Title: Fear No Evil
Artist: Doro
Genre: Heavy Metal
Release Date: 30th January 2009
Label: AFM Records
Album Review
The “undisputed Queen of Hard Rock” how DORO PESCH is called by many, started her career being a singer of the bands SNAKEBITE and WARLOCK. Her debut solo release under the DORO moniker made her famous way beyond the borders of Germany where she’s coming from. Collaborations with such artists as Jürgen Engler (DIE KRUPPS), Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD) for instance clearly underpin her diversity and the standing she has not only in the Rock scene, as these guys really wouldn’t work with anybody. After the recent appetizers ‘Night of The Warlock’ and ‘Herzblut’, her new album ‘Fear No Evil’ now is ready to hit the shops.
A heavy storm is brewing up in ‘The Night of The Warlock’ and a brutal, distorted voice makes perfectly to us, we have no chance of getting away. Then riff walls and drums rip apart the ominous mood and in collaboration with understated pads and piano give way to a hymnal face of this opener. But all the skilfully treated guitars and drums are nothing compared against the all domineering voice of the little lady Doro. With ‘Running from the Devil’ a crunchy rhythm takes hold to which you wanna clap along and likely get the chance to do so on one of her upcoming live shows. The drums sound processed, that is, electronically alienated, just a detail, but a nice sounding. Anyway, far more impressive are the solos Doro’s men come up with her on the track. Kudos guys!!! “We celebrate our love for Rock and Meal / We raise our hands as we salute.” That says it all doesn’t it and I dare to say that this down-tempo track, with such a chorus, is predestined to become a concert anthem.
“Ladies and Gentleman please fasten your seat belts and get ready for a steamroller ride:” That would’ve been a perfect introduction for what’s approaching with ‘Caught in a Battle’ where we suddenly find ourselves relocated into a war zone with bombs crashing in around us and when the drums kick in they do sound like machine guns. A proper blast beat I’d say and the brutality and speed of the song is being obtained the whole time. It’s exactly what Heavy Metal fans want to shake their heads to ‘till passing out. ‘Herzblut’, the recent single off of the album, shows Doro’s vulnerable side with a ballad she’s singing in her mother tongue German. The track’s creating contrasts in mingling calmer verses with fairly rocking chorus parts. A ballad also closes the new album, no ordinary one. I get it as a huge thank you to all fans ‘her family’ for the last 25 years, and she does it with a really epic number with the additional help of towering strings and poignant keys beyond the traditional instrumentation, but most of all she impresses with a really huge performance on vocals. She’s pushing the envelope literally.
With ‘Fear No Evil’, DORO adds an album to her discography that’s clearly showing there’s still life in the old dog yet. From slow to fast and hard, there’s everything a fan’s heart can desire and in case I haven’t mentioned it yet, a duet with Tarja Turunen on one of the tracks, topped off by a phat production. So, if you’re a fan or if that’s what I described here totally up your alley, then go and get the album.
Tracklist
01. The Night Of The Warlock - 5:42
02. Running From The Devil - 3:35
03. Celebrate - 4:54
04. Caught In A Battle - 3:08
05. Herzblut - 4:38
06. On The Run - 4:40
07. Walking With The Angels - 4:53
08. I Lay My Head Upon My Sword - 3:36
09. It Kills Me - 4:27
10. Long Lost For Love - 3:25
11. 25 Years - 4:46
Line-up
Doro Pesch - Vocals
Joe Taylor - Guitar
Oliver Palotai - Keys, Guitar
Nick Douglas - Bass
Johnny Dee – Drums
Website
http://www.doro.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/doroband
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 7.5 / 10
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