Ross the boss-New Metal Leader

Candlelight
2009

It's hard to believe it's been so long since guitarist Ross the boss parted ways with Manowar. However his absence has certainly been felt over the years as Manowar seemed to have slipped from the high level they once occupied. Filling put Ross the boss's band are Patrick Fuchs on vocals and guitar, Carsten Kettering on bass and Matthias Mayer on drums. Manowar helped to define power/epic metal over two decades ago and the pounding guitars parts were a huge part of that sound. We hear much of that same sound on this album as well. Unsurprisingly the bulk of "New Metal Leader" sound like Manowar mainly around the 1985-1988 period. In fact Patrick Fuchs even sounds quite a bit like Eric Adams only with a little less range. Tracks like "God Of Dying" and "Immortal Son" sound very much classic Manowar anthems. The sound here is solid, booming metal that blatantly follows a mid-tempo 1980's metal style. The only real difference being that the production on this album might be better. So there is really nothing new or particularly unique about this album, but fans of Manowar's peak are sure to lift their fists high in the air and enjoy the majesty and cheese of this kind of music. Indeed Ross the boss never lost sight of the heavy sound and memorable choruses that were very much part of the appeal of the band that he helped form. Metal trends have come and gone over the last to decades, but I can't deny that there is still something about this kind of music that I still enjoy on some basic level.