U.D.O. – Steelfactory [Japanese Edition +1] (2018)

After honoring the classic ACCEPT songs live with his other project DIRKSCHNEIDER in the last couple of years, it’s definitely time for vocalist Udo Dirkschneider to release a new U.D.O. studio album. To be released next week, the songs on “Steelfactory” are clearly influenced by these recent shows – the simple straightness of the anthem-like songs make it a timeless record with a certain ACCEPT feel.
This Japanese Edition will appear tomorrow with an exclusive bonus track.

“Tongue Reaper” is the first song on the album and it’s the most heavy with a frenetic pace. It starts as many metal albums from the past, with an atmospheric introduction and then racing guitars and Udo Dirkschneider’s raspy, grated vocal style. His voice power has diminished a little with the years, but he’s unmistakable, unique, like it or not.

From track 2, the album is no so ‘metal’ but more ‘hard n’ heavy’, with midtempo heavy rockers in the classic Accept style.
Titled “Make the Move”, the first thing you notice is the punchy bass line courtesy Fitty Wienhold. Musically, “Make the Move” is groovy, metallic hard rock, it’s got a great riff, fist-pumping drums and that ‘martial’ Accept choruses.

Tracks three and five are where things get a little bit interesting. “Keeper of my Soul” has a sitar or mandolin playing the main riff and has a dark, slower cadence. Dirkschneider’s vocals are on point and I really like how the whole song has come together.
On track five, “Raise the Game”, the main melody has a distinct sound to it – as if it’s inspired by middle Eastern music. Again, we have a darker, powerful riff keeping the track together. Dirkschneider growls “no more fear/no more tears” before launching into the chorus, which is one fists in the air, headbanging experience before we hear that interesting melody again to close out the chorus.

“Blood On Fire” is darker, midtempo, and again with a strong mid-eightties Accept feeling. At the guitar solo, the melody of a musical genre called ‘tango’ is played, adding a nice color.
I forget to mention that “Rising High” it’s the other metal song on the CD, a fast-paced stomper full of classic heavy metal clichés and would be a solid heavy metal bingo candidate. Complete with fast drums, an anthemic chorus, thundering bass and chugging guitars, it ticks all the boxes of the prescribed U.D.O. formula.

Another fun track on the album is “A Bite of Evil.” Wait. Is this… a song about werewolves? With lyrics like “coming out at midnight…by sunrise I’ll be gone” and “now my fangs are growing/my fur is turning black” I have a feeling we have a scary story for heavy metal kids here. A bit cheesy yes, but musically this song is really well put together.
“What A Hell Of A Night” is the Japanese bonus track, and it’s just another midtempo rocker with some kind of a Judas Priest vibe to it.

“Steelfactory” is very a consistent album from U.D.O following the precise formula that he has developed and replicated throughout their career, but here more ‘accessible’ than before, thanks to the ‘Accept factor’.
The powerful and clear production by expert Jacob Hansen helps a lot, but also Udo’s band which sounds like a blast.
As an Accept fan, I appreciate the influence and hat-tip to Dirkschneider’s past with this album.
If you’re looking for a no-frills, no BS album to rock out to, ‘Steelfactory’ has you covered.
Strongly Recommended

01. Tongue Reaper
02. Make The Move
03. Keeper Of My Soul
04. In The Heat Of The Night
05. Raise The Game
06. Blood On Fire
07. Rising High
08. Hungry And Angry
09. One Heart One Soul
10. A Bite Of Evil
11. What A Hell Of A Night (Japan Bonus Track)
12. Eraser
13. Rose In The Desert
14. The Way

Udo Dirkschneider (Vocals)
Andrey Smirnov (Guitars)
Fitty Wienhold (Bass)
Sven Dirkschneider (Drums)

PRE ORDER:
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-11437
.