We’re not that far away from the highest spot of last year’s albums. 2023 had some surprising choices at the number one spot, but before we see what’s there, we gotta finish up here at no. 2. Last week I took a look at Firestar, which was Iron Savior’s newest release. However, those fellows were not alone, as another Germanic Metal titan stood alongside them! Since 2018, I’ve spoken about the legends U.D.O., and the wonderful material they’ve release since I’ve been paying attention to them for close to over a decade since I accidentally discovered them. Last year, they put out a monster of an album, so let’s not waste anymore time! Here’s my review for 2023's Touchdown. Let’s begin!
Background
Taken from Wikipedia:
“In September 2022, bassist Tilen Hudrap got injured in Munich while playing a show during the Game Over world tour. Former Accept bassist Peter Baltes would step in as the temporary member. Hudrap announced his departure from the band soon after. In April 2023, Baltes was announced as the band's new bassist. The eighteenth studio album Touchdown was released on 25 August 2023.”
Taken from Metal Invader:
“After touring Australia and Japan as well as kicking off this year’s festival season by introducing new bassist Peter Baltes last month, U.D.O. – the iconic heavy metal five-piece led by legendary vocalist Udo Dirkschneider (official) – let the next cat out of the bag today: In between various live activities throughout the year, the band have been very productive having recorded a massive, 13-track album at various locations. Crafted with producer and mixing engineer Martin “Mattes” Pfeiffer at Redhead Studio (Wilhelmshaven, Germany) and mastered by Stefan Kaufmann at ROXX Studio (Solingen, Germany), Touchdown is scheduled to land in the end zone of the heavy metal world on August 25th, 2023 through Atomic Fire Records. Artwork & photos were provided by Martin Häusler.”
Basic Description
Balls To The Wall.
Hehe, I couldn’t help but put in that little Accept reference. Even with that said, this album definitely comes across like the U.D.O. of old at times. There’s no frills, there’s no added features, no bells, and no whistles. Touchdown at the end of the day is classic Heavy Metal from the 1980s, but given a bit of spit & shine thanks to modern recording and production techniques. Not only that, but the record does manage to somewhat eclipse the equally excellent Game Over from 2021 by having a bit more energy than the previously mentioned release. Not enough to equal that of the phenomenal We Are One from the start of this decade, but definitely enough to put it in view of that release.
Best Track
I think for any first time listener of this album, they’ll definitely fall in love with the title track. Curiously found at the very end of the record, it’s a wonderful & intense song that keeps it’s energy going throughout the entire thing. The football imagery not withstanding, Touchdown is classic U.D.O. brought into the 2020s with fists raised high and can do attitude front & center. Possibly the most interesting part about the track is the brief few second of what comes across like violin playing towards the end of the song, and while it’s not bad in any way (If anything, it’s interesting), it is something of a double take for that brief period of time.
Touchdown
Worst Track
Kinda like Firestar from last week, Touchdown’s only fault is that there isn’t a ballad anywhere to be heard. The band always manages to have at least one power ballad on their albums, so it’s weird to not find one on this record. Unlike Firestar, there isn’t one as a bonus track on the Japanese edition, which makes that edition pointless unless you’re a diehard collector of that country’s releases of Western albums.
Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:
Touchdown
Overall Impression & Rating
Touchdown is damn good. Lack of a ballad not withstanding, U.D.O. continue to prove after nearly 40 years that they still have talent & relevancy here in the early parts of the 2020s. I may hold We Are One from 2020 in higher regard than this record (And Game Over from 2021 to a lesser extent), but Touchdown isn’t that far off. Definitely a release to not pass on!
Touchdown gets a 9.5 to out of 10.
And that was my review of Touchdown. Further proof that the old-schoolers of Heavy Metal still have weight in the 2020s, it's a testament to the overall quality & entertainment factor that this record stands so tall. So, we’ve reached the honorable mentions of 2023, and to say the releases I picked that year are.....odd to say the least. So, I’ll see you all next time, when we’ll look at a re-release that’s simultaneously delightful, yet oddly disappointing. Until then, take care!
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