Steelhammer is the 14th studio album by German heavy metal band U.D.O., released on 24 May 2013 via AFM Records. It is the first album with guitarist Andrey Smirnov. Second guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen joined the band after all recordings were completed. It is also the first album without Stefan Kaufmann as guitarist since the 1997 album Solid, as well as the first without guitarist Igor Gianola since the 1999 album Holy.[4][5] Steelhammer charted at #21 in Germany, #23 in Sweden, #38 in Finland and #67 in Norway during its first week.[6] Music videos were made for "Metal Machine"[7] and "Heavy Rain".[8]
| Steelhammer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 24 May 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2012 | |||
| Studio | Roxx Studio, Pulheim, Germany | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Label | AFM | |||
| Producer | Udo Dirkschneider, Fitty Wienhold | |||
| U.D.O. chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| BW&BK |    [1] |
| Jukebox:Metal |   [2] |
| Music Enthusiast magazine | (positive)[3] |
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Steelhammer" | 3:23 |
| 2. | "A Cry of a Nation" | 5:41 |
| 3. | "Metal Machine" | 4:46 |
| 4. | "Basta Ya" | 4:33 |
| 5. | "Heavy Rain" | 2:25 |
| 6. | "Devil's Bite" | 5:05 |
| 7. | "Death Ride" | 4:08 |
| 8. | "King of Mean" | 4:07 |
| 9. | "Timekeeper" | 4:26 |
| 10. | "Never Cross My Way" | 4:23 |
| 11. | "Take My Medicine" | 5:07 |
| 12. | "Stay True" | 4:04 |
| 13. | "When Love Becomes a Lie" | 4:12 |
| 14. | "Book of Faith" | 5:12 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Shadows Come Alive" | 4:24 |
Personnel
edit- Udo Dirkschneider – vocals
- Andrey Smirnov – guitars
- Fitty Wienhold – bass
- Francesco Jovino – drums
- Guest musicians
- Víctor García González – additional vocals on "Basta Ya" and "Dust and Rust ("Basta Ya" English Version)"
- Sascha Onnen – piano on "Heavy Rain"
- Frank Knight – spoken words on "A Cry of a Nation"
- Claus Fischer – vocals (choirs)
- Ingmar Viertel – vocals (choirs)
- Bernhard Müssig – vocals (choirs)
- Claus Rettkowski – vocals (choirs)
- Holger Thielbörger – vocals (choirs)
- Production
- Udo Dirkschneider – producer, mixing
- Fitty Wienhold – producer
- Dirk Hüttner – artwork, design
- Holger Thielbörger – editing
- Martin Häusler – photography
- Martin Pfeiffer – mixing
- Tim Eckhorst – layout, booklet
- Markus Teske – orchestral arrangement on "Book of Faith", editing, mastering
- Patrick Spina – engineering (drums), editing (drums)
- Víctor García González – lyrics, translation on "Basta Ya"
References
edit- ^ Mark Gromen. "U.D.O. - Steelhammer". BW&BK. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014.
- ^ Andy Lye. "U.D.O. - Steelhammer Jukebox:Metal review". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ "U.D.O., 'Steelhammer' - Album Review". Music Enthusiast Magazine. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ^ "U.D.O.: 'Steelhammer' Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER Interviewed By Sweden's ACCESS: ROCK (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "U.D.O.: 'Steelhammer' First-Week Chart Positions Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ "U.D.O.: 'Metal Machine' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ "U.D.O.: 'Heavy Rain' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 22 June 2013.