Website: Doro
The Inside Pulse:
Ms. Doro Pesch has been around the metal universe since her days with Warlock in the early ’80s, maintaining a steady following in Europe, and gaining the respect that comes with her longevity. The German metal queen stays strong with Warrior Soul, an album typical of her offerings: a testiment hailing heavy metal and injecting a decidedly feminine touch without sacrificing the balls that typify the genre as a whole.
Positives: It may be hard rock, but Warrior Soul is a great pop record. Songs like the title track and even the German-language “Ungerbrochen” are almost instantly embedded into the brain, so catchy and infectious that it’s almost ridiculous. Never mind Doro’s voice, strong and clear, and versatile enough to fit perfectly alongside the music.
Negatives: The problem with the structures on Warrior Soul is that they’re stuck in 1989. Reminiscent of Warrant or Poison, Doro may be going for attitude, but it’s entrenched in cliche. It’s not fierce enough for the power metal arena, and too schticky to work outside of the small niche she’s dug for herself. It’s disappointing, but the dated sound does become cringeworthy, even though the songs themselves are decent enough quality. Not counting the lyrics, of course. Singing about the radness of metal and the quality of tough guys is definitely dated.
Cross-breed: Lita Ford in 1987, but with much stronger vocals and a lot less synth, lyrics by Kip Winger and Grim Reaper.
Reason To Buy: Doro fans, Lita fans, Fiona fans (not Ms. Apple), Vixen fans — this is right up your alley with absolutely no deviation. Outside of that, there’s much respect to this goddess of metal who has been around for ages, but it’s just not palatable in 2006.
