It’s time for a dose of pure, raw metal! ROSS THE BOSS, the legendary co-founder of Manowar, and his band are back with a merciless new single called “Denied By The Cross”. The track comes off the upcoming album “Born Of Fire”, which will be released on March 6th via AFM Records.
Watch below.
The brand new “Born Of Fire” is the fourth album of Friedman and his band which arrives not even two years after their chart breaking 2018 effort “By Blood Sworn”. While ROSS THE BOSS used this time for extensive touring they built their latest epos which will excite fans worldwide seemingly effortless out of nothing.
“Born Of Fire” is pounding yet fresher and heavier out of the speakers than before, but isn’t lacking any of the typical Ross The Boss trademarks.
Tracklist: 01 – Glory To The Slain | 02 – Fight The Fight | 03 – Denied By The Cross | 04 – Maiden Of Shadows | 05 – I Am The Sword | 06 – Shotgun Evolution | 07 – Born Of Fire | 08 – Godkiller | 09 – The Blackest Heart | 10 – Demon Holiday | 11 – Undying | 12 – Waking The Moon
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voicespoke to the Ross The Boss Band, including, guitarist Ross Friedman, singer Marc Lopes (Let us Prey) and Bassist Mike Lepond (Symphony X) when they played Foufounes Electriques in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on January 27 2020.
Watch the interview below.
The band went into detail about the musical direction of the new album and lyrical themes, Ross the Boss spoke about the first 6 classic Manowar album that he played and wrote on, as well as the recording of the classic Manowar album ‘Hail to England‘ which the band is showcasing on this North American tour. Plus how Ross Friedman talks how he produced the demo that got Anthrax signed on Megaforce Records with Jon Zazula in the early 80’s.
When asked about the first six Manowar albums
“I was just glad to do those first six Manowar records it was an amazing time and an amazing collaboration with me and Manowar’s Bassist Joey DeMaio where we wrote 6 album in those 6 years together. I don’t think this magic will ever happen again. The songs just kept coming out of us and that is what it is all about in music, writing great songs.” -Ross The Boss
When asked about the making of Manowar’s Calssic Hail to England Album
“What I remember was we were in Canada in Toronto at Phase One studios with Canada’s greatest producer Jack Richardson. We had something like 8 days and we recorded two records in that time, Hail to England and most of Sign of the Hammer, we always recorded as much as we could. I did most of my guitar recording in one or two takes and we saved most of the time for Manowar’s singer Eric Adams one of the greatest singers.” -Ross The Boss
When asked how he helped Anthrax get signed to Megaforce Records
“As Jonny Zazula re-tells the story in his latest book ‘Heavy Tales’, Anthrax was bothering him and chasing him everywhere non stop to get him to sign the band on Megaforce but Jonny did not hear anything he liked at the time. Then someone mentioned that I should produce Anthrax’s demo. Anthrax already knew Manowar as they opened up for us on some shows. So I said ok and I produced the demo which had the song Soldiers of Metal with Neil Turbin on vocals. Jonny Z heard it and said I’m signing them.” -Ross The Boss
When asked about the new Ross The Boss Band album’s Born of Fire musical direction and lyric themes
“It’s a little bit of a change, it’s more upbeat, more energetic, it’s more high energy. I would say there is a more of a thrash element cause of our singer Marc Lopes influence. Two songs are thrash but the rest are just typical Ross the Boss. Bassist Mike Lepond also did an amazing job with the demos, with the songs and the arrangements. I never repeat myself stylistically on any of my records nor in my years with Manowar ” -Ross The Boss
“The new album Born of Fire is 10 times more heavier, I figured on this album let’s really get away from the old stuff. Ross has already written 6 of the greatest Manowar albums so for him to duplicate that did not seem like the right thing. It’s like Iron Maiden trying to make another The Number of the Beast. It has a very modern and European metal production” -Marc Lopes
Glory to the Slain– It’s like a Motorhead Style song with a slick Riff and I thought it would be cool to have a song in that vain. -Mike Lepond
Demon Holiday-“I think I was influenced by 80’s Judas Priest on that song, very Riff Heavy with a great hook.”- Ross The Boss
“That song is part 2 to Devils Day. the Devil got to have his holiday now the demons get to play.”-Marc Lopes
Maiden of Shadows– Ross was looking for some orchestration in the vain of Conan the Barbarian on that song and it has a Celtic Iron Maiden feel. Stu Marshall from Death Dealer wrote that song and Ross Modified the riffs. Michael Romeo of Symphony X also arranged the orchestration.” -Mike Lepond
