Undercover Animal
| Undercover Animal | ||||
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| Steeler studio album | ||||
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Publication |
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admission |
1987 |
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Format (s) |
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Title (number) |
10 |
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running time |
39:24 |
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Studio (s) |
Horus Sound Studio & Studio Nord, Hanover & Bremen ( Germany ) |
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Undercover Animal ( English mutatis mutandis to .: "Masked Beast") is the fourth studio album by the German heavy rock band Steeler . It was released on February 1, 1988 through the Steamhammer record label. It is the last studio album by Axel Rudi Pell's band, who has been walking solo since the 1990s. After Strike Back, Undercover Animal is also Steeler's best-produced album.
publication
When Undercover Animal was released in February 1988 , expectations were below the result. Critics already suspected that after Strike Back the renewed addition of the producer duo of Tommy Hansen and Tommy Newton, the band itself should be raised to an international level - and fans and critics would be bored. Nobody expected Steeler to deliver another stadium rock album with catchy hymns. Because with its first two predecessors, the band was known for straightforward speed and power metal. After the release, Axel Rudi Pell left the band to start his solo career.
In retrospect, he spoke cautiously about his departure to the English-language online magazine Lords Of Metal . He says he didn't add anything creative to the songwriting. Because the other band members wanted to bring Steeler in the direction of bands like Def Leppard, which didn't fit with Axel Rudi Pell's idea of how Steeler should sound. He was bored of the production, the sound, and the songwriting.
reception
The German Hard 'N Heavy magazine Rock Hard describes laconically in its 25th issue in 1988 that Undercover Animal should be the disc that should give Steeler's career the decisive kick. You've Undercover Animal inflict upon a similar production as on Strike Back , and the songwriting kept simple and catchy.
“The songwriting has also stayed the same on Undercover Animal , no frills, powerful rockers, anything but complicated, with catchy refrains - and above all: unoriginal! Steelers understand their craft very well, the arrangements (especially vocals) couldn't be better, for example, but all songs have the same well-known structure, all songs (and titles) are based on the (admittedly mostly good) refrains. The typical ballad should of course not be missing. Rely On Rock is the best example. As well as the song is made - it has all happened a thousand times. Some bands have had success with this recipe, some have fallen on the face. Steelers have no bad chances, but if the same knitting pattern is still used on the next records, the writer of these lines will only give a loud yawn as a comment. This time Steeler got the curve because of some successful songs and their professionalism, very, very nearly 8. "
Web links
- Undercover Animal in the Metal Archives (English)
- Undercover Animal at Discogs
Individual evidence
- ↑ Sjak: Interview - Lords of Metal - Axel Rudi Pell. Retrieved August 19, 2019 (Dutch).
- ↑ STEELER - Undercover Animal. Retrieved on August 19, 2019 .