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U.D.O. > Animal House > Reviews > Snxke
U.D.O. - Animal House

An almost-classic... - 79%

Snxke, December 21st, 2004

Udo Dirkschneider releases an Accept album under the name "U.D.O." (the entire album was written by the Accept crew for the man as they was heading off to "bigger and better" things with with new singer David Reese) and launched one of the more entertaining and consitent solo careers in the history of German metal. This CD is a sweet production job with all the knobs twisted in the right places and a band that matches the intensity of Accept in all but the lead guitar work. Udo sounds like Udo always has making the vocals classy and catchy. So why is this an "almost classic" despite having all the right elements?

It's the songs. This CD has very few classics in comparison to what the early Accept years had. Thankfully though, Udo saves the day by delivery a few classics in the old-school Accept style. The frantic "Animal House" rates up with anything else Udo has done, the scathing "Go Back to Hell" may be the greatest backup song ever and "Lay Down the Law" is a cruising rock and roll event. While not a rocker, "They Want War" is a somewhat tacky but also uplifting number that bears a rousing chorus that even features a children choir (!!!). It may sound a bit dated in these cynical times...but it's got one of the biggest choruses in rock and roll and deserves a listen.

Udo would write some better albums than this ("Holy" and "Faceless World" come to mind) but overall "Animal House" is a successful first step for a man that has become the genres "ironman". Udo has never sold out, never stopped and despite many heart attacks has refused to tame his sound. Good or bad - Udo is Udo and is hopelessly dedicated to metal.

Enjoy this with a six pack and a heart full of pride for the genre...oh yeah...skip the crappy filler and indulge in the classics to keep faith in the great concept that is Udo.