“The title of that song actually comes from the Sabrina the good witch series (laughs), they called her the Maiden of Shadows, I thought that was a great title, then I went looking into Celtic legends and there is a legend called Morgana the Goddess of battlefield and that’s the song theme.”-Marc Lopes
Fight the Fight- “Me and Mike Lepond wrote that, Mike came up to me and he said I got this tune it sounds like Manowar’s Fighting the World meets Anthrax. As soon as he said Fighting the world, the word FIGHT was stuck in my head and I will fully admit this I stole the melody from the band Hatebreed and they know that.” Marc Lopes
I am the Sword– “That is a classic Ross the Boss riff. The meaning ended up being kind of like the old Testament story of the Exodus”-Marc Lopes
Waking the moon-“That is a Warwolf theme.”-Marc Lopes
Denied by the Cross– “This is my favorite song, it’s brutal, it’s about the first ten minutes of Brahn Stoker’s Dracula, when he denies the cross and his wife gets killed and the blood comes out I like that kind of stuff.”- Marc Lopes
Born of Fire-Me and my guitarist Jonathan from our band ‘Let Us Prey’ wrote that song. I love the verse super old school thrash and the chorus super melodic.”-Marc Lopes
Due on March 6 via AFM Records, “Born Of Fire” is the fourth album of Friedman and his band, their last album was “By Blood Sworn”.in 2018
One can’t talk about genre defining acts in the metal scene without mentioning one man: Ross “The Boss” Friedman has written music history as a founding member of Manowar and The Dictators. His influence in heavy metal and also punk is noticeable to this day.
Manowar’s first six masterpieces which saw him significantly involved in between 1982 and 1988 are immortal classics today, and that the band wasn’t able to deliver the same quality again after his departure speaks for the New York based guitarist and songwriter.
Since 2006 Ross again is releasing traditional and raw epic metal which calls up memories of the Manowar masterpieces from the 80’s with its very own style.
The brand new “Born Of Fire” is the fourth album of Friedman and his band which arrives not even two years after their chart breaking 2018 effort “By Blood Sworn”. While ROSS THE BOSS used this time for extensive touring they built their latest epos which will excite fans worldwide seemingly effortless out of nothing.
“Born Of Fire” is pounding yet fresher and heavier out of the speakers than before, but isn’t lacking any of the typical Ross The Boss trademarks.
Tracklist: 01 – Glory To The Slain | 02 – Fight The Fight | 03 – Denied By The Cross | 04 – Maiden Of Shadows | 05 – I Am The Sword | 06 – Shotgun Evolution | 07 – Born Of Fire | 08 – Godkiller | 09 – The Blackest Heart | 10 – Demon Holiday | 11 – Undying | 12 – Waking The Moon
ROSS THE BOSS, the co-founder of MANOWAR, is coming back to Australia and New Zealand with a slew of other Manowar classics guaranteed to see fists raised to the roof!
“We will bring the message of True Metal to our Immortal Metal Armies. We will deliver an experience only to be described as, true classic metal. We are going to devastate every audience, every night, without mercy.” — Ross the Boss
Ross The Boss Australian Tour Dates:
Friday 15th November, Auckland, Whammy Bar w/ Forsaken Age
Saturday 16th November, Wellington, San Fran w/ Bulletbelt
Sunday 17th November, Christchurch, Club Tavern w/ Unite The Silence
Wednesday 20th November, Adelaide, HQ w/ Shadow Realm
Thursday 21st November, Brisbane, The Zoo w/ Devonian
Friday 22nd November, Melbourne, Max Watts w/ Night Legion, Horizon’s Edge
Saturday 23rd November, Sydney, Metro Theatre w/ Night Legion, Carbon Black
Sunday 24th November, Perth, Rosemount Hotel w/ Silent Knight
Formed in 1980, Manowar launched an all-out assault on complacent boring metal. Bombastic, epic and above all exhilaratingly LOUD, Manowar sought to destroy all who stood in their path. Led by Joey DeMaio, Eric Adams and the soul-crushing guitars of Ross The Boss Freidman, Manowar broke the Guinness record for the loudest band ever not once, but three times.
Now Ross The Boss is cranking the amps up to 12. Sitting proudly at #87 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Metal Albums Of All Time, “Hail To England” merged the sound of the new wave of British Metal with skull-melting thrash intensity, and started punching holes in the membrane of the Universe.
Jimmy Kay From Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to Ex Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing about his upcoming special guest performance with Ross the Boss Band at Bloodstock Aug 11 2019, starting a band with Ripper, the pros and cons of recording Defenders of the Faith.
