People are always talking about Ozzy, Rob Halford or Dio being the most legendary frontmen in heavy metal. Actually, the most consistent is Udo Dirkschneider, the pugnacious former leader of the German metal masters Accept. Every year without fail, Udo releases another dose of his rock solid and peculiarly Germanic brand of heavy metal, either with Accept or his own longstanding solo project. Granted, Udo vocally doesn't reach the god-like heights of a Halford or Dio, but that distinctive schnauzer-like bark is instantly recognizable and can be mistaken for no one else.

Mastercutor is the 14th effort to bear the UDO name and one of the better ones. Where some of Mr. Dirkschneider's recent releases have sounded a little bit like going through the motions, Mastercutor has a freshness and vitality to it that many younger bands could do well to emulate. The production is outstanding, the musical performances are top notch and Udo himself sounds revved up and ready to go. What makes this effort particularly outstanding is that the band is not afraid to inject new influences and sounds into their trademark framework, resulting in classics like "The Wrong Side of Midnight" and "Walker of the Dark.”

If you've never dived into the metal world of UDO before, Mastercutor is the perfect entryway. And if you've followed his career for years, you may be surprised at how many tricks the old boy still has up his sleeve.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2007 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.