Review By Kyle Osborne
Artist: U.D.O.
CD: Steelhammer (dropping May 2013)
Single: “Metal Machine”
The first thirty seconds of U.D.O.’s new single “Metal Machine” grab you by the undies and pull…real hard. It’s an intro with an announcement: you’re about to get rocked, and you’re gonna like it.
Menacing guitar riffs and bone-crushing drums take us back to 1983-ish, and that’s not a bad thing. Remember when Metal was music that your Mom didn’t like? That’s the direction of “Metal Machine,” and I hope it’s the first cut off the “Steelhammer” CD, to be released in May, because there’s nothing quite so invigorating as coming out of the chute at full speed.
Former and occasional ACCEPT lead singer (yes, we still have to mention that after a quarter century) Udo Dirkschneider, for better or worse, sounds the same. At age 60, he can still abuse his throat like a crazed man whipping a horse. Who else, besides AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, can still squeal and growl until he’s on the verge of a heart attack? It’s a young man’s game, but it seems that only the veterans can authentically apply that kind of power these days.
U.D.O. are embarking on a brief US tour—here’s hoping more dates are added later in the year!
April 09 – Amityville, NY – Ollie’s Point
April 10 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
April 11 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
April 12 – Montreal, QC – Foufounes Electriques
April 13 – St-Ferdinand, QC – Style Metal
April 14 – Toronto, ON – Mod Club
April 17 ? Verona, WI ? Heights Events Center
April 18 – Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s
April 19 – Detroit, MI – Harpo’s
April 20 – Joliet, IL – Mojoe’s
April 21 – Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
April 23 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go