Battle Hymns is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Manowar, released in June 1982 by Liberty Records.

Over the years, Battle Hymns became highly influential for the power metal genre, which has since been acknowledged among critics and writers who were more favorable to the album.

[6][7] Joey DeMaio recalled that Manowar used their stage equipment and played with a loud volume when recording the songs at the studio.

They don't have Mötorhead or anything like them", while Ross "The Boss" Friedman expressed disapproval for new wave and "bubblegum" music, and concern for the perceived decline of the "rock 'n' roll soul".

[14][12] Writing for Trouser Press in November 1982, Jon Young noted and praised the guitar works of Ross The Boss, but singled out other members for "[failing] to pack comparable punch", and the production for having the "sonic consistency of a cardboard".

[15] Similarly, Ethlie Ann Vare, for her syndicated column Rock On, in September 1982, remarked that Battle Hymns "is totally unlistenable for anyone but the most dedicated metallurgist" and "it'll make your eardrums bleed.

"[16] John Kordosh, writing for Creem magazine observed and contended that Manowar was a serious heavy metal band, in December 1982, emphasising the track "Metal Daze" and the title track "Battle Hymn", as highlights of the album, and favorably referred to Joey DeMaio as a "virtuoso" on the bass guitar, alongside Ross the Boss on electric guitar.

[12][14] Writing for AllMusic, Eduardo Rivadavia was favorable to the musicianship of Ross the Boss and Joey DeMaio, and called the debut album "a promising start" despite the perceived "heavy metal clichés" and "thin" music production.

[10] Music writer Colin Larkin named "Dark Avenger" and Orson Welles' narration, and the bass solo of "William's Tale" as highlights of Battle Hymns and remarked that Manowar was seemingly a "turbo-charged hybrid" of Ted Nugent and Black Sabbath.

[5] All songs by Ross the Boss and Joey DeMaio, except where indicated In late 2010 it was announced that Manowar were to re-record Battle Hymns for a November 26 release.

Orson Welles having died 25 years before, the narration during "Dark Avenger" was recorded by Sir Christopher Lee.

He complained that good albums cannot be re-recorded, that he was left out of it, and that the songs were altered to accommodate Eric Adams' current singing style.