Recent Reviews

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

December 2022

[ More Music Reviews ]


U.D.O.: We Are One
U.D.O. with Concert Band of the German Armed Forces - We Are One Album Art

U.D.O.: We Are One

Orchestral Heavy Metal
5.0/5.0

Website Facebook
AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 22.07.2020 | Released: 17.07.2020

Someone once said that heavy metal is merely classical music with electricity. It's a rather pithy and humorous statement, but not without merit considering the proliferation of symphonic metal bands over the last 30 years. Then, there's those instances were a metal band will play live, accompanied by an orchestra. Metallica's classic S & M comes to mind or, in the case of the artist in review, U.D.O.'s show with the Concert Band of the German Armed Forces in Wacken in 2015.

U.D.O. with Concert Band of the German Armed Forces - Click For Larger Image

U.D.O. with the Concert Band of the German Armed Forces

Having wanted to work again the Concert Band and its director Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Scheibling, Udo Dirkschneider takes the merger of heavy metal and symphonic music to another level with We Are One. The songs within the album were specifically written and arranged as orchestral heavy metal. The Concert Band is not merely adding a symphonic layer. Their musical instruments are as much a part of the composition as the guitars, the rhythm section, and Dirkschneider's voice. Nevertheless, this is still a heavy metal album.

Songs like We Are One, Love And Sin, and Future Is The Reason Why are essentially orchestral heavy metal rock tunes with fine guitar solos, typical of U.D.O.'s style. Then there's the orchestral metal rock song Neon Diamond which includes some saxophone solos and an (unnamed) female vocal accompaniment. With Here We Go Again, you have more orchestral rock with a funky groove, enhanced by the horns of the concert band, and wild guitar lines. With a kick start from the horn section U.D.O. gets into his power metal groove with We Strike Back. Alternatively, several songs were definitely written and arranged with the Concert Band in mind such Blindfold, the instrumental segue Blackout, Natural Forces, or the finishing, mostly instrumental, Beyond Good And Evil.

All said, with We Are One U.D.O. and the Concert Band of the German Armed Forces take the merger of orchestral concert music and heavy metal to a brave, new, and entertaining level. Quite recommended.



CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

The Bottom Line

All said, with We Are One UDO and the Concert Band of the German Armed Forces take the merger of orchestral concert music and heavy metal to a brave, new, and entertaining level. Quite recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
Album of the Week
Read the Excalion: Once Upon A Time Album Review

Formed 23 years ago, Finland's Excalion has had a turbulent musical career. Before releasing a trio of albums between 2005 and 2010, they had personnel changes. Currently, only the drummer and keyboard ... [ Read More ]

From The Archives
Read the SPattern-Seeking Animals: Only Passing Through Album Review

I've been a huge fan of melodic progressive rock since I heard my first YES album, their epnonymous 1969. I was eleven. (You do the math.) We were basically nearing the end of the 60's hippie era thanks to shit ... [ Read More ]