This band formed in San Jose, California in the 80s, as sorta a low-key Manowar, although according to Wikipedia their influences were actually Rainbow, Angel Witch and Jethro Tull. The band take amusing pseudonyms - Destroyer, Thunderchild, Damien King and Sentinel. They have never performed live, not wishing to be considered part of the LA live scene. Although they did hire a theatre to record their first full length release, and performed to an empty hall. This possibly explains why they never attained much in the way of notoriety or recognition, but do retain a cult following to this day. They ran through three vocalists: Damien King I, II or III and released a couple of albums, then some compilation and best of albums, basically reusing the same tracks, because they only had one full length album and one EP up their sleeves. They split up without really achieving much of anything, then reformed in 2002 with Hammerfall's Joacim Cans their vocalist. They seem to be the band that other bands like - Hammerfall are named after lyrics in the song "Lucifer's Hammer" and Yngwie Malmsteen cited them as his favourite band in the 80s.
I own two Warlord albums - their original EP release, 1983's "Deliver Us" EP on vinyl (stored in my cupboard, since I can't play records) and the 1993 "Best of" which is the entire Deliver Us EP pls 7 more tracks (two of them new versions of older tracks), probably almost their entirely collection. Since the vinyl is buried, I'll be doing this review of "Best of". This was their first release on CD. I picked it up because it was cheap and had twice as many songs as a record that I really liked but couldn't play!
The cover is black. With red writing. It is a single fold, and inside declares that if you send $32.95 to an address in CA you can receive a VHS video with live footage, interviews and documentary. Live footage is from their audience-less concert. There's a photo of three members of the band, performing not-live. I doubt I could still get it today, some 20+ years late. <- now available on DVD, apparently.
Anyhow, after that eccentric intro, I bet you're wondering what they sound like - right?
The album opens with "Deliver Us From Evil". Eerie wind, light guitar, building into something dramatic. Definite folk inspirations. Twiddly guitar, low, wistful vocals "Deliver us from evil". Then.... a pause... and BAM the drums start in a rhythmic, somewhat tinny (this was the early 80s) beat. Like soldiers marching into war. Vocals are a soft tenor. The beat of the song is great - it totally seems like the pounding of a mighty army and could well be their battle song. Except for the fact that vocals are not particualrly aggressive, even if they do get somewhat shrill at times.
Haunting, melancholic melodies and almost feminine vocals usher us into "Winter Tears". Damien King's voice could almost be a lower pitched woman. It certainly has a wistful, ethereal quality. Because this is an 80s recording, it has that almost more fragile edge to it. The song itself is delicate, but has solid beats and a quirky edge to the guitar.
Now we rampage in to "Child of the Damned", a raucous and fast piece with the vocalist almost tripping over his tongue. HammerFall do a pretty good rendtion of this song.
"Penny for a Poor Man" is another somewhat folk-esque piece, with a strong fantasy feel to it, evoking feelings of high stone walls and a man in rags, shuffling his way along the dark, litter infected streets.
An ominous opening leads us to the "Black Mass". Sludgy, primeval. Vocals wispy and ethereal. Has a feeling of early Candlemass about it.
"Lucifer's Hammer" introduces the first synth sounds, swirling and whirling over the heavy bass beat as the:
"... hammer will fall on you..."Primeval, tribal and dramatic. This track was also on Metal Massacre II.
Thus ends the "Deliver Us" EP and we are now into the slightly later music:
"Mrs Victoria" was a track featured on Metal Massacre III. It has a greater clarity of sound than the early tracks, and haunting synth music that reminds me of King Diamond. Although the vocals are of decidedly lower pitch than Mr Diamond's! The lyrics are vicious and the music manically furious and agitated. It sounds decidedly different from the "Deliver Us" days.
Following up is "Aliens" - starting with a quick drum solo before the guitar overwhelms them with a sludgy garage sound, overlaid with synth. Has a good pace, quite jaunty.
I suppose "Lost and Lonely Days" would be considered a love song. It marks a return to the earlier sound, with tinny drum beats and guitars - but is that a touch of the synth I hear?
Now, something we've already heartd - "Beginning" with a declaration about 1984 and then a repeat of "Lucifer's Hammer". Further research - Google plus Wikipedia, shows that this song is based on a Larry Niven novel by the same name. A comet is crashing to earth. It is called HammerFall. This version has more keyboard (ie: some) in it than the earlier version.
"Solilquy" starts with fleeting guitar, joined shortly by thrumming drums. Vocals are thin and spidery, a little bit lost. As be fits the lyrics which are along the lines of:
"I'm alone, I'm alone again and that's how I'll always be, until the end..."The next track is "MCMLXXXIV". It is an instrumental. It appears that Warlord considered 1984 a Very Important Year. Or perhaps that's just because these are taken from their "And the Cannons of Destruction have Begun..." As far as instrumentals go, it's not particularly memorable.
Now we have "Child of the Damned" again. Slightly less ominous than the former version, and starting with a higher-pitched falsetto scream. I would hazard a guess that this is Damien King II or maybe III. His voice is thin, almost reedy.
And of coures, the immortal line:
"Better to rule in Hell than it is to serve in Heaven..."Which is from Paradise Lost (the book, not the band that, presumerably, named themselves after the book).
So, that's Warlord. Slightly eccentric, somewhat forgotten, except perhaps in the heart and soul of the actual musicians that they inspired. I'm curious to hear their work with Joacim, and might have to track down some of their more recent stuff. Their sound is pure 80s fantasy metal with folk influences, and like a toned down Manowar with weaker vocals.
But they're pretty nifty, and deserve 7/10.
Here's their newer stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leWVxtcDP7o
They've got Damien King III back, but he's going by Rick Anderson now.
And here the are with Joacim:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqA2sOHtdYg
Sounds rather like Hammerfall, not surprisingly. I really should listen to my HammerFall album but, alas, I have so much Helloween they tend to take H priority. Maybe next time through I'll do two.
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