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By RYAN MAVITY
In the realm of heavy metal frontmen, there may not be a more unusual character than Udo Dirkschnieder. A pint-sized German with voice that sounds like an evil hobgoblin come to life, Udo is best known stateside for his previous band Accept and their AC/DC-esque classic “Balls to the Wall” (whose now high-comedy video had Udo riding a wrecking ball into a building). Since he left Accept in the late ‘80s, Udo has been working with his namesake band, which plays a brand of old-school metal similar to Accept.
It’s clear from the beginning this is Udo’s show. His voice is one of the most unusual you will ever hear. It’s a voice that blends bombast and a Napoleonic “don’t fuck with me” attitude. But Udo is no one-trick pony. Witness the best track on Mastercutor, “One Lone Voice,” which shows off his range. It’s not a range like Halford has; it’s more of an ability to convey different emotions. He can do ballads like “Tears of a Clown” and rockers like “Master of Disaster.” When he has to, Udo can hit the high notes, too, like on “We Do-For You.”
With such a unique frontman, it’s a shame the band doesn’t find better ways to use him. Mind you, it’s not badly done. Listening to Mastercutor, you can tell these are pros that have been doing this for a long time. But the grizzled thumpings the band offers behind Udo feel tired and never do anything we haven’t heard before. Come on boys; even Motorhead and AC/DC find ways to make their sound feel fresh, even though most of their songs sound alike. Also, some of Udo’s lyrics are a bit unfortunate, like “I am a walker/I am a stalker” from “Walker of the Dark.”
Certainly fans of U.D.O. and Accept will dig this record. It delivers what they are used to and doesn’t deviate from the formula. But what fans will like about it is also what makes it a bit of a letdown. You get the feeling these guys could crank out this album in their sleep. With a frontman as good and recognizable as Udo, I expect a little more.
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