About three or four years ago I reviewed this DVD. That was a long time ago. When I wrote my first review about it its' rating here was about 4.5/10. That is why the title of the review was "Why so underrated?". However things have changed. Currently the rating of the DVD is 9.2/10 which is quite different and, of course, it is much closer to the rating that this DVD deserves.
Not to mention the fact that I am much more fluent in English than I was when I wrote the first review.
Now... How can I start? Here is how: This is the best metal DVD ever. That is the truth. Before you decide I am a blind fanboy read the entire review, please.
When I am saying this is the best metal DVD, I really do mean it. I am not talking about the band, I am not talking about the music. I am talking about the way this live show was shot and edited and the way the sound was mixed. The director, Neel Johnson, did a wonderful job. Obviously he had a huge budget to spend and he spent it well. There were more than 30 cameras recording the show so the viewers may see it from every possible point of view. There were cameras everywhere on the stage, there are also many cameras filming the audience. Combine that with epic, powerful and incredibly clean sound and you get something close to perfection. This DVD can make you feel like you are there. When I heard the audience yelling, "BOTHERS OF METAL!" with such power I felt like my mind had been blown away. I just knew I was watching something special. And you will know it too.
The show itself is just amazing. There are all of the former and the current members of the band. You can see the entire history of Manowar in just two and a half hours. You can see how their music has changed when they changed their guitarist or their drummer. You will see and you will feel the brilliant technique of Rhino, the pure emotion of Donnie Hamzik and the raw power of Scott Columbus(R.I.P.) - three great drummers with totally different styles of playing. You will see the amazing speed of David Shankle, the great "bluesy" solos of Ross the Boss and the pure brilliance of Karl Logan's soloing - again, three great guitarists who are very different.
There is also a huge orchestra and two huge choirs but most of the arrangements of the songs haven't been changed much. The orchestra and the choirs are there just to add more epic feeling. You won't see anything similar to "Metallica: S&M" - another great DVD, by the way, but totally different.
You will see why this band has the most loyal fans in the world. You either love them or hate them but you can't deny it. Joey DeMaio is so dedicated to metal so he looks insane... and he probably is insane, and I am saying this as a good thing. Very few people can talk like him and then support their words with deeds. Eric Adams has the biggest vocal range I have ever heard from a metal singer, and age hasn't hurt his voice at all. You will see him jumping from a very low note directly to a very high one many times with such ease so it looks surreal. I've already written about the other musicians... At the end you will see the most epic metal performance ever - "Battle Hymn", performed by all the drummers, all the guitarists and DeMaio and Adams. Epic of epic proportions.
This DVD is a must see for every metal fan. Believe me, that is the truth.
