Manowar "Battle Hymns"

Battle Hymns is the 1982 debut album of the American heavy metal band Manowar. It is considered one of the first power metal albums ever created.

Track listing

All songs by Ross the Boss and Joey DeMaio, except where indicated

Side one

1. "Death Tone" – 4:48
2. "Metal Daze" (DeMaio) – 4:18
3. "Fast Taker" – 3:56
4. "Shell Shock" – 4:04

Side two

1. "Manowar" – 3:35
2. "Dark Avenger" – 6:20
3. "William's Tale" (DeMaio, Gioachino Rossini) – 1:52
4. "Battle Hymn" – 6:55

Cover versions

• Thrash metal band Overkill covered the song "Death Tone" on their 1999 album Coverkill.
• Traditional metal band Seven Witches covered the song "Metal Daze" on their 1999 album Second War in Heaven.
• The song "Battle Hymn" has been covered by German heavy metal band Majesty
• German band Tankard covered "Fast Taker" on the re-release of their album Disco Destroyer.
• American traditional metal band Slough Feg covered "Fast Taker" on a split single with Solstice.

Narration in ''Dark Avenger'' by Orson Welles. 

"William's Tale" is a bass solo version of the William Tell theme from the William Tell opera, originally written by Gioachino Rossini. 

Manowar re-recorded this album in 2010, and released it as Battle Hymns MMXI.

Recording information:

Recorded at Criteria Recording Studio, Miami, Florida.

Mixed at the Record Plant Recording Studio, New York City.

2/3 Speed Mastering by Joe Breschio at the Master Cutting Room, New York City.