On disc: Doro

 
 Doro
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 True At Heart
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Angels Never Die
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Live
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
  Machine II Machine
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Love Me In Black
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Burn It Up
 
- Sandra Bucher -
 
 


 
 Calling The Wild
 
- Amir Djawadi -
 
 


 
 Calling The Wild
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Calling The Wild
 
- Katja Henning -
 
 


 
 White Wedding
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Fight
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Für Immer (DVD)
 
- Sandra Bucher -
 
 


 
 Für Immer (DVD)
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Let Love Rain On Me
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Classic Diamonds
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Warrior Soul
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Fear No Evil
 
- Monika Schmidt -
 
 


 
 Under My Skin
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Under My Skin (A Fine Collection Of Doro Classics)

(AFM Records - 2012)



 
 

 

Doro Pesch is often called 'the metal queen' and her long career had more highs than lows. Now AFM Records is presenting Under My Skin (A Fine Collection Of Doro Classics), not a best-of but a compilation which includes many of her hits. The 2-disc release offers 32 tracks plus 3 videos, that's value for money. As usual not everybody will be happy with the songs which been picked for this released, but it's a good way to head into this compilation with All We Are. This Warlock tune is still a hymn and nobody can imagine a Doro show without this metal hymn. But to make it a bit more interesting they choose the 2007 version instead of the original 1987 recording. The songs are cover her career and even if the early Warlock days aren't represented, it presents most of her almost 3 decade long career. The symphonic version of I Rule The Ruins shows a different facet - and might surprise some heavy metal lovers. Sure, all songs / versions have been released somehow, but still if you don't own every album this offers you some songs or versions which aren't in your collection yet. Take a look at the track listing, should be reason enough to get this fine collection.



Fans might consider to get the limited edition, but hurry up! The black wooden box (with silver logo) is limited to 1,000 copies and includes the 2-CD digipack, a Doro flag, a patch, a studded wristband with logo and certificate of authenticity.




Track listing:



CD 1:

1. All We Are (Version 2007)

2. You're My Family

3. I Rule The Ruins

4. Celebrate

5. The Night Of The Warlock

6. Strangers Yesterday

7. Walking With The Angels

8. Metal Tango

9. Thunderspell

10. Herzblut

11. Warrior Soul

12. My Majesty

13. Für Immer

14. Love Me In Black

15. Always Live To Win

16. Running From The Devil

17. Above The Ashes

18. Let Love Rain On Me



CD 2:

1. Celebrate (Full Metal Female Version)

2. Rescue Me

3. Rare Diamond (Acoustic Version)

4. Angel In The Dark

5. 1999

6. In Liebe Und Freundschaft

7. I Lay My Head Upon My Sword

8. Tausend Mal gelebt

9. Wildfire

10. Breaking The Law

11. She's Like Thunder (Version 2005)

12. The Queen

13. You Won My Love

14. Lonely Wolf



Multimedia bonus part:

Warrior Soul (Video)

Let Love Rain On Me (Video)

Herzblut (Video)

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Fear No Evil

(AFM Records - 2009)



 
 

 

There is no need to introduce Doro to a metal fan, so I won't talk about her past. Fear No Evil is her new album called and 3 of the songs were already released at 2 EPs. So many fans will already know The Night Of The Warlock, Celebrate and Herzblut.

With thunder they start into The Night Of The Warlock, after the spoken words part they present a song which reminds me a bit of the old Warlock.... A heavy rocker is Running From The Devil which is based on a heavy bass riff. A mid-tempo tune which can't surprise me, but a decent song. After Celebrate they speed up for Caught In A Battle, a fast tune which could have made this album differ from the last records, unfortunately the sound is... well, quite raw and unbalanced. I know that many fans love her German ballads and it's true that Doro shows again her emotional side, but personally I don't need another Für immer! At Walking With The Angels she is joined by Tarja Turunen. After the mid-paced I Lay My Head Upon My Sword it's time for another ballad - It Kills Me. At least Long Lost For Love is another rocker. A heavy metal anthem is 25 Years which is Doro's way to thank her fans and which kinda sums it up with heavy riffs, balladesque parts and the typical Doro vocal lines.

