Text by Marcelo Gomes
In a world where the gods of metal continue to reign supreme, Manowar stands out as an enduring symbol of power and strength. True fans gathered at Espaço Unimed in São Paulo, and on a night of metal glory, Manowar proved why they are still considered the kings of metal.
It had been eight years of waiting for this moment, and the fans, who seemed to have stepped straight out of the 80s dressed in leather pants, vests, and vests with patches, showed their devotion and turned out in droves for the show. The stage, with its imposing set design reminiscent of the band's album themes, transported the fans on a journey to the realms of metal.
Before starting, a brief warning that the show would not be broadcast on the big screens, and another point to highlight was the rather impolite message to journalist Régis Tadeu, immortalized in the meme, "You don't know Manowar."
After the introduction, the set began with "Manowar," and they made the venue shake with the sheer power of their sound. Joey DeMaio (bass), Eric Adams (vocals), Michael Angelo (guitar), and Dave Chedrick (drums) weren't just playing; their performance seemed to evoke a higher power.
The guys weren't messing around and delivered three more classics without mercy: "Kings Of Metal," "Fighting The World," and "Holy War"—it was breathtaking. It's worth highlighting the performance of vocalist Eric Adams. At the peak of his 71 years, he sang with unparalleled power and emotion, proving himself to be one of the greatest voices in metal history.
From their recent 2022 EP Highlights From The Revenge of Odysseus , they chose the track “Immortal,” which carries all the essence that made the band famous. In a moment of pure brilliance, Manowar slowed things down with the beautiful “Heart Of Steel.” Eric performed with heart and soul, making even the toughest headbanger sing along emotionally.
Amidst the chants of "Manowar!", nearly 40 minutes into the show, Eric Adams interacted with the audience for the first time and decided to test the fans' vocal abilities. With the challenge successfully completed, the band prepared a surprise for the fans. They called upon former Brazilian members EV Martel (guitar) and Marcus Castellani (drums), as well as vocalist Cleber Krichinak from the Kings Of Steel , to participate in the song "Warriors Of The World". It was sensational to see the guys rocking out on stage, especially in Brazil. Incidentally, what a glorious week for Brazilian musicians! Crypta was praised by Ghost , Nando Fernandes participated with Lynyrd Skynyrd , and now this fantastic participation with Manowar.
Every real metal show needs a guitar solo, right? Manowar has a bass solo too. Using Jimi Hendrix , Joey DeMaio and Michael Angelo showcased their skills, unleashing thousands of notes with virtuosity and moments of pure feeling. Michael is a masterful guitarist who fits perfectly into the band, while Joey is a legend who keeps the Manowar flame burning.
Returning to the music, the next song was the classic “Hail And Kill,” which was sung with fervor in a true homage to the kings of metal. The band seemed like a steamroller, and it was no different when they played “The Dawn Of the Battle,” “King Of Kings,” “The Power,” and “Fight Until We Die.”
After a short break, Joey DeMaio returns to the stage alone to deliver his famous speech, and of course, in Portuguese. With a simple "good evening," he wins over the crowd and continues, talking about how he was having a good meal yesterday, getting drunk, and reminiscing about the band's great history with Brazil.
His words about the power and brotherhood of metal resonated with the fans. He took the opportunity to say that they belong at Monsters Of Rock, and that he would like to return to the festival in 2024. After that, they showed a video about a certain Manoel, which was a real letdown. Eric even sang "Happy Birthday" to him, and Joey made a toast. The intention may have been good, but the audience booed.
To compensate, they played the epic "Battle Hymns," a classic that perfectly summarizes the essence of metal and united the faithful in a collective catharsis. Definitely one of the greatest anthems of the genre. They closed the epic with "Black Wind, Fire And Steel," complete with a sinister mosh pit to memorably end this grandiose performance.
Manowar is the very embodiment of the style. They take their message seriously and, as a result, win over many followers. The setlist, which spanned their entire career, marked the band's return to Brazil on a masterful night of devotion to metal.