U.D.O. - review added 19th August 2009
Album Review: Dominator (2009)
For fans of: Heavy Metal... and scratchy but catchy vocals
Dominator follows the Infected EP, released earlier this year. Apart from the one shared track, the material on this brand new studio album is as fresh as a lemon breeze in a mushroom farm.
U.D.O. is built around the vocals of former Accept vocalist Udo Dirkschneider. He sounds like a cross between Brian Johnson and Biff Byford sat on the pan during a bad bout of constipation. He couldn't be described as having a musical voice, but there's something loveable about the sound that emanates from his rough and gritty throat.
Joining Udo in the band are Stefan Kaufmann (guitars), Igor Gianola (guitars), Fitty Wienhold (bass) and Francesco Jovino (drums). The sound is straight ahead metal in the vein of old Saxon or, indeed, Accept. The EP was described as geezer-metal with more testosterone than a bloke with ten testicles... and nothing has changed here.
'The Bogeyman' is of a similar ilk to Demolition-era Judas Priest. It's a likeable track that gets better the more you crank it. The solo section is especially heavy and impressive. The title track, however, is wet after the opening track. I don't want to wheel out the tired old cliché of 'metal by numbers' but... well, I just have...
'Black And White' is better, 'Infected' sounds exactly the same as it did on the EP meaning a good track with a catchy chorus. 'Heavy Metal Heaven' is a silly and fun song that, although very amenable, hopefully isn't supposed to be taken too seriously. The guitar sound is good and the rhythms kick like an upset donkey, but the song still comes across like a p*ss take... intentionally or not.
'Stillness Of Time' is an attempt at a slow, near ballad, experience. It's a crawling, pulsating track that doesn't totally suit Udo's voice. Still, it's hard not to enjoy - even if it is a touch too effeminate for it's own good. 'Devil's Rendezvous' is another comedy track - very Lordi - but it's great fun and has a wonderful theatrical feel. When was the last time you heard a heavy metal song with finger clicking? Brilliant!
'Speed Demon' is a song you've heard a thousand times before. It's unoriginal but has a superb early 80's sound that's utterly irresistible. Final track 'Whispers In The Dark' is another slower track, and considerably more successful than 'Stillness Of Time'. It's more moody than love-torn - and you couldn't describe it as serene or beautiful - but, as with other tracks on the album, there's a certain something about it.
Dominator isn't particularly impressive from a technical standpoint but, listening to it with your heart not your head, it makes a lot more sense. The overall feel is of a band recording what they want, not what they've been told to. You have to respect that, and the result is all the more enjoyable because of it.
Check out... Hmmm, 'Speed Demon' or 'Devil's Rendezvous'...
Track List:
01. The Bogeyman
02. Dominator
03. Black And White
04. Infected
05. Heavy Metal Heaven
06. Doom Ride
07. Stillness Of Time
08. Devil's Rendezvous
09. Speed Demon
10. Whispers In The Dark
Label: AFM Records
Artist's website(s): U.D.O. , MySpace