It's a decent album, even if the production could have been clearer and more powerful. But it's what you expect from her. Nothing new, she's taking no risks these days. I know that many people disliked Machine II Machine and Love Me In Black, but there should be a way to create something new and pleasing the fans. But if you liked Warrior Soul, then you will like this one, too. When I saw Doro live with Chris Caffery jumping in for Joe Taylor, the songs sounded heavier - and I hoped for some more heaviness... Some new influences. Personally I hope that next time she is trying a walk on the edge...
 
 










Monika Schmidt


  
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Warrior Soul

(AFM Records - year)



 
 

 

Germany's metal queen Doro Pesch is back with a new album called Warrior Soul. The opener You're My Family starts slowly, but becomes a real rocker and remind me of Warlock.... The song is dedicated to her fans - and they will love this album. With Haunted Heart they speed up a bit. Heavy guitar riffs give this metal hymn some aggression, but it still has a catchy hookline. The guitar solo fits well and with a tempi change they keep this one interesting. I think that this one will be in their setlist at coming shows... The album offers everything from ballads - and some German songs - to mid-tempo to up-tempo ones. Mid-tempo ones are e.g. Thunderspell and My Majesty. Thunderspell lacks for me the special something, but perhaps it's a grower and needs time..... Really heavy and grooving starts Creep Into My Brain. Perhaps too heavy for the rock fans who are more into her ballads, but for metalheads this one is a real treat. Okay, towards the end it gets slower and a bit monotonous... Above The Ashes is a nice slow tune, but I think it would be way better as an acoustic version... The German song In Liebe und Freundschaft she dedicated to her deceased father. And so this ballad is based on acoustic guitars and some string arrangement - just to support the vocals where Doro shows her soul and how important her father was to her. Very touching... almost pathetic. A hommage to her father. Totally different sounds the following Ungebrochen where she mixes German and English lyrics. An up-tempo punk rocker, something most won't expect from Doro.... Nice surprise. Last, but not least Shine On which she wrote in memory of AFM Records boss Andy Allendörfer who died in a car crash last year. Another track with I can imagine to grow in an acoustic version...

One of the highlights is for me the slow rocker Strangers Yesterday - intense and with great riffing. The heavy rocker My Majesty is another one. And the title track Warrior Soul which shows Doro a bit more atmospheric... And with the sound effects it let me think of The Fortuneteller off True At Heart...

Again the blondes managed the walk on the edge between fan expectations and her way. The band offers a larger variety, even if there are several balladesque songs, there are enough rockers to made up for it. And so the fans of her ballads and the fans of Warlock and the heavier tunes should be satisfied.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Classic Diamonds

(AFM Records - 2004)



 
 

 

One might complain that there are too many bands who recorded with orchestra's, but you should give this one a chance. Doro Pesch never chose the easy way, she always did what she wanted to do the way she wanted it. And so she did this time. Instead of just recording the songs with an orchestra she re-arranged the songs and made big changes. She took some ballads and some rockers, some songs sound very different... More emotional, some get some depth. Very intersting is the cover version of Judas Priest's Breaking The Law which starts balladesque. It's almost not recognisable, even if you have the feeling you know it. Very soft... smooth. Then after the refrain the orchestra joins in and it rocks! I would have preferred a version without guest Udo Dirkschneider, but well... All We Are got some acoustic guitar and is still rocking, but very different to the original. Okay, not everybody will like the new orchestra versions, but I think this is more interesting  then many other similar releases. Especially the ballads got more intense. The ballad Let Love Rain On Me was written for the Classic Diamonds.

The digi-pack has four bonus tracks (Always Live To Win, She's Like Thunder, The Last Good-Bye, The Final), but on all versions is additionally the video clip of Let Love Rain On Me.

