Gods of War (Manowar album)
Encyclopedia
Gods of War is an album by Manowar released in 2007. It's the first of a series of concept albums dedicated to different war gods from various mythologies. Gods of War is centered around Odin
, King of Gods and primary god of war in the Norse Mythology
. All the text on the booklet was written in the Runic alphabet
. The booklet is available for download in the official Manowar site. Cover art is painted by Ken Kelly.
Music of the album features symphonic metal
influence, such as use of keyboard
, choir
and symphonic orchestra. Its close relationship with the four-opera cycle of Der Ring des Nibelungen
by Richard Wagner
is intended by wagnerian DeMaio, as shown by the booklet and recent interviews with Michael Custodis.
"Die for Metal" is featured in the video game Brütal Legend
.
|-
! Year
! Country
! Chart
! Rank
|-
| 2007
| Germany
| IFPI
| #66
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
, King of Gods and primary god of war in the Norse Mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
. All the text on the booklet was written in the Runic alphabet
Runic alphabet
The runic alphabets are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialized purposes thereafter...
. The booklet is available for download in the official Manowar site. Cover art is painted by Ken Kelly.
Music of the album features symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
influence, such as use of keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and symphonic orchestra. Its close relationship with the four-opera cycle of Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen is a cycle of four epic operas by the German composer Richard Wagner . The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied...
by Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
is intended by wagnerian DeMaio, as shown by the booklet and recent interviews with Michael Custodis.
Standard edition
- "Overture to the Hymn of the Immortal Warriors" (Joey DeMaioJoey DeMaioJoey DeMaio is an American bass player and main songwriter for the heavy metal band Manowar which he co-founded in 1980. He is also the founder and CEO of Magic Circle Music....
) – 6:19 - "The Ascension" (DeMaio) – 2:30
- "King of Kings" (DeMaio) – 4:17
- "Army of the Dead, Part I" (DeMaio) – 1:58
- "Sleipnir" (Karl LoganKarl LoganKarl Logan is the guitarist of the heavy metal band Manowar.Logan joined Manowar in 1994, after local band gigs in northeastern Pennsylvania with Arc Angel and Fallen Angel featuring Ed Collins .He graduated Lakeland High School near Clifford, Pa. in 1982...
, DeMaio) – 5:13 - "Loki God of Fire" (DeMaio) – 3:49
- "Blood Brothers" (DeMaio) – 4:54
- "Overture to Odin" (DeMaio) – 3:41
- "The Blood of Odin" (DeMaio) – 3:57
- "The Sons of OdinThe Sons of OdinThe Sons of Odin is a 2006 EP by the heavy metal band Manowar.-Track listing:# "The Ascension" – 2:48# "King of Kings" – 4:24# "Odin" – 3:44# "Gods of War" – 6:52...
" (DeMaio) – 6:23 - "Glory Majesty Unity" (DeMaio) – 4:41
- "Gods of War" (DeMaio) – 7:25
- "Army of the Dead, Part II" (DeMaio) – 2:20
- "Odin" (DeMaio) – 5:26
- "Hymn of the Immortal Warriors" (DeMaio) – 5:29
Bonus track
"Die for Metal" is a metal anthem present on all copies of the album, but is listed as a bonus track because it is not part of the concept of the album.- "Die for Metal" (Logan, DeMaio) – 5:16
"Die for Metal" is featured in the video game Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
.
Limited edition
Besides the normal Jewel Case version, Gods of War was also released as a limited edition in an embossed metal slipcase containing a high grade media book bound in leather. Furthermore, this limited edition features a bonus DVD with unreleased material about the making of the album and some special behind-the-scenes footage. A double-vinyl LP in a gatefold sleeve was also available.Charting Position
| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Finnish Albums Chart | 12 |
| 2007 | German Albums Chart | 2 |
| 2007 | Greek Albums Chart | 2 |
| 2007 | Italian Albums Chart | 35 |
| 2007 | Austrian Albums Chart | 9 |
| 2007 | Norwegian Albums Chart | 36 |
| 2007 | Swedish Albums Chart | 17 |
| 2007 | Billboard Heatseekers Chart | 20 |
| 2007 | Billboard Independent Chart | 46 |
End of year charts
{| class="wikitable"|-
! Year
! Country
! Chart
! Rank
|-
| 2007
| Germany
| IFPI
| #66
Personnel
- Eric AdamsEric Adams (singer)Eric Adams has been the singer of the heavy metal band Manowar since 1980. Before he became the band's singer in 1980, he had sung for a group, called LOOKS. In the band was also future Manowar bassist and childhood friend, Joey DeMaio.-Early life:Eric Adams was born on 12 July 1954, in Auburn,...
– vocals - Karl LoganKarl LoganKarl Logan is the guitarist of the heavy metal band Manowar.Logan joined Manowar in 1994, after local band gigs in northeastern Pennsylvania with Arc Angel and Fallen Angel featuring Ed Collins .He graduated Lakeland High School near Clifford, Pa. in 1982...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Joey DeMaioJoey DeMaioJoey DeMaio is an American bass player and main songwriter for the heavy metal band Manowar which he co-founded in 1980. He is also the founder and CEO of Magic Circle Music....
– four-stringBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and eight-string bass guitarEight string bass guitarAn eight string bass guitar is a type of bass guitar with double course strings normally tuned in octaves, with both strings in a course usually played simultaneously. As on a 12 string guitar, this produces a natural chorus effect due to the subtle differences in string timbre...
, piccoloPiccoloThe piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written...
, keyboardsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, engineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Scott ColumbusScott ColumbusScott Columbus was an American musician and the former drummer of Manowar. Reportedly he was discovered by a female fan of the band, beating aluminium in a local foundry...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...