Classic Rock Bottom

U.D.O.

Mission No. X

AFM Records - 2005

http://www.udo-online.de

 

I've been VERY slowly working my way towards acquiring some CDs that have been on my pull list, and I finally got around to picking up some more U.D.O. discs.

You know, I first heard Udo Dirkschneider when he was with Accept because of the song "Balls To The Wall". At first I just hated the vocals because it sounded so much like he couldn't sing. It took me a bit to grasp how good the pit bull growl with the shards of glass and razorblades sound of his voice was. And I'm glad that I have come to really appreciate his vocals because it lets me appreciate his music that much more.

In the past I've had the Man and Machine and Mastercutor albums and I've loved them.

Now I've found more U.D.O. enjoyment with Mission No. X. The album opens with a brief instrumental track before launching directly into the title track. This is a midtempo rocker that was pretty good.

I loved the anthemic "24/7". The band rocks behind Udo's declaration of living life "24 / 7...24 hours 7 days a week".

The odd way the vocals were delivered in the main lyrical passages on "Mean Streets" ultimately made me less interested in the song. A shame because the chorus was decent. I also didn't care much for the slower tempo track "Eye of the Eagle" which is charitably a ballad.

"Cry Soldier Cry" has a softer vocal take to start the song off and then heads back into more familiar territory. However, in this case it actually works.

The high energy attack of "Shell Shock Fever" rips your head off. "Stone Hard" has a slightly slower pace but the heaviness makes up for the lack of speed.

The remaining three tracks on the album are "Breaking Down The Borders", "Way of Life" and "Mad For Crazy" and they are all driving rockers.

Essentially this is a great album. A couple of tracks that I didn't care for overall, but Mission No. X is otherwise a superb metal album and more proof positive that Dirkschneider & Company are in the business of simply "bringing it" when it comes to pure powerful metal.

RATING: A MINUS

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Enjoyed the review TR.  I'm interested in this.  I'm also adjusting to rough vocals, but I'm always interested in aquiring music regarding soldiers, and your comments on the track Cry Soldier Cry and Shell Shock Fever have me interested in this album. 

As I've said before, I don't have much of a metal collection because I'm so picky about vocals, but I'm trying to relax a little in my old age.

Well, maybe not.  I can only find this as a download on Amazon.

Really? That's weird, I took the cover art from Amazon's site off the CD listing, not a download.

Maybe I'm just missing it.

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