Perhaps not everybody will like that, but I think many will like this. Check it out!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Let Love Rain On Me

(AFM Records - 2004)



 
 

 

This EP is a kind of appetizer for the coming Classic Diamonds album which features Germany's leading metal Lady Doro Pesch in a more orchestral version. The only new track is the ballad Let Love Rain On Me which they also recorded in a Spanish and French version. Which version is the best? I think that depends on the preferences of the listening person. Unusual is the Judas Priest cover version Breaking The Law which starts with vocals and acoustic guitar. Later the string section joins in and gives this track the special something. Here the vocals  are party a little more aggressive, but fit well to the orchestra version of this classic. I haven't expect this to work out that well, actually I had my doubts. The track I Rule The Ruins Doro was already presented with the Classic Nights orchestra. So, this is just new to the ones who haven’t seen Doro with the orchestra. The ballad Rare Diamonds is even more intense. The acoustic version is reduced to the basics. Additionally there is the video clip of Unholy Love put on the EP. A kind of bonus.

Many fans just know the heavy side of the quintet and this is a good chance to check out their orchestral / acoustic side. If you don't know, if you would like Classic Diamonds, then listen to this EP and you'll know
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Für Immer

(Steamhammer - 2003)



 
 

 

German's leading metal lady released her first DVD - a double DVD - with at all 330 minutes of music and bonus material. The DVD is a Region 0 and has Dolby 5.1 sound which is standard these days, but to have subtitles in 7 languages isn't! But the blonde singer always tried to do something special for her fans. On DVD 1 you find a complete concert from the Fight tour in October 2002 and all video clips of Warlock and Doro. They decided to record the show at Balve, a small town in Germany. What makes this special is that the concert took place in a cave! So it has a special atmosphere. Please see setlist below. I don't have to tell fans of the blond power-pack and her band what to expect live of their heroes. On DVD 2 is the bonus material including an exclusive documentary about Doro, the making of the Cave Concert, a documentation about the Fight tour in Australia in 2003, beside that they presented one of her biggest fans  - Rene's Room - and in Access All Areas Pt. 1 are live bootlegs taken from 16 different shows between 1985 and 2002. Followed by Doro meets Symphony which contains 3 tracks from the show in Düsseldorf and 2 from Bochum. Also there are images from a photo session with Regina Halmich and part 2 of Access All Areas - this time 8 video bootleg tracks which were recorded during radio performances, at concerts and in the studio (Fight recording session - with Chris Caffery of Savatage). To complete this there are exclusive interviews, a discography and hidden photos! Lots of fun to watch.

For fans of the blonde singer this is a must! A big booklet with tons of photos comes with the 2 DVDs. It is obvious that Doro did her best to make this special for her fans. She knows that without her fans she wouldn't be able to do what she's doing. Thanks for all the work you put into this!



The Cave Concert:

Hellbound
Always Live To Win
True As Steel
I Rule The Ruins
Burning The Witches
Save My Soul
Hellraiser
Love Me In Black
Für immer
Fall For Me Again
East Meets West
- drum solo
Burn It Up
Fight
All We Are
Rock Before We Bleed
Earthshaker Rock
Undying
Constant Danger
Chained
Ich will alles
Metal Tango



Videos:

All We Are
Für immer
Unholy Love
Bad Blood
Ceremony
Love Me In Black
White Wedding (US version)
Always Live To Win
Fight
Chained

 

 






Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Für immer

(Steamhammer - 2003)



 
 

 

This year Doro Pesch is celebrating her 20th stage anniversary. A good reason for a look back. The sympathetic blonde singer is doing almost everything for her fans which includes signing stuff after the show and be ready for photos as long as it takes - if she doesn't have to leave early after the show for some reasons. This double DVD includes an almost 100 min. long live show which was recorded in 2002 during the Fight tour at the Balver Höhle. The special atmosphere of this cave is amazing and the fans were great as always. Beside the live show the DVDs offer a making-of, a kind of tour documentation, live sequences from Germany, USA to Australia - about 30 min. from the trip down under - which been recorded through the years. Plus the 11 video clips Doro did with Warlock and ever since. Beside that some documentation's, e.g. a photo shooting with Regina Halmich and a visit to a fans home who has lots of stuff collected through the years. And about 60 minutes of bootlegs which been recorded through the years all over the world incl. something of her concert with the symphony orchestra.

