So it is a kind of new beginning for Udo Dirkschneider (vocals), Fitty Wienhold (bass) and Francesco Jovino (drums). Andrey Smirnov (including Everlost, Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley) and Kasperi Heikkinen (including Merging Flare and Amberian Dawn) are the new members. Many fans still quite unknown, the guitar duo but a striking debut delivers equal. In particular, be heard on the first single "Metal Machine". The riffs thunder and saw in the best merchant-style and raspy voice rasps Udos usual ambiguous. For this, a headbanging chorus barked shouts transition - there goes your tasty old-school soup. Could also come from the 1980s. Sorry does not get all the material on the album so convincing.
Although the theme song "Steel Hammer" ruled the Selbige, but the chorus goes geleierte a time on the metal-reinforced testicles. Since UDO in the past had been much sprit zigere ideas. Undoubtedly heavy, but a little too predictable.
The bitter financial crises-billing "A cry of a Nation", however, is able to pack. Heavy riffs with medium tempo and harmonious melody structures - good combination. Dirkschneider and Wienhold write most of the songs and produce the album and also does the sound good. The times of sterile bass drum are fortunately finally over, everything sounds organic and natural.
Unusually, there is in all-Spanish "Basta ya!". "We have enough" is the battle cry of many protesters in Udo's adopted country Spain, when they rebel against the crisis. Together with his duet partner Victor Garcia of Warcry a classic metal anthem for all the oppressed and disadvantaged people has emerged. Actually, the title is planned as a ballad, but works with rolling staccato riffs significantly better.
A ballad have UDO namely then in his luggage. The sad "Heavy Rain" is supported by piano and strings gefühligen. Here processed Dirkschneider the end his 25-year relationship. Very poignant and the sound image rather than with the Beatles to locate the metal. Such experiments do at any time good and ensure the necessary variety, which is unfortunately lost some hereafter.
"Devil's bite" begins with dance-like keyboard licks before the guitars march. Very nice number, no more.
"Death Ride" brettert pleasant jagged and is one of the stronger songs. Heavy Metal in its most primitive form. Really cool. The double bass is set to "Steel Hammer" otherwise used rarely compared to previous releases. Here and there she would have done quite well a few songs.
Possibly also the verunglücklichten "King of Mean". The Strofen are still quite good, for a really strong chorus, it was not enough.
One gets then tons and brachial served in "Timekeeper". One of my favorite songs on the album. Powerful, melodic and gripping. Stark!
With "Never cross my way" it goes back to the 80. Despite the rich guitar ballad more than rocker. Yesteryear certainly a single candidate, perhaps a bit too commercial for the modern age. Stands out, even if the chorus is repeated a little too often at the end.
"Take my Medicine" does indeed neatly Rabatz, the stool tears it does not really.
Much better can be to "Shadows Come Alive", the bonus track of the Limited Edition. Immediately the head nods in time with. Hell yeah! This is exactly what you hear as a fan of UDO. Can fully convince. Why is a bonus track to be - no idea. Is for me next "Timekeeper" the culmination of the LP.
All right, would you prefer to dispense with "Stay true". Traditional metal Geschwurbel without much soul. I do not like it.
"When love Becomes a lie", however, is clear. Does not project out particularly, but is clearly audible.
Finally it is experimentally with "Book of Faith" again. Sounds like the beginning of tango soaked soundtrack of classic Westerns and then mutates into a Hard Rock Stamper, who even auftrumpft end up with strings. You have to first get used to. Is gradually but always interesting.
All in all, "Steel Hammer" a double-edged sword. On the one hand it is positive to note that UDO want to develop musically, what has come to clearly short on the last albums. There is more variety and more diverse arrangements of keyboard on violins is everything. Pabulum was yesterday. However, the difference in quality between each song is partly astonishing and some material has too little gruffness and clout. The gloom of the last LPs something has been lost. It never really produced a homogeneous, round overall picture. Sounds more like a compilation of some of rejects. Two or three songs less would have been well placed. After all, you have time, "Rev-Raptor" or "Celebrator" waived an unsuitable Comic Cover à la "Dominator". Here was clearly exaggerated last. The fist is clear statement and cliche simultaneously. Just as the music contained. You have the old days of metal already like to find Udo troops and their sound well can. Sure, there are musical versiertere bands. A good job do the musicians and especially the two new guitarists but still. Is also reflected in the charts. Thanks offensive iTunes promotion and a total of four singles, the album goes to # 21 in Germany.
Anyone with 61 years is still as active and fit as Udo Dirkschneider, who has more than earned his place in the metal world. A really bad work he can not deliver anyway. Next time, however, it might safely go something biting again.
