The Visitor

The Visitor is UFO's 2009 studio album, released on the German label SPV/Steamhammer. Japan had it first: Marquee/Avalon issued the Japanese edition on 20 May 2009, Germany, Austria and Switzerland followed on 29 May, and the North American release moved from 2 June to 16 June. It was recorded by singer Phil Mogg, guitarist Vinnie Moore, Paul Raymond on guitar and keyboards and drummer Andy Parker. Founding bassist Pete Way was being treated for a liver condition; on 2 February 2009 the band said he would sit out the recording and touring until he was fit. The band wrote more than 35 songs and, meeting in a rehearsal room in Hannover at the end of January 2009, settled on a shortlist of thirteen. Drums and bass were recorded at Tommy Newton's Area 51 studio in Celle, with Peter Pichl as guest bassist in Way's place, and Newton also mixed the album. Raymond recorded rhythm guitar and keyboards in London, Moore further rhythm parts and his solos in Delaware, and Mogg sang at Area 51 in February. Parker wanted a drum sound closer to his roots, and Mogg said every new song had to work on stage, which meant clear arrangements, catchy melodies and energy. Moore wrote the music for six songs and Raymond for three, all with lyrics by Mogg; the closing "Stranger in Town" has music by Robert Barth and Parker. The album runs to ten songs, from "Saving Me" to "Stranger in Town", on CD and LP, and a limited digipak adds a 2009 version of "Dancing with St. Peter" as track 11, also the bonus track of the Japanese CD. Mogg wrote that song with Jeff Kollman and Shane Gaalaas; it is the title track of the album Dancing with St. Peter, which the three made with Jimmy Curtain. The Visitor spent one week at 99 on the UK Official Albums Chart and reached 4 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart and 86 in Germany. Blabbermouth gave it eight out of ten, hearing a turn towards blues-based hard rock. By February 2009 the band was booked for the Rock Hard festival in late May and Wacken Open Air in early August.