At all 260 minutes of Doro, what more a fan can ask for?
 
 






Sandra Bucher
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)

  
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Fight

(Steamhammer - 2002)



 
 

 

The album starts with heavy screaming guitars and then hammering bass and pounding drums join in. The title track is a really heavy rock tune where Doro partly sings soft, just to scream next second. The first impression is that this album is heavier then the last release of Germany's leading metal Lady. Followed by a fast track which is called Always Live To Win which some might already know as well as the title track from Doro's shows this year. The first surprise is the male voice on Descent which is Type O'Negative singer Pete Steele who joins the German-American band on this track, a heavy tune with some industrial sound elements. With Undying the blond singer recorded a touching ballad. Very emotional... The music steps back and it's all about her words which are partly whispered. But then it starts to rock. But there aren't just fast songs, Legends Never Die and Rock Before We Bleed are mid-tempo tracks, but still heavy. Btw, Legends Never Die is written by Gene Simmons. Sister Darkness is co-written by Jean Beauvoir and on Salvaje - her first song with Spanish parts - and on Descent you can hear the screaming guitar of Savatage guitar wiz Chris Caffery who spend an off day during the Poets & Madmen tour in the studio to add some guitars. Fans would be disappointed, if there wouldn't be some more balladesque songs, but this time there are fewer ballads. Perhaps because many songs been written after 9-11 which was moving everybody, especially if you are from NYC or lived near Ground Zero like Doro does / did. Anyway, Fight By Your Side should quench your thirst for ballads, even if this has a more serious topic then many other ballads, coz it's about fighting together for peace and humanity, but it also tells about a love where one partner is leaving to fight a war. In this song Doro managed to combine a love song with a serious topic, a kind of call everybody to fight a peaceful fight. Last, but not least a German ballad which is called Hoffnung (means hope) and starts with whispered words... A kind of poem she's telling, then the keyboard joins in and a little later the rest of the band comes in. A part of the song - the chorus - is in English and gives a overview what this song is about. Then a break and more spoken words; a enchanting power ballad.
This album deals with the topic fight in different ways, shows that a fight not necessarily has to be something negative. Musically the blond and her band are heavier than on the last releases, but they never forget the ballads which the name Doro is a trademark for as well. If you listen to the words then you soon realize that this album is written after 9-11, coz it expresses the feelings, the different feelings, everybody had after the day that changed the world.
For the collectors, the digi-pack has a bonus track (Song For Me - acoustic version) and 2 video tracks (Fight & Always Live To Win). The digi-pack is limited!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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White Wedding (single)

(Steamhammer - 2002)



 
 

 

The third single of Calling The Wild is White Wedding and contains two versions of the Billy Idol song.

The first version is a single version which is about a minute shorter then the album track. The shortened version is made for radio to get air play. The album version is also on the CD-Single, both versions have the typical sound of Doro, but also show the Idol sound, a melange of both sounds... Doro's vocals are more emotional and with the keyboard parts, it got a different touch...

The song I Adore You is a previously unreleased track which is a melodic rocker which might not made it on the album, coz there is the certain something missing... As a kind of bonus there is the video of White Wedding included, hope to see it on TV one day....

Interesting for fans or fans of Billy Idol who are interested in this version. In general I would recommend to check out the album.... So, this time no ranking!
 
 






Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Calling The Wild

(Steamhammer - 2000)



 
 

 

If you expected that Doro will go on in the same style she did with Love Me In Black and Maschine II Maschine, you are wrong. This CD is running now for two weeks without a break in my CD player and I think in one week my CD player will play it without the CD!

