Anyway, it is one of the music. And it has "Thunder In The Sky" with a lot of goodwill just the usual for a EP level; where only the six pieces contained five are new. In addition to fresh material, there is a new recording of "The Crown And The Ring (Lament Of The Kings)", the so-called "metal" version of this classic. Whether one would have necessarily needed, remains to be seen - as the song is sublime in itself, of course, beyond any doubt, and sounds on this EP certainly very strong and well mixed. In particular, the quiet background accompaniment I find better quality for this release. "Metal" is the fact, however, still not much included, only the very end guitar, bass and drums are unpacked. Essential that all is not, but at least no disfigurement of this great piece.
In addition, "Tunder In The Sky" contains a kind of bonus CD on which one presents the new ballad "Father" in 15 different versions - each of them including German in another language. What still went through as a nice touch at "Heart of Steel", acts here quite silly, just because "Father" does not have the same musical quality, but rather tends towards pop. One should of course have to treat their own Manowar song also fans from different countries speaking, I would be interested but already, which hold the respective native speaker of "their" version. "Father" in any case evokes with me - also because of the soft musical direction - memories of the dreadful "We two alone tonight" by David Hasselhoff. Better to stay at the original English version, then do not give the texts, at least so much reason to frown.
Of the remaining four songs on "Thunder In The Sky" are after all three in order, even if not in the highest grade, which is famous for Manowar. Most is in my ears "Die For Honor". The song is located in the mid-tempo range and is somewhat reminiscent of "Call To Arms". Not a bad reference - and after two or three passes, the piece has then fixed in the brain. The title track, however, is a faster number with the usual gentle nuances. Not bad, if a little seems to lack the joy of playing. The same applies to the final hymn "God Or Man", but it has typical Manowar feeling, even if this somehow belonged to a thousand times phrases thinks. Finally, there is the rocking "Let The Gods Decide", a quite simply as "unremarkable" to be designated track. This piece is more rock than metal - when the unique voice of Eric Adams (alienated it here), and the text from the Manowar-kit were not, you would assign the song hardly the "Kings Of Metal". Ignite even after repeated listening does not really and simply shall possess no substance.
Conclusion: Even as a die-hard fan of the "Kings Of Metal" can be given the highest rating of the EP barely. Significantly, the best track is calculated on a play that is in 1988 first published ... Otherwise offers "Thunder In The Sky" for the most part average fare. Manowar ratios is much too little. Therefore there are only two stars from me. It almost would have been three, but because of wishful thoughts would be but a bit too much been. I want the outputs of Manowar yes like - I'm just still be a big fan of this band ... double shame.
