CD Reviews
U.D.O.
Mean Machine
1988
AFM Records

U.D.O.
Man And Machine
2002
AFM Records
 

When singer Udo Dirkschneider left the German heavy metal band Accept in 1987 to form U.D.O., who would have thought how big of a name the band would become. Surely being named after Udo helped gain immediate recognition to jumpstart the new band. But it was his songwriting and unmistakeable searing vocals that helped the band gain worldwide notoriety.

AFM Records is reissuing all U.D.O. albums as Anniversary editions as much of the older albums are currently our of print. This gives fans a chance to finally grab a copy that was hard to obtain. The releases also feature bonus cuts as well as lyrics and photos.

Released in 1987, Mean Machine was the second U.D.O. studio album and it pretty much picked up from where Udo left off with Accept. Featuring Udo’s signature vocals surrounded by heavy guitars and hard hitting drums the album satisfied Udo’s fans as it also helped grow his fan-base.

The album also features Mathias Dieth (guitar), Andy Susemihl (guitar), Thomas Smuszynski (bass) and Stefan Schwarzmann (drums). Featuring such hard hitting tracks like “Break The Rules” and the title cut “Mean Machine” mixed up with the slower tempo “Sweet Little Child” making Mean Machine a delightful listen.

Man and Machine was originally released in 2002 and features the talents of guitarists Stefan Kaufmann (who earlier had been the drummer in Accept and also recorded, mixed and produced this and several U.D.O. releases) and Igor Gianola, bassist Fitty Wienhold and drummer Lorenzo Milani.

“Dancing With An Angel” is a stunning duet with Doro Pesch who played with Warlock and Doro and is clearly one of the albums highlights. Other standouts would include the thunderous “Dawn Of The Gods” and the gritty “Hard To Be Honest”. Whether its a slower tune like “Silent Cry” or a heavier ditty like “Network Nightmare” the album gels together as another solid release for Dirkschneider and company.

Mean Machine

01. Don’t Look Back
02. Break The Rules
03. We’re History
04. Painted Love
05. Mean Machine
06. Dirty Boys
07. Streets On Fire
08. Lost Passion
09. Sweet Little Child
10. Catch My Fall
11. Still In Love With You (Instrumental)

Bonus:
12. Break The Rules (Live)
13. Break The Rules (Video)

Man And Machine

01. Man And machine
02. Private Eye
03. Animal Instinct
04. The Dawn Of The Gods
05. Dancing With An Angel (feat. Doro Pesch)
06. Silent Cry
07. Network Nightmare
08. Hard To Be Honest
09. Like A Lion
10. Black Heart
11. Unknown Traveller

Bonus:
12. Man And Machine (Live)
13. Dancing With An Angel (feat. Doro Pesch) (Remix)