MANOWAR - Hell On Earth: Part 1 [DVD]

Posted: 04/18/06

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category:  Heavy Metal

Released: 2005

Label URL: www.spvusa.com

Band URL: www.manowar.com

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Hell On Earth: Part 1 was the first DVD release from the Kings Of Metal.  Originally released in the USA on VHS in 2000 and DVD in 2001 on Metal Blade, this day-in-the-life style film was reissued in 2005 by SPV.  Chronicling the band's happenings from 1994 -1997, vocalist Eric Adams, bassist Joey DeMaio, guitarist Karl Logan, and drummer Scott Columbus are followed by cameras as they travel around the world. 

The main section of the DVD runs approximately two hours and includes the making of the "Return Of The Warlord" video, as well as the video itself, several full live songs ("The Power," "Hail And Kill," and more), as well as short clips of every city/country/festival the band played.  The band, especially Joey DeMaio, really want you to know that their fans love them and that women cannot resist them.  While onstage, Joey goes through the ritual of guzzling a beer (most of it spills out of his mouth), telling all the enemies of Manowar (whoever they are?!?!) to fuck off, and grabbing a woman out of the audience, exposing her tits, and picking her up between the crotch and making out with her. Every time I see this, I cannot help but think that Joey is not far from being a caveman.  Depending on how you look at this, you'll either find it to be cool, funny, or ridiculous.

The Bloody Truth: Manowar has written some very anthemic metal tunes over the years, and they certainly have an image as a band, but Hell On Earth: Part 1 is not as strong as I would have liked.  The biggest problem is that the two hours is primarily made up of edited camera footage and it lacks a storyline.  The band members hardly speak, aside from what was caught as the cameraman followed them around, or during the few television interviews that were included.  In fact, most of the DVD is just video footage with the band's music added in post production.  Capturing the band on all their stops in Europe during the Hell On Wheels Tour (ummm, Grim Reaper, Armored Saint, and Helloween already used this name for their 1987 tour) is like an eternity, and a painful one at that.  Cutting down on the tour stops and replacing the with more interviews with the band members would have been a better bet.  The DVD release includes some bonus material that was not on the VHS - a live clip of "Kings Of Metal" from Germany, as well as a performance of "King" in the recording studio.