Calling The Wild is a mixture of old and new stuff. At the beginning the CD start with three fast songs Kiss Me Like A Cobra, Dedication and Burn It Up. Especially Burn It Up reminds me of the times of All We Are! Two songs are in German -  a slow and a fast one. The fast one I Want More is at the end in English, too. And two cover versions – first White Wedding from Billy Idol. I was very surprised – in the beginning I thought it was I Want More from Sisters of Mercy! Doro’s voice is a little more rough which fit very well to this song. The second cover is from Mötorhead - Love Me Forever - and Lemmy's voice is in the back - supporting Doro's voice. There's another song with Lemmy - Alone Again – a little bit like a duett... Especially the lyrics are very good and and deep. If you are lovesick at the moment – live your feelings in these songs. They have the right passion and agression!
 
 










Katja Henning
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)

  
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Calling The Wild

(Steamhammer - 2000)



 
 

 

Germany's first lady of metal is back! Doro came back with a typical release, typical for her. The album contains rockers, mid-tempo songs and ballads.

Dedication might sound familiar and if you saw her live, you are right. The song is part of the live set for quite a while. Also there is Burn It Up the hymn of Düsseldorf's American football team Rheinfire, it's an up-tempo one which she already played last summer at the festivals. This time Doro worked with some guest musicians as well as with her band. So Al Pitrelli (ex-Savatage, Megadeth)played on Dedication and Who You Love. Mr. Motörhead himself wrote and sang with Doro Alone Again (bonus at the lim. edition) and Love Me Forever. With White Wedding Doro covered a Billy Idol classic which she already presented live, too. Unusual is that she recorded 2 songs with German lyrics! To have a German track kinda became a tradition for her. Ich will alles is a fast, hard track which could have been on Machine II Machine. Danke is a song to say thank you, a ballad to someone special... To a person everybody needs. The last track on the album is a real rocker with a lot of melody. Live It will be one of the show's highlights, I guess. Well done!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Calling The Wild

(Steamhammer - 2000)



 
 

 

Doro is back with a new album. On 15 songs Germany's metal queen shows what she's known for in a high quality level. The songs been recorded in different studios in Germany and the States. Doro Pesch and her mates produced again music on a high level, but also got a helping hand from well-known members of the rock and metal scene who added this little something. Ex-Guns'N'Roses guitarist Slash played on Now Or Never, on the tracks Dedication and Who You Love guitar maestro Al Pitrelli (ex-Savatage, now Megadeth) added guitar parts and shows his abilities. Motörhead's Lemmy, a living legend, sings a duet with the blond metal queen on Love Me Forever. On that track Bob Kulick and Eric Singer played as well!!

That might sound like Miss Pesch & co. Can't do it alone?!?! Wrong!!! On the album the band present a mixture of rocking tunes and beautiful ballads (e.g. Give Me Your Reason). They wrote the track Burn It Up, a real anthem, for the Düsseldorf American football team Rheinfire and decided to put it on the album as well. The Düsseldorf-based team is successful as the leading lady of German metal, coz this year they won the Worldbowl!

With Billy Idol's White Wedding the blond add a cover version, a classic. The Düsseldorf born singer who lives the better half of the year in New York recorded the track in her own style. In interesting interpretation which doesn't lack her own identity. My respect, Milady!

And again the German singer couldn't do an album without a track with German lyrics. On the disc is Ich will alles (the current single) and Danke and that the songs will make it, they checked out when they played them in front of thousands of fans at the Wacken open-air and at the Bang-Your-Head in Balingen. It worked out! Again Doro at her best. All the trademarks of her music, a large vocal range and charisma is banned on CD and find it's way through the speakers to you. This woman still know how to rock!
 
 










Amir Djawadi
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)

  
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Burn It Up (Bird Of Fire)

(Steamhammer - 2000)



 
 

 

Some might know that Doro Pesch was singing the national anthem at some game of Düsseldorf's Rheinfire. The NFLE-team asked Miss Pesch to write a song for them, a song to cheer up the fans and which could be their hymn. The song Germany's metal queen wrote is Burn It Up (Bird Of Fire) which made it on the single in 5 different versions. In my opinion the best version for the Rheinfire game is the 1st version - Thunder Mix. Here the heavy guitars are dominating and a choir of fans is shouting out loud. The other versions aren't differ very much, at Burning Mix the guitars are more in the background and the drums are most prominent.

