Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York, which formed in 1980. They are known for writing lyrics with an emphasis on fantasy and mythological topics. Biography Joey DeMaio was working as a bass tech / pyrotechnic for Black Sabbath when he met with guitarist Ross the Boss, playing for a group called Shakin' Street, a Black Sabbath support band. They later recruited Eric Adams for vocals and Donny Hamzik for the drums, to create Manowar — a band with an unusual epic sound. Manowar recorded Battle Hymns, their debut album, which featured "Dark Avenger", a slow epic track with narration by Orson Welles. (Welles returned on the Into Glory Ride album and did the narration on another slow track called "Defender". This song was later reworked for the band's Fighting the World album.) The band may have achieved its most distinctive moment in a performance of Nessun Dorma from Puccini'