Quite a nice debut, but still far from the highs later as "Sign Of The Hammer" the most part. The absolute highlight of the CD is the title track "Battle Hymn", a (if not the) Manowar classics - for that you need not say anything more. Also still outstanding I think "Dark Avenger", which starts off slow and tempo-wise increases towards the end, until the tension built up by the words of the singer dahingekreischten discharges - as a trickle shivers down your spine. Ever Eric Adams is on this CD in top form. Unfortunately the rest of the song material at best good average, the catchy melodies and lullaby-like choruses (not related to text) for I love Manowar so I miss unfortunately mostly. The mandatory instrumental title "William's Tale" can I (as so often) abgewinnen anything, this crap should the boys prefer to save. Conclusion: Fans should the CD but have in any case, for Hard & Heavy fans is worth the purchase because of the above-mentioned beads certainly - all other I would recommend to listen to the CD before buying, and perhaps more to the later masterpieces to grab the belt, such as the aforementioned "Sign Of The Hammer", "Kings Of Metal" or the excellent new album "Warriors Of The World".
