Afraid to Shoot into the Eyes of a Stranger in a Strange Land 🤦‍♂️ Nanowar of Steel reaction

Italian metal band Nanowar of Steel released their rather scandalous Iron Maiden tribute… which I assume they came up with like this:
- Hey guys do you want to do an Iron Maiden cover?
- Sure that’s a great idea! Which song?
- …all of them!
Now I have to point out that I’ve never really been a fan of Nanowar of Steel… I guess I am one of those metalheads who likes his metal serious… but then I realised that hey, I love Spinal Tap… and Nanowar of Steel is basically Italian Spinal Tap on steroids cranking their goofiness to 11
So after roughly gazillion people sent me this song, I finally checked out the Iron Maiden tribute Afraid to Shoot into the Eyes of a Stranger in a Strange Land… and boy did it crack me up!
00:00 - Intro
00:18 - These go to 11
02:12 - Stranger's adventures
06:04 - Spinal Tap on steroids
07:33 - Verdict
Also, here are the lyrics of Nanowar of Steel - Afraid to Shoot into the Eyes of a Stranger in a Strange Land for your reference:
Fly on your way
Fly as high as the sun
Wasting love with women in uniform
Run to the hills
Run from your wife
Caught somewhere in 22 Acacia Avenue
Be quick or be a long distance runner
No prayer for the long distance runner
The loneliness of the long distance runner to the hills
Seventh son of the long distance runner
Afraid to shoot into the eyes of a stranger
A stranger in a strange world of a strange land
Afraid to look to the eyes of a stranger
A stranger of a stranger in a strange land
Flash of the blaze
Aces high, falling down
The evil that the long distance runner do
Running free, live to fly
Fly to live, fly to fly
Do or diet or be a long distance runner
Children of Charlotte the harlot
The number of Charlotte the harlot
Fear of the virus of Charlotte the harlot
The virus of the ancient mariner
Afraid to shoot into the eyes of a stranger
A stranger in a strange world of a strange land
Afraid to look to the eyes of a stranger
A stranger of a stranger in a strange land
Afraid to shoot into the eyes of a stranger
Can I play with Charlotte the harlot?
Hallowed be thy Charlotte the harlot
You'll take my virus, but I'll take yours too
Only the long distance runner die young
Afraid to shoot into the eyes of a stranger
A stranger in a strange world of a strange land
Afraid to look to the eyes of a stranger
A stranger of a stranger in a strange land
--------
If you would like to ROCK a Metal Pilgrim T-shirt and support the show (for which I'll be VERY thankful), please check out this form - metalpilgrim.net/
You can also support the channel and community on Patreon (again, I'll be SUPER thankful) - / metal_pilgrim
Every dollar you invest will be used to produce better material!
Support our volunteer efforts here on the ground in Ukraine by donating to Steel Wings Foundatino (I am the founder and personally responsible for every penny spent) - steelwings.net/en/
I also want to invite YOU to become part of the conversation! Join our community by SUBSCRIBING on KZbin, Instagram or other social media to submit your questions for future guests, more exclusive interviews, album and concert reviews and first-hand rock and metal news.
Instagram - / metal_pilgrim
Facebook - / metalpilgrimofficial
--------
Background music: "Uberpunch" Alexander Nakarada (serpentsoundstudios.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
--------
All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.

[@MetalPilgrim]

What do you think about parody in Metal?

[@angiewegenerdjmetalamazon4468]

I love it! :D

[@TenZrzut]

I think a lot of problems in any fandom come from people taking it too seriously. Having fun should be the most important part.

[@MrDanilop45]

Did you see Pasadena 1994 with Joachim Broden? If not, you will be surprised how good they are in Parody.

[@SimoneCalloni]

​@@MrDanilop45You mean it, they stepped up their game with the last record, Dislike to False Metal. I always recommend, however, their classic Mastrota (The Keeper of Inox Steel).

