THOR Only the Strong LP Manowar Judas Priest Accept saxon omen riot Helloween

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THOR Only the Strong LP MAGENTA VINYL
Brand new, sealed. 
Imported from Germany's HIGH ROLLER RECORDS! Officially released. 
--- High Roller Records, magenta vinyl, ltd 500, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, A4 insert, lyric sheet, 2 x double sided poster, A5 photo card Transfer, audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in March 2025
Cutting by SST Germany on Neumann machines for optimal quality on all levels... The ultimate audiophile reissue of this eternal classic!
 
Thor - lead vocals Pantera - vocals Steve Price - guitar Keith Zazzi - bass / vocals Mike Favata - drums
01 2045 02 Only the Strong 03 Start Raising Hell 04 Knock 'Em Down 05 Let the Blood Run Red 06 When Gods Collide
07 Rock the City 08 Now Comes the Storm 09 Thunder on the Tundra 10 Hot Flames 11 Ride of the Chariots
Jon Mikl Thor is a legend in his own right. Under the name of Thor, the former “Mr. World” and professional bodybuilder has recorded and released 41 albums in his 51 years as an active musician. However, only few people know that the roots of Thor actually go way back to 1973.
After an EP called »Muscle Rock« was issued in 1977 under the name of Thor & The Imps, Thor’s official debut album »Keep The Dogs Away« saw the light of day in 1978. It was followed by »Unchained« in 1983 (originally released through Mongel Horde and currently re-issued by High Roller Records).
“The reaction from the press and fans for »Unchained« was overwhelming and the noise was felt across the pond to England,” exclaims the mighty Thor. “Albion Records licensed the record from me and placed the release on their new metal label Ultra Noise. We then went over to the UK and played the Marquee in early 1984. All the press were there. It was incredible. Five encores that night! Kerrang's headlines shouted ‘He Came, He Thor, He Conquered’!”
As a result, Thor decided to operate with the band out of New York as well as England. “We would fly back and forth and tour through Europe,” is what Jon Mikl Thor says. “We also performed on many TV shows which helped our popularity. I had a great friendship with Douglas Smith (Motörhead’s manager) and Lemmy while I lived in London.”
Two years after »Unchained«, Thor’s next album »Only The Strong« was released, one of the most successful records in their entire career. The songs “Thunder On The Tundra” and “Let The Blood Run Red” were issued as singles and entered the UK charts. ”Thor was huge in the British press back in the 1980s,” boasts the singer.
Apart from recording new studio albums on a regular basis, Thor also put on a spectacular live show. However, the legendary front man likes to stress: “The strength is in the music. Although we would put on a spectacular show each and every time, we were great writers and musicians. There would be those would say it was a novelty act, but they cannot deny the music. »Only The Strong« is all killer no filler. I always believed that you can listen to the album at home or in your car. But when you come to see the show and put your dollar down, there must be incredible theatrics to go with the powerful music.”
MATTHIAS MADER

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The 1985 album Only the Strong is widely regarded as the definitive release from Canadian/American heavy metal theatrical act Thor, fronted by former Mr. Canada and Mr. USA bodybuilder Jon Mikl Thor. The record perfectly encapsulates the band's trademark blend of traditional heavy metal, power metal, and hard rock with a wildly over-the-top, muscle-bound aesthetic that became their calling card. Featuring stadium-ready anthems like "Thunder on the Tundra" and "Let the Blood Run Red," the music is driven by catchy, no-frills riffing, a pounding rhythm section, and Jon Mikl Thor's soaring, dramatic vocal delivery, all of which helped the album achieve platinum status in both Canada and the UK.
More than just an album, Only the Strong is an essential piece of 1980s metal mythology, embodying the era's focus on spectacle and larger-than-life personas. The music captures the raw energy and passion of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) while infusing the epic, warrior themes of early US power metal, complete with a dystopian spoken-word intro for its title track. The record stands as a classic example of "Muscle Rock"—a powerful, fist-pumping slab of pure, fun, and uncompromising heavy metal that prioritizes memorable hooks and theatrical mayhem over technical complexity, establishing Thor as an iconic cult figure in the genre.
50 Similar Artists / Releases This list focuses on bands and albums from the 1980s and the traditional metal revival that share Thor's blend of Traditional Heavy Metal, Early Power Metal, and theatrical, loud, hard-rocking spectacle.
Manowar - (Battle Hymns)
Manilla Road - (Crystal Logic)
Anvil - (Metal on Metal)
Raven - (All for One)
Exciter - (Heavy Metal Maniac)
W.A.S.P. - (W.A.S.P.)
Savatage - (Sirens)
Grim Reaper - (See You in Hell)
Dio - (Holy Diver)
Accept - (Restless and Wild)
Riot - (Thundersteel)
Virgin Steele - (Guardians of the Flame)
Manowar - (Hail to England)
Cirith Ungol - (King of the Dead)
Manilla Road - (Open the Gates)
Twisted Sister - (Stay Hungry)
Judas Priest - (Screaming for Vengeance)
Grave Digger - (Heavy Metal Breakdown)
Tokyo Blade - (Tokyo Blade)
Jag Panzer - (Ample Destruction)
Ozzy Osbourne - (Bark at the Moon)
Mercyful Fate - (Melissa)
Cloven Hoof - (Cloven Hoof)
Tank - (Filth Hounds of Hades)
Iron Maiden - (Killers)
Agent Steel - (Skeptics Apocalypse)
Saxon - (Denim and Leather)
Ostrogoth - (Ecstasy and Danger)
Helloween - (Walls of Jericho)
Picture - (Heavy Metal Ears)
Stormwitch - (Walpurgis Night)
Heavy Load - (Stronger Than Evil)
Witchfinder General - (Death Penalty)
Slauter Xstroyes - (Winter Kill)
Overkill - (Feel the Fire)
Razor - (Executioner's Song)
Brocas Helm - (Into Battle)
Bitch - (Be My Slave)
Liege Lord - (Burn to My Touch)
Tygers of Pan Tang - (Spellbound)
Metal Church - (Metal Church)
Slayer - (Show No Mercy)
Savage Grace - (Master of None)
Satan - (Court in the Act)
Armored Saint - (March of the Saint)
Q5 - (When the Mirror Cracks)
Angel Witch - (Angel Witch)
Acid - (Maniac)
Piledriver - (Metal Inquisition)
Attacker - (Battle at Helm's Deep)