Orson Welles, celebrated for his early masterpieces and later infamous for shambolic advertising work, also lent his distinctive voice to two heavy metal tracks in the 1980s, a curious footnote in an already unpredictable career. The pairing seems unlikely at first glance, but Welles's grand, theatrical delivery, honed through Shakespearean performance, proved a natural fit for the bombastic, fantasy-driven world of epic metal.

Welles provided the booming narration on 'Dark Avenger' from Manowar's 1982 debut album Battle Hymns, lending gravitas to its overwrought, sword-and-sorcery lyrics. Five years later, and after his death, Manowar returned to their archived recordings of him to piece together new narration for 'Defender' on their 1987 album Fighting the World, ensuring his voice featured on the record once again despite his passing.