[@nanowarVEVO]

it is a very bad idea, don't do it

[@omardekoning6024]

How is this offensive??🤨 I see it as a bunch of Maiden fans basically saying thank you to Iron Maiden for 40+ years of making great songs. I really like this song🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@MetalPilgrim]

Exactly :)

[@marcelacoplao]

I saw some guys say "this is the best Iron Maiden song that Iron Maiden hasn't written" and it's basically that, some sort of parody and tribute at the same time, done properly

[@liviapravato2891]

I think it's a great tribute to an awesome metal band! Cleverly done and sounds good, too. 🤘🎸💯

[@LeMalaisologue]

The best Maiden song of these last 20 years

[@thomash.5505]

A note about the number: Nanowar of Steel have already done an Iron Maiden cover, it's about phone xxx and it's called "The Number of the Bitch". Guess which Iron Maiden song inspired this? The intro goes like this: Forgive me, oh mum and dad For the telecom sent the bill with wrath But I believed that the call was short Let him who hasn't a girlfriend Go and call the number of the bitch Even if it is an expensive number This number is 166 166 166

[@BaroneAlTavolo]

sei un genio!

[@ChristianIce]

Congrats, dude. You got all the references, I'm impressed. You actually got one I missed :D

[@fabioartoscassone9305]

ora manca solo il livello supremo delel reaction. farla ascoltare agli Iron Maiden

[@BADC0FFEE]

guai a te christianairteeee

[@etonasama]

Loved the song references, especially the fact that the Blaze era was included.

[@alexandremaireno-ni4ec]

True Maiden fans are fans of any Maiden

[@danielfryda1092]

Even the singer sounds like Blaze.

[@oskariratinen1213]

@@alexandremaireno-ni4ec I never understood the Blaze hate. Sure he is no Bruce Dickinson, but who is? You don't see Queen fans shitting on Adam Lambert because he isn't as good as Freddie Mercury (once again, who is...), instead they've embraced him as who he is, knowing that you can't accept that job and think you'll replace Freddie, you must do it as yourself and he does a great job at it. So did Blaze, but Maiden fans hated him because he wasn't Bruce. Such a shame, Blaze is a fine singer.

[@alexandremaireno-ni4ec]

@@oskariratinen1213 you're right...though Adam gets some fan hate, it's not like he was replacing Freddie the way Blaze did, by immediately following Bruce, who's in whole different league of metal singers

[@oskariratinen1213]

@@alexandremaireno-ni4ec yeah, but it wasn't like he "replaced" Bruce either. Bruce left to pursue a solo career. What was Maiden supposed to do, quit? It was never Bruce Dickinson's band, it is Steve Harris' band. Blaze was recruited as the new singer. By the way, Marko Hietala (of later Nightwish fame, but then only known from his own band Tarot) also sent a demo tape to Maiden after Bruce left but was never invited for an audition. That might have been an awesome story...

[@ffosiliaudecymrusouthwales1716]

I think that parody bands need to be excellent musicians to make it work, and Nanowar of Steel certainly fit that description. I love their homage to Maiden. I think it would be great to see them interviewed on Metal Pilgrim.

[@fistsofsnake5475]

Yeah, you make think they make some silly songs, but when you look in to that they put much work in to it

[@sherrilynncrothall2652]

It's all in good fun. I think they have done a sterling effort with their tribute, mad respect for them. Sometimes metal gets too serious, we need to enjoy it especially now.

[@jimikelley189]

It's a new take on the traditional "Weird Al"-style parody. Good for them; something new

[@thomash.5505]

I first noticed Nanowar of Steel about 20 years ago. They were funny back then, but the quality of the albums didn't do justice to the band's skills, so I didn't pay much attention to them for a long time. But at least since "A Knight at the Opera" it's obvious that these guys aren't just funny, but also really good musicians with a real passion for heavy metal.

[@francescoporcari8597]

The things have changed since "Into Gay Pride Ride" 2010

[@qcvitals]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for putting a song on the riffs other than the intro I was searching wich song it was and I was going insane ❤

[@Stefan979-]

A masterfully done shitpost. Italians have great metal -Rhapsody,Hyperion,Necrodeath,Graveworm - a very rich country. The lyrical breakdown was hilarious as well. But I figure that if these guys tried to be serious,they'd pull it off excellently,very talented.

