Manowar - Fighting The World 12" Vinyl LP Album (USA Pressing)

- loud anthems, painted warriors, and Orson Welles growling from beyond the grave

High Resolution Photo of Manowar Fighting The World ( USA )

Manowar’s 1987 album “Fighting the World” marked their first release on the major label ATCO Records, giving the band broader international reach and a polished sound. Recorded in the USA, the album features the powerful title track, fan favorite “Carry On,” and the epic single “Defender,” which includes a dramatic spoken narration by legendary actor Orson Welles, recorded shortly before his death. With cover art by fantasy painter Ken Kelly, this record stands as a milestone, merging true metal bravado with cinematic storytelling.

"Fighting the World (USA Pressing)" Album Description:

This is the American release of MANOWAR's album "Fighting the World" released in 1987 and became an instant classic among heavy metal fans. The album features iconic tracks such as "Blow Your Speakers," "Defender," and the title track "Fighting the World." The LP was a massive success and cemented MANOWAR's place as one of the most influential bands in the heavy metal genre.

The album's primary theme is the band's defiance of the mainstream music industry. The title track "Fighting the World" is a testament to this idea, with lyrics such as "We're fighting for the metal that we live." MANOWAR's music is known for being loud, heavy, and uncompromising, and "Fighting the World" is no exception. The album also features themes of honor, loyalty, and brotherhood, which are recurring themes in many of MANOWAR's songs.

The musical style of "Fighting the World" is classic heavy metal. The album features fast-paced guitar riffs, thunderous drums, and soaring vocals. The band's virtuosity is on full display, with guitar solos that are both technically impressive and emotionally charged. The album's production is also noteworthy, with a clear and powerful sound that captures the energy of MANOWAR's live performances.

"Fighting the World" was well-received by fans and critics alike. It was a commercial success, reaching number 83 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was praised for its impressive musicianship, powerful vocals, and its overall energy. However, some critics also noted that the album lacked variety, with many of the songs featuring similar structures and themes.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

American Heavy Metal Music

Collector Notes / Liner Notes
  • 1: All songs have been written by Joey DeMaio.
Label & Catalognr:

ATCO – Cat#: 90563-1

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl LP Record

Year & Country:

1987 – USA

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • Eric Adams – Vocals
    Founding frontman of Manowar, known for his powerful operatic range and trademark battle cries. A consistent presence from 1980 onward, Adams became the voice that defined the band’s epic heavy metal style.
  • Ross "The Boss" Friedman – Guitars, Keyboards
    Guitarist and co-founder, previously with The Dictators. His aggressive riffs and melodic leads shaped Manowar’s first six albums, before departing the band in 1988 after "Kings of Metal."
  • Joey DeMaio – Bass Guitar
    Bassist, songwriter, and band leader. A former pyrotechnics assistant for Black Sabbath, DeMaio is the creative force behind Manowar, composing nearly all of their material and driving their "true metal" ethos.
  • Scott Columbus – Drums
    Joined in 1983, known for his use of custom stainless steel drum kits to endure Manowar’s high-volume performances. Columbus was the backbone of the band’s sound during their peak 1980s era.

Additional Historic Notes:

"Fighting the World" (1987) marked a turning point for Manowar as their first release on a major label, ATCO Records, giving the band greater international visibility.

The album showcased a more polished production compared to earlier releases and included tracks like “Blow Your Speakers” and “Defender”, which became fan favorites.

This record reinforced Manowar’s image as defenders of "true metal" at a time when glam and thrash were competing for dominance in the metal scene. The iconic album cover was painted by fantasy artist Ken Kelly, further cementing the band’s connection to epic imagery and warrior themes.

Historically, this was the last full album recorded with guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman, making it the end of Manowar’s classic founding era before the arrival of new members for "Kings of Metal" (1988).

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Fighting the World (3:46) Single
  2. Blow Your Speakers (3:36) Single
  3. Carry On (4:19)
  4. Violence and Bloodshed (3:58)
Video: Manowar Fighting the World Live 1987
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Defender (6:01) Single Guest
    The guest on Manowar's "Defender" is the iconic actor Orson Welles .
    The narration was recorded in 1982 (for their first album sessions), where Welles also voiced "Dark Avenger." Manowar re-used his original recording for the 1987 track on Fighting the World, which was released after his death. His deep voice added legendary gravity to the epic heavy metal track.
  2. Drums of Doom (1:18)
  3. Holy War (4:40)
  4. Master of Revenge (1:30)
  5. Black Wind, Fire and Steel (5:17)
Video: Manowar - Defender
Album Front Cover Photo
The front cover artwork of Manowar's 1987 USA release Fighting the World shows a painted fantasy scene by Ken Kelly. It depicts the four band members as exaggerated muscular warriors standing triumphantly on jagged black rocks, fists raised in defiance. Each figure wears dramatic warrior gear: leather pants, loincloths, chains, and fur details. Behind them, a stormy sky splits with bolts of lightning on the left and blazing golden light on the right. At their feet lie broken weapons, shields, and a sword planted into the rocks. Above them, the band's name MANOWAR blazes in bold gold gothic letters, and below in red the title Fighting The World glows against the stone. The cover embodies epic heroism, heavy metal bravado, and theatrical fantasy.

The cover painting for Manowar’s “Fighting The World” USA release presents the band as mythic warrior-heroes, each drawn with exaggerated muscles and dramatic poses. They stand together on fractured black stone, fists raised in solidarity and defiance, their long hair streaming in the storm.

On the left, lightning tears through a darkened sky while, on the right, golden fire radiates like an apocalyptic dawn. Their outfits are a mix of fur, leather, chains, and loincloths, amplifying the raw barbaric fantasy image. Below them, broken hammers, swords, and shields lie scattered, as if from battles already won.

Above the scene, the word MANOWAR dominates in blazing golden gothic script, spanning nearly the entire top. At the bottom, the title Fighting The World appears in sharp red letters, glowing with intensity. The overall effect is both heroic and theatrical, perfectly matching the epic and bombastic identity of the band and their music.

Close up of Record Label
Close-up of the ATCO Records label for the 1987 USA vinyl pressing of Manowar's Fighting the World. The beige background is covered with a repeating ATCO logo watermark. At the top, the bold multicolor ATCO logo appears in green, red, blue, and grey. Below it, the catalog number 90563-1 is printed, followed by the album and band name in uppercase: MANOWAR FIGHTING THE WORLD. The text indicates Side One, Stereo, and copyright 1987 Atlantic Records. Four track titles are listed: Fighting the World (3:46), Blow Your Speakers (3:36), Carry On (4:08), and Violence and Bloodshed (3:59). At the bottom, credits state all songs written by Joey DeMaio and published by Inar Music ASCAP. Around the rim, the manufacturer information reads Manufactured by Atlantic Recording Corp, 75 Rockefeller Plaza, N.Y., N.Y., with Warner Communications Company logo.

This close-up shows the record label of the 1987 USA pressing of Manowar’s “Fighting the World”. The design features ATCO’s classic beige background with a repeating logo pattern, topped by the multicolor ATCO emblem.

Printed in bold, the catalog number 90563-1 is followed by the band’s name and album title. The label specifies Side One in stereo, underlining its identity as an Atlantic Records release.

The track listing includes four songs: “Fighting the World,” “Blow Your Speakers,” “Carry On,” and “Violence and Bloodshed.” Writing credit goes to Joey DeMaio, with publishing rights noted for Inar Music ASCAP.

Along the edge, the fine print identifies Atlantic Recording Corporation at 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, accompanied by the Warner Communications Company logo, adding authenticity for collectors.

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