Doro – Raise Your Fist

For those of you who don’t know, Doro is Doro Pesch’s solo career and a continuation of the band Warlock. Doro initially wanted to continue using the Warlock name after they split in the late 80s, but was prevented from doing so. Needless to say, that apart from her breathtaking appearance, both physical and live on scene, has a very unique voice, within the range of hard rock and metal, melodic on hard rock songs and ballads and more aggressive on metal songs.

So, three years after her last album titled “Fear No Evil” German Metal Queen Doro Pesch, is back with her seventeenth studio album. “Raise Your Fist” is an album with the quality that Doro is known for, with heavy power tracks to sing-along songs and ballads. At some points it reminds of other German heavy metal bands like Accept and Running Wild.

First song is the title track “Raise Your Fist In The Air” a heavy metal hymn with sing-along chorus appropriate for live shows. “Coldhearted Lover” has a hard rock/ metal feeling that reminds me of Warlock. “Rock Till Death” is in the same vain with a more heavy/ power sound. Bas Maas and Luca Princiotta, who also plays the keyboards, did an amazing job on guitars with riffs and leads that simply kill. The production of the album is fantastic and highlights the music of the band.

“It Still Hurts” is a melancholic ballad featuring Metal God Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead. “Take No Prisoner” and “Revenge” are heavy / speed metal songs that make you headbang till your neck is broken. ‘Grab The Bull (Last Man Standing)’ is a mid tempo heavy metal song with a guest appearance from Gus G. (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind) performing some fine guitar leads. “Engel” is an emotional ballad while Freiheit (Human Rights) is a darker one and their lyrics are written in German. Awesome playing and sound by Nick Douglas on the bass. Johnny Dee also laid down some amazing drum parts. “Little Headbanger (Nackenbrecher)” is yet another heavy speed metal song for some serious headbanging. Another great ballad of the album is “Free My Heart” where Doro shows some of her incredible vocal skills. “Victory” has a rock feeling that reminds me of Black Sabbath. The album closes with the song “Hero” which is a song dedicated to Ronnie James Dio, the man who influenced Doro among many others. I think this is the best way to honour a legend of rock and metal music and closing an album.

I’m not the ultimate Doro fan but i can truly say to you that “Raise Your Fist” is a very pleasant album, not for fans only. After many years in the music business Doro still delivers fine hard rock and metal tunes without compromising in music.