Mastercutor (Red Vinyl)

Many, many things have changed in the world since Udo Dirkschneider first belted out Accept's theme song, "Balls to the Wall," back in 1983. Communism was abolished all over Eastern Europe, apartheid ended in South Africa, Rudy Giuliani enabled Times Square to become a lot like Disneyland, and the Internet created a whole new generation of technology-minded entrepreneurs. Then there are all the musical changes that took place - thanks to the Nirvana/Pearl Jam/grunge upheaval that occurred in the early '90s, alternative rock became rock's primary direction. But some things haven't changed much since 1983, and Dirkschneider is a prime example. Mastercutor is a 2007 release that parties like it's still 1983; Dirkschneider remains firmly, stubbornly committed to old-school power metal, and this 50-minute CD is totally oblivious to post-'80s developments in metal. But if Mastercutor sounds dated, that doesn't make it any less inspired. While few surprises occur, Dirkschneider has no shortage of passion on melodic but hard-driving tracks like "Vendetta," "The Instigator," "Walker of the Dark," and "Crash Bang Crash" - all of which sound like they could have appeared on an Accept album back in the day. Some veteran headbangers have changed with the times; Tommy Lee, for example, embraced alternative metal and rap-metal after leaving Mötley Crüe and launching his Methods of Mayhem project in the late '90s. But on Mastercutor, Dirkschneider refuses to leave the '80s behind - and given how solid this album is, that is probably just as well. Dirkschneider sticks with the type of metal he does best, and the result is an enjoyable disc that falls short of essential but will please the German headbanger's die-hard fans.

- Alex Henderson