Watch the interview here
When asked about his upcoming Bloodstock special guest performance with Ross the Boss band
“The idea of me being at Bloodstock was bounced around and somebody said if you’re gonna be at Bloodstock would you fancy playing a few songs. I said I’m not a solo artist. Then it was suggested to be a special guest with the Ross the Boss band, since they are a 4 piece and having another guitar up there would be ideal opportunity. ”
When asked if he is nervous jumping on stage after a ten year absence
“Absolutely not! It’s just like riding a bike, it’s not like I haven’t been playing the guitar since quitting Judas Priest. Once you have learned those chops and toured extensively over the decades its very easy to back to it. I am always up for a challenge. We will go up there and play Judas Priest songs but I am also open to any other suggestions. So I told Ross let’s just meet up and let’s set up a jam the day before and let’s see what we feel like doing. Maybe we can mix it up and bring something different to the table. The organizers also have extended the amount of time we can play which is great.”
When asked if he had any other opportunities to perform with another band on stage
“To be honest I was expecting at some point a willingness and an opportunity to step back into Judas Priest. You know how it is, things said in haste, a band is a relationship, like every husband and wife, every brother and sister. But I thought at one point it would be inevitable and I would re-enter Judas Priest and carry on where we left off but it’s proved not to be the case. So I have to accept that and just move forward. So I am looking forward to being a guest at Bloodstock immensely and I thank Ross and the band. One thing I like about Ross and the band they are full on metal, they are dedicated and it’s good to be onstage with people that not only think like me but who have played like me through the decades.”
Would he ever consider working with Tim Ripper Owens
“I love Ripper to death, not only is he a great guy, he is a great performer and great vocalist. He was not only instrumental but essential for holding Priest together through now that we call the Ripper years. Its just a question of picking the other musicians really. If I was to do anything I would have Ripper. “
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to Ex Manowar guitarist Ross The Boss about his upcoming performance with Ex Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing at Bloodstock on Aug 11 2019, his thoughts on Manowar’s Hellfest cancellation, the Ross the Boss upcoming album and tour dates.
Watch the interview here
When asked about how the Ross The Boss Band & K.K. Downing upcoming performance came about
” We have a friend of the band called Steve Goldby who runs http://metaltalk.net, he’s a really great guy he inducted me into the Hall of Heavy Metal History at Wacken. I go Steve you want to help me get press at BloodStock Festival in the UK for Ross The Boss Band and he goes all right, okay. All of a sudden Steve says K.K. Downing is his friend and I said he should come to Bloodstock and hang out with us. The next thing you know we were talking about asking K.K. to come play with us a few songs. Steve then goes that’s a fucking brilliant idea let’s do it. Steve makes a call, pitches the idea and says K.K. is really interested, so it’s going to happen.”
When asked if he knew why K.K. Donwing left Judas Priest
“I don’t know anything about what went down between K.K. and the band and I hope one day it could be solved matter. Fact it’s my ulterior motive to bring K.K Downing out and get him playing again and maybe back to where he belongs in Judas Priest.” I don’t know anything about what happened with him and Judas Priest it’s none of my business. It’s it’s sad that shit happens like that especially when things are so good. I love all the Judas Priest members I love Richie, I love Andy, I love Scott, Rob I love the band I love their music and i wish them all the best. ”
When asked how many songs they will be performing with K.K. Downing at Bloodstock
“We don’t have a ton of time we got like an hour plus so we will play three or four Judas Priest Songs with K.K. We just want K.K. to come out and get some love from the audience he deserves it, he’s a father of Heavy Metal. I know he’s a bit nervous but that’s to be expected but we will do everything for him to make him feel as comfortable as possible and let him play his guitar, let him do what he does. At the end of the day I hope that this gives them the motivation to get him back into Judas Priest. Glen is not there now and I think that K.K. belongs there now, if they could mend the fences. We’re not spring chickens anymore, life is too short at this point and I think that before someone goes or something tragic happens I would love to see K.K. back in Judas Priest. I would love to put some good vibes out there to him and so maybe there would be a chance that something could happen and I think the fans would love it.”
When asked if the Manowar Hellfest last minute Cancellation last month benefited The Ross The Boss Band
“I don’t want to get into the whole matter of Hellfest and Manowar. I wish it never had happened because there were so many people that were hurt by this, so many good metal fans from all over the world came to see them and only got their heart broken. t was horrible and I don’t get joy from that. I don’t want to rise in metal community from their mistakes, I want to rise because we’re great band. I don’t cancel shows, I’ve never canceled a show. It was hard to see that happen you know. Joey went there a year before at Hellfest saying how he’s gonna destroy the place and then they didn’t play. It’s not my business again I’m sorry for the fans I’m sorry that they got hurt I really am.”
When asked about the upcoming Ross the Boss band Studio Album
“We’ve got a lot of songs, we’ve got about 12 -14 for this record it’s going to be a March 2020 release and it’s going to be fantastic, I guarantee you. “
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 