those kind of older songs (except 2nd album which I dont really like) haha.. ooo and Master Of The Wind is a must.

and I for sure will burst to tears and cry my eyes out during The Crown And The Ring. sob..sob..sob...

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.hahahaha!!!!!! but really this song works beautifully live with the synchronised fireworks display. The first time I saw this scene when I was watching the Absolute Power DVD, I got the shock of my life. 
To me it doesn't matter what music it is, as long as it have nice songs, good performances, and memorable gimmicks to make it even more enjoyable.
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