Certif1ed Very highly regarded song among NWoBHM connoisseurs, and it certainly has a striking introduction, and creative makeup.

Personally, I find it a bit weedy and lacking in energy.

Things to like; It's not your bog standard Priest clone, there are plenty of changes and each band member, drummer apart, is doing their own thing, and the arrangement is full of interest.

Things to not like so much; The guitars are submerged and rather honky, the vocals are annoyingly screechy and the lyrics are all cheap, predictable Lord of the Rings references, the bass is dull and has no character, the guitar solo is widdly, and the drums are crap.

Flip the single over, and there's a bit more energy, topped with a Halford-esque scream, and another interesting arrangement. The guitars chug nicely here, and the soloing, of which there is ooodles, is fluent and melodic on the whole, with a great sense of purpose and atmosphere, but the song itself is unmemorable, and the subject matter most peculiar. Ice Cream Theme... really? Could there be some hidden drugs references in there? Surely not!

In summary, I do not find "War of the Ring" to be the "Perfect Anthem" that many others do, but I will concede that it is a highly commendable effort to create something new and exciting - and a path which many metal bands have since explored to better effect, so roots recognition is assured, and recommended particularly to fantasy/doom/creative metal fans as well as the NWoBHM curious.