After watching this two disc set for the fourth time I am beginning to think that Manowar is putting off making a new album year after year by releasing the continuing Hell On Earth DVD’s. While I am a big Manowar fan and these DVD sets are by no means lackluster or lazy, I am yearning to hear some new music from the guys instead of seeing / hearing more live renditions of the same songs. I remember bemoaning the fact that on the previous DVD set, Fire and Blood that the Ringfest show wasn’t used instead of the dated Monsters of Rock, well here on disc II of Hell On Earth III is the Ringfest show and it is surprisingly short. With only eight songs, two of which were previously released as extras on Fire and Blood you are left wanting more, a lot more. Thankfully though, this isn’t the meat of the set as the Monsters of Rock show was. For me, the main attraction is disc one, the Manowar documentary.

Like in the previous efforts we are greeted with an informative, crazy, and at many times hilarious glimpse into the life of Manowar. You would think that by now we are numb to antics that these people are capable of but they still manage to impress me with their sheer metal lust. Interspersed between wild groupie stories, or fist pumping metal tales of doom are a bunch of live performances and they bring out some songs that I’ve been waiting to hear since Hell On Earth I. Return of the Warlord, Nessun Dorma, and Fighting the World finally make appearances, although Eric just fumbles through Fighting the World. The rest of the songs in this documentary we have all seen, here they are just presented in another locale, another setting, Kings of Metal, Manowar, Kill With Power, Hail and Kill, Gates of Valhalla, and Heart of Steel. Bonus features seem to be equal to that of the main portion, with performances of Black Wind, Fire, and Steel, Herz Auf Stahl, and Wheels of Fire. There’s also the cool story behind Nessun Dorma which is actually pretty touching. All in all disc one is solid and a great ride.

I already mentioned the Ringfest show and although it has superb sound and a lively performance from Eric, Joey, Scott, and Karl I don’t tend to watch this much often as it clocks in at less than an hour. If Manowar wanted to pull out all the stops they should have recorded one of their massive three hour shows on the Hell On Stage tour or even a recent, recent show, one that has Call to Arms, I Believe, and the acoustic set of Courage, Swords in the Wind, and Master of the Wind. Who knows though, maybe this will be released next year for Hell On Earth IV.

The music video collection on disc II is a treat to fans who never got to see these on TV in Manowar’s hey-day. If there is a metal cliché out there than Manowar has put them into their music videos. For a guide to “How to Make a Metal Video” just pop in Warriors of the World. You have chains, sparks, fire, chains on fire, leather, lightning, snow, explosions, and much fist in the air action. Classic! As great as that video is though it is met by the suck factor of Blow Your Speakers. I just have one question for the band in their decision to include this for everyone to see. Why? Why include this god awful abomination on a great package like this? This song is horrible! The video is worse than fucking Tuff! Holy shit, I’m watching it right now and seeing the mullet rock wiener kids air guitar and Eric run around in assless chaps with spandex briefs is just not cool whatsoever. Also included as an afterthought is the Secrets of Steel mini doc, which is nice, very 80’s though especially the chicks who are a hoot, and a “Making Of” segment behind each video. Hell, I’d buy this disc alone if it just included the videos.

Technically this DVD is flawless. The sound mix is perfect, the camera work is professional and amazing and there is nothing at all to nitpick at in that department. In fact, I didn't even think about that aspect of this until the third time through, it is that well executed. On the entertainment factor of things though, I would say that Hell On Earth III, while a great deal in terms of quantity to the Manowar fan is at some places stretched a bit thin. Out of all three DVD’s so far I still think that the first on is the absolute best, it has the best scenes, the best performances and it just seems fresh. I’m glad that there are new songs included on here but there’s simply not enough, I want to see / hear Call to Arms, Hand of Doom, Fight Until We Die, I want those to finally make appearances in the live shows on the DVDs, but what I really want most of all before another Hell On Earth is a new album full of killer material. And when that happens, I want the next DVD to have 80% of that album represented on it.