[@apuanomassa6426]

Also Death SS, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Lacuna Coil, Labyrinth, Extrema, Vision Divine, Wind Rose, Strana Officina, Elvenking, Secret Sphere, Domine, Frozen Crown, White Skull etc

[@ontaka5997]

When it comes to parodying metal bands, Nanowar is the best. I think they can do that because they are fans of the artists they parody, and have a deep knowledge of the songs. They also make excellent comedic original songs like Valhalleluyah and Norwegian Reggaeton.

[@TenZrzut]

Funnily enough they wrote a song called "Poser" back in the day. One of the thing a poser does in it is "like Virtual XI". And this one shows they clearly like it. And I bet this is deliberate on their part :)

[@etonasama]

I'm one of the few people that like Virtual XI.

[@TenZrzut]

@@etonasama Plenty of people like it, but many have been conditioned to say they don't without actually listening to it a few times. It's just "no Dickinson = bad"

[@Eccles_basement_gym]

I watched it when it premeired. I have been a fan of them for a few years. I love my fun metal 🤟

[@alessandrop.5131]

If you look closer, Charlotte of the harlot has seven sons, and the seventh son wear a shirt with number 7.

[@georgiiliev411]

In fact it starts and ends with the waves from Darkest hour :)

[@davidramirezrodriguez3373]

I loved nanowar of steel since day one, and this for me is just a gift from a band that clearly loves Iron Maiden just as much as I do, even more so, just chef Kiss, perfect

[@alessandrop.5131]

Yes, please invite them into the channel.

[@jjooee33]

thanks for explained the lyric details, very funny

[@rodcrispo5859]

Great tribute

[@petetobey3933]

I found it absolutely hilarious! The music was spot on, the lyrics taken from song titles was brilliant, and even the cheesy video quality as a reference to all the bad CGI videos Iron Maiden has made. Love it! I was laughing my through watching it the first few times…

[@nikkonen84]

Being half italian, I immediately loved it, caught the ironic side enjoying every detail of this masterpiece..

[@icreateworlds]

Main den should have written this as their retirement song. It’s awesome. As a maiden fan since the 70s I approve this fantastic song.

[@martinkasper197]

Manowar of steal...🤘👍🤣🤣🎸🎤

[@martinkasper197]

The best Maiden song they never wrote...🤘👍🎸🎤🤣 They should cover it live...🤔

[@MrDanilop45]

They do, and it is awesome

[@galadballcrusher8182]

​@@MrDanilop45he means Maiden should cover it live;)

[@johnheavenly3552]

Totally enjoyed!

[@Shadoestar]

I saw Nanowar Of Steel opening for DragonForce last year. They were very entertaining. I have no problem with comedy in metal. Hey, I'm saying this as a fan of Dethklok and Steel Panther. If you can't have a little fun with your favorite music genre, what's the point?

[@rayven616]

You should check out "heavy metal kibbles" it's their parody of judas priest

[@davesky538]

Well done!

[@missjayspeechley9213]

I'm a life long Maiden fan, and I absolutely LOVE this. Nanowar are pretty much heavy metal's Weird Al

[@mlkusanagi]

despite the goofiness in their music and lyrics, they are very talented proffessional musician, i love it

[@danielasantarelli6396]

I love Iron Maiden + I love Nanowar Of Steel = I love this song (a fantastic pout pourri summary of Iron Maiden's career: buy one, get ten 😀)

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@markw.loughton6786]

i had a blast with it 😊

[@SAFT_MrJK]

for me the part of the solo you showed sounds almost exactly taken from powerslave

[@nilshult5115]

I think this lyrics is brillanly done, take care and slava Ukraini💛💙

[@justapeasant8949]

Charlotte the Harlot is "dead". She's been "killed" in From Here to Eternity.

[@gabor222]

“That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die.”

[@MadMetalHead78]

Man this I the smartest way for a tribute.they found how to include in a song most of Iiron Maiden s songs..

[@lukaszkoziol8302]

I love this song !!!

[@asevado]

I'm a Nanowar fan since 2005 or so, when they released totally kick-ass cover like "Master of Pizza" or "The Number of the Bi@#h" (btw, you guys should definitely check out those masterpieces). Being Italian myself, just a little inside about how our fun works... We tend to be maybe a little over the top with our mockery humor, but most of the time this is absolutely not intended to be offensive or denigrate those we are mocking. Nanowar themselves have repeatedly said in many interviews they're actually huge fans of the bands they joke about. I'm totally fine with they're attitude. I definitely think it's a good thing to take (at least some time) "heavy metal" less seriously and have a good laugh.

