Manilla Road - The Deluge (1986)

Laughably epic metal - all competition scurrying like trolls from the bridges they crawled from under. Manilla Road are one of the truest metal bands, and they make an almighty noise, a sound so big that the likes of Manowar can only cower in fear. These guys have influenced so many bands, from Kick Axe, to Darkthrone, their tales of lost and magical lands woven in between those gargantuan guitars and crashing drums which sound as if the ocean is about to roar in through the front window. How can one descrube the almost eleven minute title track with its mood changes, warrior vocals and soaring, swirling guitars, it's like Desolation Angels amplified, the true sound of Thor's mighty hammer destroying the earth. Total blitzkerieg, the cover art doing its best to depict what this monstrous band are about. Don't know where to start or end except to say that this is their fifth adventure and one that conjures up images of fearsome beasts and evil enemies, all being slayed by the axe attack and vocal delivery which, although clear, is so darn epic that album can only stand as some ancient monument, a beast to which all other albums must stand against. 'Hammer Of The Witches' is such a raging masterpiece that only a record label called Black Dragon could put out such an oaken opus. The fury of 'Rest In Pieces' stands as proof that our so called heroes such as metallica, are not all they are cracked up to be, because once again here is a colossal band that have carved their own furrow like some truly gigantic plough. they may not have sold millions, but boy, this IS heavy metal and that's the highest compliment I can pay, and as that bell tolls to start the horror soundtrack-esque 'Morbid Tabernacle,' I too find myself running for the cushion where I can hide my eyes...but not my ears, which have succumbed to the wizard's cry. 9/10