Singing the anthem Star Spangled Banner isn't something new for the blonde, but this time she decided to record her version - only keyboards and vocals - of the American national anthem. As she's living in the US she has a special link to the country and is paying honor to her second home.

Again she worked with producers Jürgen Engler and Chris Lietz of Die Krupps, who also co-wrote Burn It Up.

If Doro's Rheinfire hymn can draw some attention of her fans to American Football, I don't know. But perhaps some Rheinfire fans will take a closer look at the music of the blonde singer.
 
 






Sandra Bucher
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)

  
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Love Me In Black

(WEA Music - 1998)



 
 

 

Doro's last a little experimental and not everybody liked it. Now she and her band is back with Love Me In Black. The opening track is heavy rocking track with industrial elements which easily catch the listener interest, coz the different elements make it interesting. Is this the new musical direction of Germany's leading metal lady? The following track Brutal And Effective also uses industrial sounds and is one of the heaviest songs of the blonde. But the title track shows that they haven't forget the slow, balladesque songs which she is known for. A beautiful ballad which starts with keys and Doro singing, later the band joins in, but just to build the background for her voice, later speeding up for the chorus. With Barracuda they recorded a cover version, a real rocker and their version sounds pretty good. Sounds modern through the industrial touch, but still  rocks. Very powerful!

Again Doro wrote some German lyrics and with Tausend mal gelebt another German ballad. One of the fast tracks is Poison Arrow which got a kind of magic through the tempi changes. Never know what to expect, they have always little surprises for the listener. A mixture of ballads, mid-tempo tunes and faster ones. Again they present the whole spectrum of their sound, even if on this on this industrial elements and sounds, this is not as experimental as their last album.

In the production several people were involved, but with The Krupps members Jürgen Engler and Chris Lietz they worked before, even if they only remixed the track Ceremony on the last album Machine II Machine. Perhaps they are responsible for the industrial touch some songs have, perhaps they are just the ones who create the sound...
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Machine II Machine

(Mercury Records - 1995)



 
 

 

This is the new album of Doro? Yes, it is! The blonde German and her American band start with a song called Tie Me Up which has unusual sounds for them... Industrial sounds and elements. The songs are typical for her... them, just that they are now presented in a new, more modern sound. They added this industrial touch. Especially Ceremony has the new sound, not just in the remixed version! But also the title track has this industrial touch, even if it's a mid-tempo track and not as fast as some other tracks. With Are They Coming For Me the recorded again a track with a serious message. A heavy rock track which deals with racism, a topic she sang about on the song Bad Blood. But the topic is the only similarity. Machine II Machine has 13 songs which show the whole spectrum of her music, even if in a new sound. Only on the ballad - again a German one - In Freiheit stirbt mein Herz the industrial sound is missing. And on the powerful, balladesque songs Desperately and Light In The Window Doro and her band didn't include the industrial sounds, but used elements which are new in their sound. Personally I like the track Like Whiskey Straight from the new tracks most, but also Ceremony and the title track are good ones.

Again they worked with Jack Ponti who was also responsible e.g. for the production of Angels Never Die. So, I think that the change in the sound was Miss Pesch wish and not the influence of the producer, coz you can't compare the albums. At least I can just recommend to check out tracks like Ceremony or Machine II Machine and make up your mind. This is not a typical album and not every fan will like it. It's risky to make such a change, but Doro never was afraid of taking a risk.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Live

(Polygram - 1993)



 
 

 

Germany's metal queen thought the time was right to record a live show and so she did on the Angels Never Die tour in Germany. Kicking off the show with an old Warlock track called I Rule The Ruins she had the audience going wild from the first minute. Even if the Warlock songs sound a little different, the fans totally went crazy when they played Hellbound! That album made the band big and so this is a must for her. But she also wanted to present her new album and so the set list had to have a decent mixture of old and new songs. The band sounds tight and delivers the musical background for Doro. The fans were singing along and you can hear them clapping their hands. At least when they play All We Are everybody was going crazy! They rocked the house!

