DORO – Raise Your Fist [Japan release] (2012)

the Real one

*

Despite her stature as the reigning queen of heavy metal, DORO has always been one of those artists that rock listeners seem to either love or hate.

Sometimes too much heavy for melodic rockers, sometimes to much commercial for metalheads, Doro has soldiered on for over 25 years since she left the great band Warlock. She’ll probably keep making metal until she dies.

Just released in Japan and scheduled for the next week in Europe, “Raise Your Fist” is the title of her new studio release, and as usual blends heavy sounds with good commercial hard rockers.

Personally I’ve always found Doro to be a highly underrated performer. Sure, some of her lyrics are indeed cheesy, but the thing is she always seems to make solid albums; of which “Raise Your Fist” is yet another.

Her enthusiasm for metal culture is abundant in her songs and the good thing in this album is Doro’s overall feel-good vibe in a genre filled with negativity.

“Raise Your Fist” is a pumping hard ‘n heavy release for the most part with a few lighter tunes in the mix.

We find guest appearances by guitarist Gus G. (Firewind / Ozzy) on “Grab The Bull (Last Man Standing)” and Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister sings on the power ballad “It Still Hurts”.

The final song “Hero” is Doro’s excellent tribute to Ronnie James Dio and is one of the best tracks on the CD, you simply can’t listen to this song without being moved by the lyrics and Doro passionate vocals.

“Raise Your Fist” is an enjoyable hard ‘n heavy album with a classic Euro sound really well recorded and with polished production.

You always know what you’re going to get with a Doro album, and this is the case here in these solid and fun pumping tracks plenty of fist in the air, sing-along choruses. A couple of ballads also pop up, but uptempo rock is always the key focus.

Many years after she first appeared into the metal scene, Doro Pesch still has much to give to rock fans.

Good one.

01 – Raise Your Fist In The Air

02 – Coldhearted Lover

03 – Rock Till Death

04 – It Still Hurts [feat. Lemmy]

05 – Take No Prisoner

06 – Grab The Bull (Last Man Standing) [feat. Gus G]

07 – Engel

08 – Freiheit (Human Rights)

09 – Little Headbanger (Nackenbrecher)

10 – Revenge

11 – Free My Heart

12 – Victory

13 – Hero

Doro Pesch – Vocals

Johnny Dee (Britny Fox) – Drums

Luca Princiotta – Guitar, Keyboards

Bas Maas – Guitars

Nick Douglas – Bass

Gus G. – guest Guitar

Lemmy Kilmister – guest Vocals

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www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=COCB-60076