- May 13, 2007
- 1,816
- 345
- 83
U.D.O.
Rev-Raptor
AFM Records - 2011
http://www.udo-online.de
Upon first listen of this new U.D.O. CD, I was a bit disappointed. Thankfully I took the time to listen a couple more times for a better grasp of the album.
I still think some of the vocals got muddied up in the mix but overall I really enjoyed the album. U.D.O. has been turning out some of the most entertaining metal lately. I've been listening to a lot of the band's albums recently and despite some flaws, they have all been well worth the time it took to listen to them. Rev-Raptor continues that streak.
The title track is one of the songs that had vocals that got lost in the mix a bit, but it kicked off the disc quite nicely. "Renegade" was a fast paced number that I really enjoyed. Though it has a bit of an odd song title, the track "Fairy Tales of Victory" was a nice mid to uptempo song with rather pointed lyrics.
Two songs that benefited from me listening to the album more than once were "Dr. Death" which is a ball-busting dose of metallic speed and "Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers", a "we are true metal warriors" anthem.
The last two songs on the album close things out quite nicely. "True Born Winners" and "Days of Hope and Glory" were superbly done. The former is attacking in its pacing while the latter slows down just a bit but still stays in line with the entertaining yet entirely metal anthemic nature of the disc.
The band also has what is now a standard slow song and this one is truly outstanding. "I Give As Good As I Get" is a great song without an overabundance of singer Udo Dirkschneider's metallic growl. He's "singing" on this track for the most part. What really sells the song is the starkly supreme video. It was recorded as a one shot and the visuals are amazing. Most of the video is a closeup on Dirkschneider as he sings and it captures every nook and cranny of his face. It reminded me of the video for Johnny Cash's cover of the Nine Inch Nails song "Closer".
The CD booklet was nicely done and includes an themed illustration for each song.
All in all, I really enjoyed the album despite the vocal issues. It is something metal enthusiasts will like as well.
RATING: B PLUS
Rev-Raptor
AFM Records - 2011
http://www.udo-online.de
Upon first listen of this new U.D.O. CD, I was a bit disappointed. Thankfully I took the time to listen a couple more times for a better grasp of the album.
I still think some of the vocals got muddied up in the mix but overall I really enjoyed the album. U.D.O. has been turning out some of the most entertaining metal lately. I've been listening to a lot of the band's albums recently and despite some flaws, they have all been well worth the time it took to listen to them. Rev-Raptor continues that streak.
The title track is one of the songs that had vocals that got lost in the mix a bit, but it kicked off the disc quite nicely. "Renegade" was a fast paced number that I really enjoyed. Though it has a bit of an odd song title, the track "Fairy Tales of Victory" was a nice mid to uptempo song with rather pointed lyrics.
Two songs that benefited from me listening to the album more than once were "Dr. Death" which is a ball-busting dose of metallic speed and "Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers", a "we are true metal warriors" anthem.
The last two songs on the album close things out quite nicely. "True Born Winners" and "Days of Hope and Glory" were superbly done. The former is attacking in its pacing while the latter slows down just a bit but still stays in line with the entertaining yet entirely metal anthemic nature of the disc.
The band also has what is now a standard slow song and this one is truly outstanding. "I Give As Good As I Get" is a great song without an overabundance of singer Udo Dirkschneider's metallic growl. He's "singing" on this track for the most part. What really sells the song is the starkly supreme video. It was recorded as a one shot and the visuals are amazing. Most of the video is a closeup on Dirkschneider as he sings and it captures every nook and cranny of his face. It reminded me of the video for Johnny Cash's cover of the Nine Inch Nails song "Closer".
The CD booklet was nicely done and includes an themed illustration for each song.
All in all, I really enjoyed the album despite the vocal issues. It is something metal enthusiasts will like as well.
RATING: B PLUS