The album is produced by Keith Bassey who gave the album a fat live sound. On the back cover it's stated that there were no overdubs been made.... Okay, but therefor they picked the most perfect versions of the recorded songs. Usually Doro is playing a longer set, but due to the limited time of a CD she had to cut down the set list or at least didn't put all on the CD... Anyway, the fans will be happy to get a live album to revive the remembrance of the last show. Or if they never have seen her live, to get an idea about how a Doro show is.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Angels Never Die

(Phonogram - 1992)



 
 

 

With a heavy, fast track called Eye On You she kicks off the album. Pounding drums, hammering bass and screaming guitars! A catchy chorus added and - I guess - this will be a highlight on the coming tour. Then Bad Blood, a track with a message about rascism will be also the single and video clip. Seems that Miss Pesch is heavy, more metal these days. But there are other tracks like Last Day Of My Life which has a bluesy guitar played by Eugene Gales. Or ballads like So Alone Together or Enough For You. And as a kind of tradition she add a German song which is called Alles ist gut. I think that one will satisfy fans from the early days as well as the ones who get into her music with the more balladesque songs. More ballanced.

This time she recorded in New Jersey with producers Jack Ponti and Vic Pepe who co-wrote several songs and also played on the album. Working with different musicians and producers gave her the chance to find her own style. I guess now she found her way. Now she has to find a band, coz a stabel band line-up will make her and so the music stronger.See you on tour!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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True At Heart

(Phonogram - 1991)



 
 

 

Last year Germany's leading lady of metal released an album under her name, now she's back with True At Heart. This time Miss Pesch recorded in two different studios in Nashville with producer Barry Beckett. As a solo artist she worked with different musicians including Dann Huff of Giant who added some lead guitar parts. She rocksagain! This album offers a larger variety then her last release. This one has everything from ballads to mid-tempo rock tunes up to faster tracks. A surprise is the track The Fortuneteller! Keyboards build the basis for his one, Doro starts whispering, telling a story. Then when she tells what the fortuneteller said she started singing and guitars came in. And again she started telling the story and this change between spoken, almost whispered words and parts she sings go on. Very unusual, but interesting. A song which lives through the words, not the music. But with Live It she comes back with a up-tempo heavy rock song. Gettin' Nowhere Without You starts with an alto saxophone and kicks off a powerful, balladesque slow tune. A very emotional song and it was a good decision to use a saxophone, coz it fits to the atmosphere and add a special touch.

This time the mixture between slow, balladesque songs, rockers and faster tunes is much better balanced then on the previous release. If you want to get an idea about the album, listen to: Live It, Fall For Me Again, Heartshaped Tattoo and I Know You By Heart.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Doro

(Phonogram - 1990)



 
 

 

Former Warlock singer Doro Pesch present a new album, just called Doro. Now as a solo artist working she got a big name involved... Gene Simmons! Mr. Simmons was involved in the production and gave a helping hand here and there. For Doro a dream come true, coz she is and always will be a fan of Kiss. The first track Unholy Love is a heavy one, but very catchy. If you like that one, I think you'll like the whole album, even if it has a more to offer than Unholy Love. On I Had Too Much To Dream she combines faster part and mid-tempo ones, that song partly remembers me of some Warlock tunes. A powerful ballad is Only You with a guitar riffing which is unusual for a ballad, but fit in well when the band joins in and the track got a little heavier. I'll Be Holding On is more a ballad in the classical way, not as powerful as Only You, but the different vibe make it fit into the album. But there are heavy rock songs, for example Broken. An album which has more slow tracks, some ballads and less heavy rockers.

As mentioned before, Gene Simmons was the executive producer and so this album has a 'big' production. And with a famous man on the sound board she might can catch the attention of more metal fans, not just in Europe. WARLOCK is her past, will this be the way to success? Time will tell. Anyway, a decent album.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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