Manowar - The Triumph Of Steel (1992)

Well, this was rather disappointing.  Manowar's previous KINGS OF METAL, from four years before, reached a wonderful peak of melody mixed with power, but this one has them stepping back from that quite considerably.
It all looks like fun. It starts with the twenty-eight minute extravaganza "Archilles, Agony And Ecstasy In Eight Parts" which is, well, in eight parts, as it describes the details of the Iliad, in which the battles between Hector and Archilles and suchlike are to the fore, and we then have seven other songs that cover such things as fighting dragons ("Ride The Dragon") and battles between white men and Indians ("Spirit Horse Of The Cherokee") while, of course, there's also the inevitable statement for heavy metal ("Metal Warriors" - if you're not into metal, then you're a wimp and not a friend of Manowar). It is impressive to a degree, but it just goes on forever (almost seventy minutes) and there's little in the way of attractive melodies. No choirs, no orchestras... Yes, I know, many metal heads would say "So?? Listen to the solos! Listen to Eric Adams' screaming vocals!" And this is where I... er... fall short when it comes to my love for metal.  What KINGS OF METAL brought is what I like most in the genre, and it's what THE TRIUMPH OF STEEL does not bring. 
The concluding ballad, "Master Of The Wind", probably hurts most since, while nice, it reminds me of the glorious "The Crown And The King (Lament Of The Kings)" from Kings, but falls well short.
This is not a record I would keep rushing back to, both because of its overlength and limited musical appeal. For me, anyway.

**1/2