Following their recent movie debut with the title song for the action-western "El Gringo", MANOWAR have confirmed their next soundtrack project, "Soldiers", starring action icon Jean Claude Van Damme.

Van Damme, who is Sylvester Stallone's co-star as an arch villain in "Expendables 2", said about the collaboration, "I met with Joey DeMaio and explained my vision for the entire soundtrack. He will be writing original score as well as bringing MANOWAR songs to the movie."

Produced by Hollywood veteran and long-term Van Damme collaborator, action specialist Moshe Diamant ('The Black Dahlia", "Hard Target", "Sudden Death"), "Soldiers" follows Van Damme on an action-packed quest for righteousness, retribution and resurrection.

"Joey DeMaio has the musical ability to write fighting hymns, soulful ballads and deeply emotional scores," said producer Moshe Diamant.

"We've always had a passion for movies, especially those that celebrate the values that matter for us: righteousness, honor, bravery. Contributing musically to such stories, and working with some of the greatest action heroes in cinema history is an honor and a pleasure. We are ready to deliver a powerful soundtrack to this really great movie," said Joey DeMaio.

"Soldiers" is scheduled for release in the spring of 2013.

MANOWAR recently premiered its twelfth studio album, "The Lord Of Steel". The CD is currently available as a limited Hammer edition in collaboration with U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. An entirely different version of "The Lord Of Steel", loaded with surprises, will be released into international retail in September as CD, vinyl and as a digital album.

MANOWAR will kick off "The Lord Of Steel" world tour with first shows in October across Europe.

Photo below (left to right): Jean-Claude Van Damme, Joey DeMaio, Moshe Diamant