«The Triumph of Steel» is Manowar‘s seventh record. It was released on September 29, 1992 via Atlantic Records, was recorded at Haus Wahnfried in New York and is their longest album, at 69 minutes. It’s also the band’s only record with guitarist David Shankle and drummer Kenny Earl «Rhino» Edwards.
Country: USA
Genre: Heavy metal, power metal
For fans of: Black Sabbath, Saxon, Iron Maiden
At the center of the record is «Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in Eight Parts», the longest and most complex track Manowar have written: 28 minutes and 38 seconds, almost a preparation for a concept album that never happened. The track drew the attention of academics: a team from the University of Bologna worked on it, with Classics professor Eleonora Cavallini writing that DeMaio’s lyrics betray a careful reading of the Iliad, with emphasis on Hector’s duel with Achilles.
The cover art is again by Ken Kelly. The record went gold in Germany and in the United States sold over 87,000 copies. Besides «Achilles», «Metal Warriors», «Ride the Dragon», «Spirit Horse of the Cherokee» and «Master of the Wind» stand out.
Our take
It’s their most ambitious record and at the same time their loneliest: two new members, a half-hour track and themes from the Iliad. Anyone who wants to understand how far they could go starts here.
See also
Manowar – Kings of Metal · Manowar – Louder Than Hell · Manowar – A tribute to the discography · Manowar and Hellfest 2019: The cancellation that became legend
