I know that most of 'true' Metal's admirers and over-the-edge Heavy Metal fans share with me the impression that MANOWAR took the 'downhill' after Ross The Boss Friedman left the band. Masterpieces like Hail To England and Sign Of The Hammer are in the top shelf of every true metalhead I know. While MANOWAR continues to fade and disappoint their fans, Ross The Boss is back and declares himself as the New Metal Leader.

I do not know if this statement is a way to poke De Maio's ego, but Ross from the first notes of the intro song I.L.H. is making his Epic intension clear. Power/Epic Metal from the man, who surely knows how to charge in this Heavy Metal arena. Blood Of Knives is drawing the listener in the MANOWAR world of Battle Hymns and Into Glory Ride sound, with those raw guitars and melodies that are Ross' trademark.

Surely The Boss has been missed and true MANOWAR fans of the 1982 - 1988 era will be more than happy with a song like I Got The Right that follows. An intro remembrance of Hail And Kill, combined with the Blood Of My Enemies chorus, are everything we have been 'craved' to listen from MANOWAR the last 20 years, but we didn't. Ross The Boss is delivering the goods with Death & Glory that storms in my headphones and I am immediately in a battle-mosh, trying to survive.

It's hard not to compare New Metal Leader with previous MANOWAR albums, because of the entire Metal past of Ross The Boss, a kind of musical legacy that follows him and can be printed in this groundbreaking album. That is why; songs like God Of Dying and Immortal Son are following the tradition of Metal hymns like Bridge Of Death, Defender and Mountains. Trust me, you'll get in this devout mood that classic MANOWAR songs have.

New Metal Leader also includes the rocking side of Ross The Boss, with May The Gods Be With You that has a major scale melody and mid tempo rhythm reaching the TWISTED SISTER territories, but still close to MANOWAR's Carry On and All Men Play On Ten. And the steady Heavy rhythm of Matador with the excellent Spanish guitar outro from the flamenco master, Ross The Boss.

Heavy Metal of the 80s is back for good and, with New Metal Leader, Ross The Boss returns stronger than ever to fill the Heavy Metal blank that MANOWAR left uncovered with their absence all these years. De Maio and his crew could easily remember their Heavy Metal past and the things that they have, probably, forgotten. True Metal fans will be more than happy and satisfied with New Metal Leader; the rest of you, please, stay to the latest MANOWAR un-true releases.
Ross The Boss - Blood Of Knives