Mean Machine, the 1989 release from UDO, the band formed by ex-Accept lead belter Udo Dirkschneider, falls squarely in the late '80s metal landscape, still retaining some of the German power metal feel that the singer brought over from his former band, but with some added commercial aspects that were a big part of the US scene. AFM Records are reissuing the bands back catalog to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
Much of Mean Machine is a fun, uptempo '80s metal album, though overall it lacks the bite of albums the band recorded after it, and is not quite as heavy. Tunes like "Break the Rules", "We're History", and "Painted Love" are catchy, accessible metal fare, not necessarily hair/glam metal, but also not too far removed, which is no surprise given that so many bands were incorporating a more commercial vibe to their music as the '80s wore on. There are still a host of guitar driven monsters here, like "Don't Look Back", "Dirty Boys", "Lost Passion", and the crunchy title track, with riffs 'a blazin' and Udo's gravelly vocals snarling and snapping with plenty of venom. The mellower, more ballady material, such as "Sweet Little Child", "Streets on Fire", and "Catch My Fall", aren't quite as successful, but still solid.
Overall, Mean Machine is a decent enough album, by no means the best UDO release (the band would really start to hit their stride in the '90s and beyond), but a fun slice of melodic power metal that's been given a new life on CD with this AFM reissue.
Track Listing
1. Don't Look Back
2. Break The Rules
3. We're History
4. Painted Love
5. Mean Machine
6. Dirty Boys
7. Streets On Fire
8. Lost Passion
9. Sweet Little Child
10. Catch My Fall
11. Still In Love With You (Instrumental)
12. Break The Rules (Live)
13. Break The Rules (Video)
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