So what's the story with these guys as I don't see them mentioned very often here, their older albums I expected to be quite similar to Manowar especially with that incredibly masculine swords/leather imagery. But unlike Manowar they're barebones heavy metal without the epic moments, and I actually enjoy the simplicity of the music. Why aren't they discussed more as they're quite prolific in terms output since the early eighties, and their vocalist being a renowned bodybuilder should've helped. The Canadians on the site should probably know quite a bit about them, what are your favorite albums?

Because they're (he's) bad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee6vkFyanSI

This album is all I've heard of the guy. This album is all I ever want to hear of the guy.

It's awfully close to outsider music.

Wasn't talking about their newer material, specifically Only the strong, which by all seems to be their only worthwhile effort. I enjoyed it for what it was at least, that song was awful

Only the Strong is a bloody Canuck classic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzboTtbqomk

It's cheezy; Manowar without the songcraft, musicianship or genuine heaviness.

I do think they were important as far as establishing the themes and image of heavy metal, way back when. But...so were Kiss and Alice Cooper; who were little more then heavy rock bands that could only very marginally considered "Heavy metal" in the modern sense (and neither band qualified for this site incidently.)

I'm a big fan of the the man! I love Keep The Dogs Away, Unchained, Only The Strong, and the Recruits/Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare soundtracks. All of those are fun as hell. I also have the An-Thor-Logy dvd, which is hilarious.

His "comeback" albums (Tales From The Equinox and onwards) are pretty much wretched, with the exception of Triumphant. I thought that one was ok.

He's still going...although I believe his son now does most of the live show for him.

I'm sure most of you all have seen this, but for those who haven't enjoy! It doesn't matter how many times I watch this, I still get a laugh.

Thor himself also "starred" in the abysmal movie Zombie Nightmare with Tia Carrere and Adam West. MST3K featured it for an episode.

Thor is a good band, and it was/is influential in the Canadian scene. Yes, not all of their albums are good and what sucks the most is that most people are deterred from them because of a dumb little YouTube video. Unchained, Only the Strong, and The Edge of Hell are classic releases that are well worth the listen. Even some of the new albums are worth a mention too. Also, I wouldn't really compare them to Manowar. They really aren't alike save for the front man wearing leather and wielding swords.

I lived in Vancouver and area for several years, and I haven't met many people who take him/his music seriously. Except for himself. He's kind of like Von, in that he tries to make his legacy more... "renowned" than it is. It's obvious it's him behind his Wikipedia article, for example.
The Vancouver Millionaires thing a couple years ago was hilarious.

Haha I like how he actually called his band "Thor & His Ass Boys" at one point in his career.

Nobody can hate that music video. Nobody.

They got some cool albums actually; you just have to give them the chance after seeing that video is all.

I enjoy his early 80s stuff.

Thor and the Ass Boys.

A true hero.

Interesting, I was in a band whose name amounts to "Arsch-Axel and the Ass Boys" in English at one point, completely oblivious of Thor.

Thor is one of my favourites. Unchained and Only The Strong have a lot of catchy rocking metal tunes. I was so glad when I got those on cd when they were re-released. Also I think that Keep the Dogs Away has some very nice songs. They're not so metallish, but still very enjoyable.

Military Matters from Keep the Dogs Away

Ragnarok from Recruits, Wild In The Streets

The new stuff varies a lot in style and quality, but there's few good songs on Devastation of Musculation too. The production, especially the midi drums, just don't sound too good.
The album Thor Against the World is a fun album to me. It's rock, it's pop and it's a lot of things. There's some cheesy 80's synths, happy riffing, saxophones and whatnot.

I saw them live when they played few gigs in Finland. The gigs were great. Lot of great songs, Thor himself had lots of energy bending steel, breaking stuff and changing costumes all the time and crowd sang along to the songs.

Of course, it's understandable that Thor is not everyone's cup of tea because of the over the top performances and the uneven catalog of music. If they come back here I will go and see them play.