Legendary US Metal band Warlord was formed in 1981 by Mark Zonder and William J. Tsamis. One year later, in 1982, the song "Lucifer's Hammer" (based on a novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle) appeared on the prestigious compilation album "Metal Massacre II". This resulted in a deal with Metal Blade Records, with Warlord recording their debut mini-album. "Deliver Us" was released in 1983 and is today considered as the blueprint for what was later to be called "Epic Metal" (alongside Warlord bands such as Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol are widely considered to be the godfathers of this specific style of metal music). "Not sure if we were the originators of that style," comments drum legend Mark Zonder regarding Warlord's status of being the inventors of "Epic Metal". "But I would like to think we are a very original band. We have influences but do not sound like anyone else. I think anyone can identify a Warlord song in about ten seconds. There is a certain magic with the music and lyrics." 1983's "Deliver Us" was a very special debut indeed. Some of the song structures of compositions such as "Child Of The Damned" or "Winter Tears" have been influenced by classical music: "Yes, William J. Tsamis was a big fan as well, as traditional classical guitar was what he was raised on."
