Nanowar of Steel-Dislike to False Metal
Label: Napalm Records
Release Date: March 10th, 2023
Not really sure where to start with an album like “Dislike to False Metal.” It is such an eclectic mix of styles that one is hard pressed to pinpoint exactly where the band is coming from but one thing is for certain. It is a great (and triumphant) power metal album and one that is worth investing some time in. Nanowar of Steel describe themselves as “Italian comic heavy metallers.” While the comedy is there, it sometimes seems as though the band is selling themselves short as the musicianship is top notch.
Nanowar of Steel‘s debut album Triumphs of True Metal of Steel was released in 2003. In 2005, they released Other Bands Play, Nanowar Gay! under the Creative Commons platform, which was a way for bands to make their music available without a label. The album was a deliberate play on words of a popular saying by the band Manowar. In 2010 they released of Into Gay Pride Ride and by the time the band released a video for new single “Giorgio Mastrota” in 2012, they amassed 100,000 plays in two weeks on YouTube. By 2019, they came upon the surprisingly genius idea of combining reggaeton and metal resulting in the single Norwegian Reggaeton and the accompanying video reached 800,000 views in 5 days. The video has so many in-jokes within the metal community that it is almost impossible to watch without a chuckle.
Folk, opera, and gospel would also get the same treatment as reggaeton with similar shades of success. Which brings us to 2023 and Dislike to False Metal which is now the fifth album by the band that proudly proclaims “we take parody seriously”. The band lists their members as; Potowotominimak (lead vocals), Mr Bafo (co-lead vocals and special effects), Mohammad Abdul (guitars and keyboards), Gattopancert666 (bass), and Uinona Raider(drums). The ten tracks contained within are a blast to behold and once again mixing genres like an expert chef while giving us plenty to headbang to in the process.
The album kicks off with a not so serious ode to clean living called “Sober.” A couple of the riffs in this one will stick in your head for days. The melodic and symphonic “Winterstorm in the Night” contains a guess appearance by Eleine vocalist Madeleine Liljestam and is truly a work of beauty. All beauty is cast aside for the next track, however. “Disco Metal” is a genre mash up of metal and the 90s rave scene. The video is the first released from this album and once again showcases the band’s wicked sense of humor. Among the tributes being paid here is a definite ode to zombies and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.
Dipping back into melodic waters is the power ballad “Muscle Memories” which details losing weight and becoming obsessed with bulking up (yes seriously). The next song “Chupacabra Cadabra” kicks off with the drum intro for Judas Priest‘s “Painkiller” and proceeds into a near 10 minute epic that combines metal with a fiesta and is sung in both Italian and English. The results are glorious. The sixth song is called “Pasadena 1994” and features Joakim Broden from Sabaton. This is the first song that I am aware of that is a complete rundown of Italy’s victory over Brazil in the World Cup. It is another anthem that had me singing the praises of Italy despite having never watched a full game of soccer in my life.
“Metal Boomer Battalion” is an absolute crusher that is sure to trigger any keyboard warriors who are aware of the band’s lyrics. “Dimmu Boogie” is another killer tune that is more than just a funny name. “Protocols (of the Elders of Zion) of love” is another ballad which is lyrically an ode to right wing conspiracy theories. Awesome. The last song “The Power of Imodium” sees the album out with another stormer mixing metal getting lost at a fiesta.
Musically, the band reminds me of the best parts of Queen, Rhapsody of Fire, Manowar, and Blind Guardian shoved into a blender with several other genres. The resulting concoction is quite tasteful and rather refreshing. The band is set to embark on an extensive tour across the seas which unfortunately doesn’t include any North American dates but by all means, if they tour near you, hit them up.