[@ZioMonte]

NANOWAR, which parodied MANOWAR's name, made a song from iron maiden's songs when MANOWAR did exactly the same with their own song in early albums... :°D

[@evandavis5223]

Iron Maiden wrote a dictionary and NoS stole the words from it to make a comic strip.

[@deijay7632]

They did an iron maiden version of what megadeth did with their 1994 song victory mashing up song titles and album titles to make a song.

[@rodcrispo5859]

Manowar have been around a long time!

[@chrisconny2285]

This isn't Manowar lol it's Nanowar of Steel 👍🍻

[@alexandremaireno-ni4ec]

Yes, since 1981...

[@samjuggler77]

FUN FACT: the number 166 it's also a quote that nanowar of steel did to their song (which was a parody of the number of the beast") The number of the bitch: "Forgive me, oh mum and dad For the telecom sent the bill with wrath But I believed that the call was short Let him who hasn't a girlfriend Go and call the number of the bitch Even if it is an expensive number This number is 166 166 166". And that's because, as you said, 'till the early 00's all the hot line's number in Italy used to begin with 166

[@gibsonlespaul796]

Galneryus - The Winds Blows is the best Maiden song they never wrote!!!

[@niddhoeggr75]

You should hear "JBO"

[@francescoporcari8597]

You should check "Quest for Carrefour": it does the same as this for the Blind Guardian.

[@mino73T11]

I think the keypoint would be Iron Maiden's reaction or, even better, their faces while eventually playing a cover of this song! For what I know they don't dislike fun and hilarious stuff, so seeing them having fun with this would blow any doubt away from the minds of fans. And let me point out, it's not the first time Nanowar of Steel involve well known musicians into their parodies, never becoming nasty or offensive with them... Check out "Pasadena 1994“ for example. Ah one last thing... do you think I should point out that I'm italian, as a disclaimer? 😅

[@LupoAndy]

I saw them last sunday with Trick or Treat (IT) as support and the joked before they played this song, that it was created with AI.

[@huge-s]

Check out their "Quest for Carrefour"

[@gorkipork4112]

The sad fact is. This is the best song that is maidenish in the last 24 years

[@jamesw.weissii3795]

Epic

[@taredin]

I´m not offended 🙂 by the song, as a big Iron Maiden fan, on the contrary I find it really funny and in my opinion it's one of the best tribute songs I've ever heard

[@flaviogalzignato]

Italians: not just spaghetti

[@hjalnelson9579]

"...those metalheads who likes his metal serious… " Those sorry, sorry souls. The cheesier the metal is, the better it is!

[@MrHrannsi]

Exactly, people tend to forget that music is an entertainment that is about as old as.... well, strolling down the avenue and sayin' hello to Charlotte 😉

[@fistsofsnake5475]

useing title of another NoS song: metal boomer batalion

[@janjohansen9361]

Not a fan but not offended. If anyone got offended, then that person has too little to worry about. Jokes are allowed :)

[@DragonGrafx-16]

When I saw this song show up in my youtube feed I thought it was an AI mashup so I paid it no mind.

[@mcdgtodd]

As one comment I lifted off the video "This is not a song, it is the first PhD in maidenology."

[@dradehnorref4101]

That is very good but the singer is more like a Blaze Bailey type of Voice.

[@thomash.5505]

That's right. The other singer, Potowotominimak, sounds more like Bruce Dickinson, I would have liked to hear him on this song. Check out "Giorgio Mastrota (The keeper of inox steel)", one of his best vocal performances in my opinion.

[@tobiasweber9205]

Great und funny Song 😃🤣😍👍🤘🤘🤘

[@SausageBap666]

Nanowar are brilliant fun live, go see them

[@bosunbones.8815]

Theres a difference between not taking the music seriously and not taking them selves seriously. You can say the same about guys like Electric Callboy.

[@JuicedLeader36]

Funniest and best Maiden song 😂😂

[@nickchucky3173]

Check the song Uranus by Nanowar Of Steel, you'll see references to Staying Alive.

