We all agree that Udo is one of the monoliths in the Heavy Metal scene with a career that spans from the late 70s until nowadays who still sounds powerful. His days with ACCEPT gave reasoning to many bands and added such a great boost to the German Metal scene. So, after more than three decades Udo and his band return with a brand new single that flirts with the 'Ep' term. This is an important release by itself but gains some additional momentum due to the recent events in which Udo said no to another reunion. Well, keep your eyes open because METAL TEMPLE had the chance to talk to him and learn more about this proposition.
Infected is the first 'sample' of U.D.O.'s new album that consists of two non-album tracks, one remix and one live recorded song at Moscow in 2008. As Udo told me the two non-albums tracks presented here are not leftovers but 'regular' songs that were not meant to be for b-sides. And I can assure you that he is 100% right; Systematic Madness enters with killer ACCEPT-like rhythm and explodes into a sing-along chorus. There a lot of guitar work here adding depth to the the heavy track and reminding me of the Metal Heart days! But this is not all! The song has an up-to-date sound that after all these years characterizes U.D.O.'s musical identity and this is exactly what amazes me with this band. Fresh ideas are embedded in the old-school sound we all loved in the first ACCEPT days. Bodyworld is another classic tune; apart from the solid as hell main groove there is break with the hymn-like guitar riffs perfect to hum along with fists raised in the air. Whoever has been at an ACCEPT or an U.D.O. concert knows that I am talking about the moment where all the voices from the metalheads join the guitar melodies sending shivers down your spine. I believe that you are already familiar to the main and homonymous song since it has been streaming on the band's myspace page for quite some time. It is fast, aggressive with the up-to-date backbone I mentioned above. Udo screams and sings the way we all love using 100% of his trademark harshness and power.
Platchet Soldat is a remixed edition of the original version found in the previous full length album Mastercutor. Udo has built a special relation to the Russian fans and he often uses their language in his dance-like tunes. The accordion melodies fits in a special way U.D.O.'s music making this track sound almost addictive. The special connection with the Russian fans is presented in Trainride In Russia (Poezd Po Rossii) recorded live in the most fitting place, Moscow. The part where the 'comrades' are singing the trademark Cossack dance theme is simply uplifting fueled by the energy that this band delivers onstage.
There you have it! New U.D.O. music that will justify Udo's choice not to join the new ACCEPT reunion. After all he has release more album as U.D.O. than with ACCEPT so join my voice singing:
Trainride in russia-again and again
trainride in Russia-nastrovje man to man
the rolling of the wheelsthe distance of the land
trainride in Russia-that's where it all began