Man, I’m glad that I have to review a Manowar DVD, not a Manowar album. I can be short, I don’t like any of the music this band produces, I don’t like the Manowar scene and I don’t like Manowar fans (it’s hard to believe that there are highly educated people among them). Reviewing a DVD, I can set the music and my personal likings aside and focus on pictures, the sound and extras. DVD one features the headline Manowar show at the German Earthshaker Fest in 2005. The pictures have been shot in HD, and it shows! I love the shots taken with the techno crane and the fly cam in particular. I’ve never seen a live shoot with better images of the crowd, this brings out the best of the aforementioned cameras. Too bad that the crowd is ugly as hell. The bonus DVD features a documentary of the preparations for the Earthshaker show. I particularly liked the chapters about the lightning, the PA and the filming, the technical background. It gives you a great insight about all the stuff that is required to make a successful show, and a commercial interesting DVD.

This disc also features a documentary of the Manowar fan convention. With two and a half hour of footage a bit too long if you’re not a fan. The half hour opening ceremony, a knight play by Jomvikings, again makes clear to me that Manowar just isn’t my cup of tea. I know that there are many people out there loving the clatter of iron, Viking dressed men and stage battles of the Jomsvikings. What I do like are the clinics that are included, despite the fact that some turned out to be sort kind of strange karaoke versions of Manowar songs. What could have been a highlight is the Scream competition. Sadly you don’t see the fans give all they have, instead you get a Dutch lady telling you all about how wonderful the contest was. Bugger! The Miss Manowar contest won’t get you very exited either, unless your only interest lies in a couple of big breasts.