[@MicrobiusBlue]

Maiden will love it 😎

[@mariodiaz5872]

The virus of the ancient mariner 😂😂😂

[@paulgarot9249]

Personnellement... j'ai adoré leur chanson ❤❤❤

[@ButcherGrindslam]

Megadeth "Victory"?

[@doguipreacher]

So this guy is actually explaining the joke? Sorry Nanowar, the internet...

[@marcello66]

Holly smoke.. what a great and funny tribute to the Maidens. Slava Ukrain

[@michaelantonyaustin]

Which cover? All of them! I’m pretty sure that is exactly how the conversation went… and it worked! 😅 You have to love something fully to make a successful parody. See the movies ‘Galaxy Quest’, ‘A Mighty Wind’ and even your often used ‘Austin Powers’ - or ‘Steel Panther’! I reckon Bruce & co. will love it🤘

[@ReAnimator02]

Check out Maiden Hell by Night Demon, not humor but a tribute. Love it.

[@mariodiaz5872]

This song is amazing and Nanowar of Steel use the kind of mediterranean humou that is difficult to understand for Anglosaxons or English Speaking cultures, this is a tribute to them like Spanish bands like Gigatron, nothing else

[@KA-jm2cz]

I am offended by it's funnyness. Nanowar is madness we need. Their Lichtenstein is also amazing!

[@jorgecobelo]

Now try again without crying 😂😂😂

[@feandil666]

As an old school fan who doesn't like much of what Maiden did after 7th son, it feels good to realise I'm not crazy: 90% of the references in this tribute are old school, and there are what? 3-4 songs that Maiden wrote after 1990 that are actually good? (and sorry man but we cannot give you a like, the counter is on the Number of the Beast)

[@DrumStan]

"Shoot into the Eyes" - how did you miss this nasty sentence?

[@amerigo-p7109]

Homestly,talking about italy i prefere"killers of the beast "an iron maiden tribute band with an amazing singer specially on live shows

[@protossevolution3361]

It was very fun, the guys did a great job emulating the style of Iron Maiden. I just particularly didn't liked the song as a song to keep listening. Norwegian Reggaeton is much more addictive!

[@MarcaCanaglia]

LMAO 😂

[@ironmaidentragic]

N O S have some absolutely fantastic songs and they have some that.........aren't fantastic. I'm a fan though.

[@danielecosta6571]

You need to LOVE heavy metal if you want to make fun of heavy metal like Nanowar do.

[@raindrow4748]

Why so serious ?

[@Shads62]

Italians have a sense of humour?.... Who knew?

[@KillerKojak]

NO ONE sound like Nicko !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@anidiotsguide757]

Noone beats Nanowar at being able to sound exactly like like abother band.

[@1972LittleC]

They also tip a hat to Queensrÿche, with their "eyes of a stranger".... All bull aside; if you can't laugh at yourself, you're going to be pretty miserable.

[@markovisic7244]

WTF.!

[@Silverdragon83X]

I love the song and love wathing reactions, but to be honest, your "reaction" is more of an analysis of the song in comparison to Iron Maiden, than a real reaction. Its quite stressful, that you stop the video every few seconds. Still a good video and interessting comparison, especially for those, wqho may not know Iron Maiden that good!

[@MetalPilgrim]

That was exactly the point of this video ;) I feel like there are enough actual "reactions" without mine online

[@saulmontagu7587]

Night Demon recorded a song with lyrics using maiden song titles called maiden hell and its much better than this in my view

[@augmentedhat16]

Can you please just play the song on its own without talking over it?

[@SimoneCalloni]

I guess that if you don't want a comment on the song, you can just go and listen to the actual song on KZbin or Spotify. I mean no offence of course, it's just a suggestion.

[@ChYph3r]

Слава Україні! Героям слава!

[@Krysztau]

Lowering a curtain of silence over it would probably be a better solution than creating a special episode about it...

[@magicsinglez]

I’ve heard the song? How can you not introduce it in a sensible way. This is a super-fail video. You should just play the song,

[@Canuck1000]

The song from Nanowar is better than anything Iron Maiden has recorded for more than 20 years.

[@michanowak7060]

I like their songs, but I don't think it's their strongers, their late material is great but this particular song falls flat for me