REVIEWS ARCHIVE - U |
||
 |
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
U.D.O.
“Mission No. X” (AFM Records - provided by Target) - 1½ out of 5 points - |
||
|
Well how should I put it?? Yes I like Accept, and everybody knows that they have been one of the pioneers of Heavy Metal. But it would have been nice if the old time runners could take a hint, and leavef the industry. Okay no matter what, I must admit that I have never been a big follower of UDO’s voice (or the lack of the same). To all Germans, I know that his one of your big heroes, but his music stinks.. For an example the track “Cry Soldier Cry” should probably be a song with a deeper meaning to it all, but it is damn hard not to laugh, when you hear his voice.
|
||
|
Benjamin
|
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
|
UFO "Sharks" (Steamhammer/SPV - provided by Nordic Metal) - 4 out of 5 points - |
||
|
Very nice indeed. UFO has always been a outsider for me, but not quite metal enough for me in the UFO glory days of the late 70ties. This CD got the same melodic touch as in the 70ties - simple and still heavy rocking. Compared to the latest Schenker solo's this really proves that a band effort is much more interesting. If you are familiar with UFO and like it, then just a single spin will get you hooked on this one, as its so uncomplicated melodic, and still I believe its going to survive in the long run. A classic after so many years ? - I think so !!
|
||
|
Erik
|
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
|
U.F.O. "You Are Here" (Steamhammer / SPV - provided by Scanbox Entertainment) - 1½ out of 5 points - |
||
|
Can you say boring? That's it - boring! I've honestly never been a fan of U.F.O., and this will most definitely not change with "You Are Here" either. Old school hard rock, without any points of interest (for me at least) with a somewhat laidback bluesy feeling, that easily could be mistaken for lack of originality and energy. The band have enrolled the 2 brilliant musicians Vinnie Moore on guitars (since apparently both Michael Schenker and George Bellas got bored enough and decided to leave) and Jason Bonham (yes, the son of you-know-who) on drums - well, neither of those bring anything interesting to the band, which is quite sad and goes to prove that even good musicians can't better other wrong-doings. There must be some reason why this band have been on the top of their game since … well, since forever … I just can't see it. Rock dinosaurs, right!
|
||
|
Claus
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
UMPHREY'S MCGEE
"Anchor Drops" (Inside Out / SPV - provided by Target) - 1½ out of 5 points - |
||
|
Say what? What kind of name is that? Oh it's a prog-rock band … then it makes sense I guess :-) Well, UM is rooted in the fusion/jam kind of prog-rock, apparently close to the sound of Phish (I wouldn't know as I've never listened to them). And, they should (according to their band biography) be quite a big name in USA. Good for them! I find it utterly boring, and not the least interesting. It sounds like one big jam session of extremely talented musicians, who aren't capable of writing a good tune even to safe their lives.
|
||
|
Claus
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
UNLEASHED
"Midvinterblot" (Steamhammer / SPV - provided by Target) - 4½ out of 5 points - |
||
|
Swedish death metal outfit Unleashed shouldn't require any introduction, since they have brought havoc to head bangers around the globe since 1989. Their new and 8th album "Midvinterblot" continues along the same path as their previous efforts. Death metal played with such intensity and aggression that you cannot help banging your head and running around trying to play your air guitar just as fast and tight as these guys do it. From the very first riff to the very last tone, Unleashed play their asses off with catchy riffs, drums of doom, sublime leads and a bass-sound that is deeper than hell itself. In fact, Unleashed play within a genre that is so old school that you have to miss what bands like Entombed (or Nihilist for that matter) and Dismember used to play back in the day. There is nothing new - whatsoever - to be found here, but it is just so damn well done! A thing that often annoys me about old school death metal is that the songs are so much alike, and after 20 minutes you often get a bit bored, but with "Midvinterblot" Unleashed does what only true masters can do; they diversify their riffs and leads enough to keep the listener interested all the way through all 13 tracks. The production is top notch, and everything in the entire sound is so well balanced, yet still sound "dirty", just like real death metal is supposed to sound. There is no doubt in my mind, that Unleashed just released a competitor to Decapitated for best death metal album of the year. With all this in mind, I still have to give them "only! a 4½, because everything they do has been heard before, but what an awesome album.
|
||
|
Mads
|
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
|
UNRULY CHILD "UR III" (Frontiers Records - provided by Nordic Metal) - 1½ out of 5 points - |
||
|
Normally I like to receive a non-progressive power release, and in that case it should be hard rock, as we knew it from the beginning of the 90's. So I received Unruly Child, which were a band from the beginning 90's, but to my big surprise this album is not as expected! First of all the production of the album is a bit to muddy, and secondly there is absolutely no drive in the music, which is a bit disappointing compared to the other releases that Frontiers has provided in the music year 2002. But even though that the production isn't optimal there are a few good songs to be mentioned such as "Tear Me Down" which has a bit of the energy that the rest of the album is missing! "Kings Of Tragedy" is a nice atmospheric tune with a great chorus and a perfect touch of Rock N' Roll.
|
||
|
Benjamin
|
||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
|
URBAN TALE "Signs Of Times" (Frontiers Records - provided by Nordic Metal) - ½ out of 5 points - |
||
|
Is this supposed to be a serious release? Apparently so … at least according to the info-sheet provided by the record label of these Finnish guys, the Italian label Frontiers Records. Okay, I am well aware of the fact that Frontiers spans over more than just heavy metal releases, and they do occasionally release AOR and hard rock bands, but with Urban Tale they've definitely hit a low point in their release schedule. Urban Tale combines elements of some of the great AOR bands of the last 20 years; Foreigner, Toto, Styx and Journey. Actually, the word "elements" might be too pretentious, as what Urban Tale is doing is simply copy-paste music already created years ago by the aforementioned. Especially the Journey "stealing" is evident here, and this simply bugs the Hell out of me. Why would somebody want to sign and release a disc by a band who is covering the greats of this genre so blatantly, and who on earth decided that Urban Tale should be even remotely close to the quality of any of those great ones? Not me …
|
||
|
Claus
|
||
|
||
