by Justin Gaines
– Senior Columnist/News Editor —
Beneath one of the ugliest album covers since Warrant’s Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich lies Decadent, the fifteenth studio album from German Heavy Metal institution U.D.O. The former Accept frontman and his band have been one of the most consistent bands in metal since their debut way back in 1987. Trends may change, but Udo seems eternal.
If you’ve kept up with U.D.O. over the years, you know pretty much what to expect here. Decadent is your typical U.D.O. album, full of chugging riffs, steady, thundering rhythms, that classic, undying Heavy Metal spirit and of course Udo’s instantly recognizable rasp. “Untouchable,” Decadent” and “Breathless” are classic-style heavy metal anthems, and the melodies on “Pain” are beyond catchy, especially in contrast with the opening thrasher “Speeder.” Again, this is exactly what you expect from an U.D.O. album, and why we keep coming back to the band.
And of course these days it’s impossible not to compare the latest U.D.O. album to what his former band-mates in Accept are up to. It’s probably not fair, but we all do it anyway. For the longest time, U.D.O. was the clear winner, but the last three Accept albums have dominated. As solid as Decadent is, Blind Rage had the more memorable songs. Still, having two great German traditional metal albums to choose from is not a bad problem to have!
The verdict: It’s U.D.O. Of course you’re going to want this if you’re a fan of U.D.O. and Accept. Udo doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel, especially since he helped invent it in the first place. If hard-hitting traditional Heavy Metal is your thing, it’s time for you to get Decadent.
Edition Notes: The limited edition CD release of Decadent comes in a digipack and features a pair of bonus tracks – “Let Me Out” and “Shadow Eyes.” Both are new studio recordings, which makes this version worth the higher price tag.
Genre: Heavy Metal
Band:
Udo Dirkschneider (v)
Andrey Smirnov (g)
Kasperi Heikkinen (g)
Fitty Wienhold (b)
Francesco Jovino (d)
Track Listing:
1. Speeder
2. Decadent
3. House of Fake
4. Mystery
5. Pain
6. Secrets in Paradise
7. Meaning of Life
8. Breathless
9. Let Me Out*
10. Under Your Skin
11. Untouchable
12. Shadow Eyes*
13. Rebels of the Night
14. Words in Flame
Label: AFM Records
Website: www.udo-online.de
Hardrock Haven Rating: 8/10
