Source: Blabbermouth.net

MANOWAR will release highlights of its “The Lord Of Steel World Tour” on a live EP, featuring performances from the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Russia and Sweden.

“From the first show in Zaragoza/Spain to the last show in Yekaterinburg/Russia, ‘The Lord Of Steel’ world tour was a terrific experience,” said MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio. “Performing new songs for the first time in front of your audience is the ultimate test of the power of the songs to connect to the only people that matter. Our fans were totally brutalized and went wild as you will hear on this new EP. ‘The Lord Of Steel Live’ is a thank you to our amazing fans; it will forever immortalize this tour and those who attended it.”

The album was mixed and mastered at MANOWAR‘s own studios Hell and Haus Wahnfried by Joey DeMaio personally with longtime MANOWAR engineer Dirk Kloiber.

“The Lord Of Steel Live” will be released digitally as an iTunes exclusive worldwide on July 9, and on CD in retail and through TheKingdomOfSteel.com on August 16.

Featured tracks:

01. El Gringo
02. Expendable
03. Hail, Kill And Die
04. Manowarriors
05. The Lord Of Steel
06. Thunder In The Sky

Audio samples of “Thunder In The Sky” and “The Lord Of Steel” can be streamed below.

“The Lord Of Steel” is now available in stores and on iTunes and was first celebrated live during Leg 1 of “The Lord Of Steel World Tour” in Spain, France, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic and Russia.

Asked why MANOWAR chose to release “The Lord Of Steel” in digital format several months before the retail release, DeMaio told Rockpages.gr: “MANOWAR have always worked with the latest technology. Thankfully, our fans have more options than ever to choose how they get their music and when.

“We are proud to be able to give our fans multiple choices: We have released a limited edition of the album in collaboration with Metal Hammer U.K., with its own artwork and special mixes as a first look at what is to come. For those who prefer digital content and wish this limited version, they have the option of getting it as download album.

“The worldwide retail release [is] available with different versions of the songs and a totally different mix and master as CD and limited vinyl, both with spectacular new art by Ken Kelly. And, of course, this version [is] available as digital album as well. The fans can decide which options and configurations they prefer.”

Regarding the difference between MANOWAR‘s previous studio album, “Gods Of War”, and “The Lord Of Steel”, DeMaio said: “All of our albums are different from one another, unlike other groups who constantly try to keep to a formula.

“After the massive production of ‘Gods Of War’, our vision this time was a stripped down, brutally raw, unique sound; ‘lean and mean,’ so to speak.

“We had started working on material prior Donnie [Hamzik, drums] return to the band.

“MANOWAR are a unit. Every band member brings in a unique contribution, so it was only logical for us to start over and include Donnie from the beginning of the creative process.

“Some people will say its a shame to abandon something you have invested a lot of time and energy in, but that’s the way we work. It has to feel right for all of us.”