Mastercutor : Alive

As a heavy metal singer, you know you've truly left your mark on the genre when your vocal style becomes instantly recognizable. And Udo Dirkschneider is certainly one such singer. Although he'll forever be best known as the frontman for German headbangers Accept (during their successful early- to mid-'80s run, which yielded such classic albums as Restless and Wild and Balls to the Wall), he has been a solo artist for far longer. And the 2008 double-disc live set, Mastercutor: Alive (credited to U.D.O.), touches equally upon the many eras of Dirkschneider's career. Recorded while supporting the 2007 U.D.O. studio release, Mastercutor, this 26-track set proves that even without Accept, Dirkschneider can still deliver the goods on the concert stage. Standouts include a multitude of Accept classics, such as "Midnight Mover," "Metal Heart," "Balls to the Wall," and "Fast as a Shark" (the latter track of which is often pinpointed to as the birth of thrash metal). But you'll also find such solo U.D.O. compositions as the title track from Mastercutor and "Animal House," as well as lesser-known Accept material ("Breaker," "Princess of the Dawn," "Winter Dreams," "Living for Tonite," etc.). Mastercutor: Alive was also issued as a DVD at the same time as the audio CD, so select wisely before plunking down your hard-earned cash. ~ Greg Prato|

As a heavy metal singer, you know you've truly left your mark on the genre when your vocal style becomes instantly recognizable. And Udo Dirkschneider is certainly one such singer. Although he'll forever be best known as the frontman for German headbangers Accept (during their successful early- to mid-'80s run, which yielded such classic albums as Restless and Wild and Balls to the Wall), he has been a solo artist for far longer. And the 2008 double-disc live set, Mastercutor: Alive (credited to U.D.O.), touches equally upon the many eras of Dirkschneider's career. Recorded while supporting the 2007 U.D.O. studio release, Mastercutor, this 26-track set proves that even without Accept, Dirkschneider can still deliver the goods on the concert stage. Standouts include a multitude of Accept classics, such as "Midnight Mover," "Metal Heart," "Balls to the Wall," and "Fast as a Shark" (the latter track of which is often pinpointed to as the birth of thrash metal). But you'll also find such solo U.D.O. compositions as the title track from Mastercutor and "Animal House," as well as lesser-known Accept material ("Breaker," "Princess of the Dawn," "Winter Dreams," "Living for Tonite," etc.). Mastercutor: Alive was also issued as a DVD at the same time as the audio CD, so select wisely before plunking down your hard-earned cash. ~ Greg Prato