Steelhammer

Steelhammer is a record on which U.D.O. sounds straight-ahead heavy metal through steel-hard riffs, a rhythm pushing forward and a distinctive voice recognizable in a single note. The songs cut away the excess and move straight on the force of riff and chorus. Even with a new guitarist in the lineup, U.D.O.’s hard-edged core does not waver in the least. From the drive of the title track “Steelhammer” and the aggression of “A Cry of a Nation” to the weight of “Metal Machine,” the speed of “Devil’s Bite” and the drama of “Book of Faith,” the songs unite hardness and songcraft. Combining speedy songs and heavy mid-tempos, the album keeps a powerful drive to the end. A construction that fully trusts the pure force of riff and shout, rather than complexity, runs throughout. It lets you savor the plain pleasure of German heavy metal without hesitation. Joining Udo Dirkschneider’s unwavering character with the band’s iron-wall ensemble, it is a powerful, fulfilling heavy-metal record — showing that a long-held style has still not faded.