U.D.O. - Steelhammer - Live In Moscow

June 11, 2014, 9 years ago

(AFM)

Mark Gromen

Rating: 8.0

review

U.D.O. - Steelhammer - Live In Moscow

Double CD offering from the former Accept frontman, but unlike past efforts, these twenty songs relying almost exclusively on his solo material, just a single Accept chestnut in the bunch (“Metal Heart”) and that's the final song of the evening! Bold move. Never very loquacious (except, pun intended, in his German homeland), so in Russia, very little between song banter is evident, although he does try a few native phrases throughout. It's not the first time Herr Dirkschneider has recorded in the former USSR (2001) and since, he's penned a few tracks in the Russian tongue. Surprisingly, none of those are displayed here. Although seven tracks are lifted from Steelhammer, this is truly a career spanning retrospective. Reaching back for a trio off the '87 Animal House debut, he touches on all the early albums (usually title cuts) and “They Want War” gets the crowd to chant the titular chorus. Surprises include the poppy keyboard influenced “Stranger”, additional keys on the otherwise powerful “Devil's Bite”, a pair from Faceless World (“Future Land” and “Stranger”) and thankfully resurrected Timebomb material (piston driven drumming of “Burning Heat” and thrashy title track). The ballad, “In The Darkness”, begins almost acoustically, as a guitar solo interlude/clap-along. “Azrael” finishes the first platter. Personally feel the better stuff is housed on the concluding disc, including the aforementioned Timebomb pairing, “Holy” and, of course, “Metal Heart”. A nearly 11 minute “Mean Machine” features extended guitar and drum solos, while “Go Back To Hell” is one of the more lively inclusions. Long live U.D.O.!



Featured Video

KELEVRA - "The Distance"

KELEVRA - "The Distance"

Latest Reviews