"The whole purpose of playing live is to blow people's heads off," says Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio . "That's what we do; that's the energy of this band. We're out there to kick ass. We're out there to turn our gear on and blast. We're out there to kill. That's what metal is. Anybody who says otherwise is not playing heavy metal. We will melt your face!"

With the double live CD, Hell On Stage Live, Manowar's first album for Metal Blade, the band proves that the rumors of metal's demise have been greatly exaggerated. In fact, metal's alive and well and still as devastating as ever. True to form, they are back with 16 tracks steeped in the august tradition of Deep Purple's Made in Japan , the Who's Live At Leeds and the Led Zep classic, The Song Remains The Same, giving fans what they've been waiting for.

The fans' appreciation of Manowar's various moods is just one component of an intense, magical bond between the band and their following. Stories of Manowar fan loyalty have become legendary. Fans constantly send the band letters signed in their own blood and photos of themselves tattooed with Manowar imagery. On the band's last European tour, a Norwegian acolyte flew over 1,000 miles South from beyond the Arctic Circle to see Manowar play in Oslo. When a group of Australian fans heard Manowar were playing in Japan, they caught a flight there and attended all four shows. Devotees in Argentina collected thousands of signatures pleading with the band to come to their country.

"We have the greatest fans in the world," attests drummer Scott Columbus . "For a long time, our fans have stood by us. They've given everything to the belief that together we are the defenders of the heavy metal faith. That's why we've been able to keep playing our brand of music. That's why we haven't wimped out or bowed to commercialism. Our fans are at the core of everything we do. That's the way it's been done from the beginning."

Manowar is born - to part 2