Artist: DORO
Album: RAISE YOUR FIST VINYL (2LP)

Year: 2012
Media type: LP

Yes, one can argue about whether the new Doro album »Raise Your Fist« is an anniversary album or not, for the singer from Dьsseldorf, Germany won’t celebrate her 30th on-stage jubilee before 2013. Then again, her 17th record that’s set to be released on the 19th of October 2012 will be in the focus of the subsequent world tour that’ll go over into the next year.

However, there’s nothing to argue about the quality of the new record – that’s certain at least since the release of the 4-track-EP »Raise Your Fist In The Air«: All songs are strong beyond any doubt and keep up the musical legacy of the Warlock classic »Hellbound« once more.

When considering the hit potential and evergreen spirit of the songs, there’s no doubt that »Raise Your Fist« will continue this success story. Take for example the title track of the album (and of the EP), that immediately encourages to rock along and bears the potential to replace `All We Areґ as Doro’s trademark song. And also the energetic speedster ‘Take No Prisoner’ as well as the double bass anthem ‘Revenge’ have a similar impact on your desire for head banging. 

‘Coldhearted Lover’ and ‘Rock Till Death’ brim over with arena rock appeal, while the sensitive and epic but at the same time powerful track ‘It Still Hurts’ scores big time on an emotional level – not only because of the terrific duet with Motцrhead’s Lemmy. The same applies to the German song ‘Engel’, which is preluded by magnificent dreamy piano/synthesizer sequences and that stages Doro’s expressional voice perfectly.

Due to its swinging groove, ‘Freiheit (Human Rights)’ adds a refreshing facet to the overall appearance of »Raise Your Fist«. The same is true for the slightly Kyuss-meets-Aerosmith-like ‘Victory’ and for the concluding track ‘Hero’ with its magical atmosphere and gloomy Black Sabbath flair – dedicated to the legendary Ronnie James Dio who sadly passed away two years ago and the first song that Doro wrote for this album. Not forgetting the stoically marching mid-tempo song ‘Grab The Bulls By The Horns’ that features some licks by no less a figure than Ozzy Osbourne’s current guitarist Gus G. and underlines the high song writing level of the record perfectly.

All in all: The incredible dynamism, compositional diversity (on this part, Doro worked again with US song writing genius Joey Balin, with whom she had composed songs for CDs such as »Triumph & Agony« and »Force Majeure« among others) and the richness of detail make »Raise Your Fist« an album that can even satisfy the demands of the most demanding connoisseurs of music. All this makes »Raise Your Fist« Doro’s greatest work ever – a worthy anniversary album through and through that will go along with Doro through the next year. All the way to the highlight of her tour – the show at the biggest heavy metal festival in the world, Wacken Open Air 2013, for which the Metal Queen has already been confirmed as the headliner… 

Side A:
1. Raise Your Fist in the Air
2. Coldhearted Lover
3. Rock Till Death
4. It Still Hurts

Side B:
5. Take No Prisoner
6. Grab the Bull (Last Man Standing)
7. Engel
8. Freiheit (Human Rights)

Side C:
9. Little Headbanger (Nackenbrecher)
10. Revenge
11. Free My Heart
12. Victory

Side D:
13. Hero
14. Sealed In Blood (Human Rights) (bonus)
15. Strong And Proud (bonus)

LINE-UP:

Doro Pesch | vocals
Bas Maas | guitars
Luca Princiotta | guitars
Nick Douglas | bass
Johnny Dee | drums