U.D.O. - Holy
1999 Nuclear Blast Records

Track Listing:
1.  Holy
2.  Raiders Of Beyond
3.  Shout It Out
4.  Recall The Sin
5.  Thunder In The Tower
6.  Back Off
7.  Friends Will Be Friends
8.  State Run Operation
9.  Danger
10. Ride The Storm
11. Cut Me Out

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Udo Dirckschneider
Guitars:  Stefan Kaufman, Igor Gianola
Bass:  Fitty Wienhold
Drums:  Lorenzo Milani

Website:  www.udo-online.de

Horatio's Rating:  B
Overall Rating:  B

Also be sure to read:
U.D.O. - Mean Machine by Horatio
Accept - Objection Overruled by Horatio
Accept - Predator by Horatio
Accept - Russian Roulette by Horatio

Horatio's Review:
To be honest I forgot I owned this CD.  I shouldn't have.  When 'Holy' was released in 1999, Udo and his cohorts made a U.S. tour in support of 'Holy' and played a date nearby at a dump called 'The Pigpen' in Iowa.  I can't forget this concert.  There were only ten people there, six of them employees.  The sight of the band, playing to an empty venue, with only myself at the front of the stage getting into it, was one of the saddest sights I have witnessed.  But like pro's U.D.O. played a proper set, making no admission to the bare venue.  Before the gig Udo sat at he bar downing free booze, during which I engaged in a conversation with him.  'Thanks for the memories', I tearfully confessed, attempting to hug the diminutive dwarf.  "Ahh piss off why don't you", he growled, pushing me off, "you better have paid to get in," he said, hoping to cash in on a thirteen dollar payday.

'Holy' was U.D.O.'s third album following Accept's demise, and followed the same direction as 97's 'Solid' and 98's 'No Limits'.  It's a commendable set that never approaches the speed and might of 91's 'Timebomb', still U.D.O.'s finest hour.  The title track is a unifying anthem for metalheads worldwide, while 'Back Off' is fairly fast, the only such number on the whole thing.  Udo had really lapsed into a predictable Euro metal sound here, considering how polished later Accept and U.D.O. albums had become.  Still it's streets ahead of the endless parade of dull power metal acts that continue to filter out of the continent.  U.D.O.'s still going strong, their last album 2002's 'Man And Machine', a groundbreaking concept album which discussed the ever growing threat of machines taking over man in all areas of life.  I thought that one was played out in 1987.

Song summaries include:

1. Holy - An ode to the power of metal - 'ah- glorious metal, the master of our lives- never died' - that borders on Manowar, except Udo in all reality puts Eric Adams to shame.  Superb sentiment, metal, live for it!  Die for it!  Let the metal flow!  A

2. Raiders Of Beyond - A slow intro that gathers wholesome pace, a right headbanger.  Only Udo can still get away with writing songs about space invaders taking over earth.  B+

3. Shout It Out - 'Why are you so frightened - we're getting in the mood, body breaking volume- we are loud and rude!'  Get the idea?  How about some more?  'Electrostatic soundwaves - you cannot hide, gonna execute our metal shock - straight between the eyes!'  Roll out the red carpet for Udo man.  A+

4. Recall The Sin - Mid paced, hardly essential.  Good lyrics, however, as Udo relives his wild youth 'those were my glory days...bad boys crazy ways....kicking ass living fast...'  C+

5. Thunder In The Tower - Strange rhythm to this 'un, almost borders on hard rock, very light hearted in tone.  Something you might fall asleep listening to, the music becoming an annoying drone as unconsciousness takes over.  C

6. Back Off - Finally a bit of savage speed, that suits such words like 'we're true and metalized, these crazy territorial nights'.  Puts Manowar to shame it does!  Especially that 'Warriors Of The World' borefest.  A

7. Friends Will Be Friends - A heartfelt cover of the classic Queen track from 1986...Udo in leather grinding with bandmates in a sweaty Cologne nightclub...Matthias Jabs and Klaus Meine in drag servicing each other while Tom Angelripper jerks off in a corner...whatm it isn't a cover?  Actually not too shabby, particularly the galloping riff, but that chorus could be determined as sickening.  Good twin guitar harmonies, taken straight from 'Heading To The Highway' and Anthrax's 'Subjugator'.  B

8. State Run Operation - Very bizarre, upbeat melody in a track that redeems itself with a brutal mid song breakdown complete with police sirens.  C+

9. Danger - The most classic of all titles (minus the 'zone' sadly), with suitably dramatic music to accompany it.  That's about it.  B

10. Ride The Storm - With a title like that you don't even need to hear the song, a soaring 'one for all' anthem that reads 'we ride the iron horses 'n' freedom in the heart' (that doesn't make sense to me).  The chorus has to be heard really, rising to victorious heights that would be a good choice to replace 'We Are The Champions' at every sporting event.  B+

11. Cut Me Out - Udo goes pop, polka and dance with this bizarre track with a funky bass line.  I recall Udo saying that the crowds really connected with this one, demanding to hear it.  Too right, I'd rather hear this over 'Ahead Of The Pack' any day.  B

Horatio's Rating:  B

Discography (last updated 1.3.06):
Animal House - 1987
Mean Machine - 1988
Faceless World - 1990
Timebomb - 1991
Solid - 1997
No Limits - 1998
Best Of... - 1999
Holy - 1999
Live In Russian - 2001
Man And Machine - 2002
Thunderball - 2004
24/7 EP - 2005
Mission No. X - 2005