Review DIRKSCHNEIDER AND THE OLD GANG “Babylon”

DOTAG stands for Dirkschneider and The Old Gang. Launched as a one-off charity project in 2020, DATOG continued songwriting after receiving some very positive reactions to their first single releases and EP. The one-off project has now evolved into a band set to launch its debut album, “Babylon”.

The band members are renowned musicians: Udo Dirkschneider (vocals; Accept/U.D.O./Dirkschneider), Peter Baltes (bass, vocals; Accept/U.D.O./Dirkschneider), Stefan Kaufmann (guitar; Accept/U.D.O.), Mathias “Don” Dieth (guitar; Sinner/U.D.O.), Sven Dirkschneider (drums; U.D.O./Dirkschneider) and Manuela “Ella” Bibert (vocals) are Dirkschneider and The Old Guys, and there are a few interesting things connected to this release.

Firstly, these musicians have found common ground again to work on heavy metal songs. Another exciting twist is that Udo Dirkschneider and Manuela Bibert share the vocals. The iconic frontman has previously recorded a duet with Doro, titled “Winter Dreams”, and this latest collaboration is an exciting development. Listening to the Arabia-influenced title track reveals the full range of this vocal partnership. The contrasting voices create a thrill that also unfolds during “Strangers in Paradise”. Bibert’s soulful vocals open this ballad, with Dirkschneider and Baltes joining in for the chorus. Not to mention the flamenco-esque guitar performance, which is a real joy to listen to.

“Hellbreaker” has a slightly different feel, with a modern-sounding riff at the beginning before the song moves towards a pulsating metal anthem. “Dead Man’s Hand”, with the embedded organ sound, spreads a 70s vibe which is combined with some Teutonic metal power while the roaring thunder called “Metal Sons” refers very much to the roots of Dirkschneider and The Old Guys. The up-tempo approach continues, making “Propaganda” a smashing hybrid of metal and rock vibes.

“Blindfold” is connected musically to “Strangers in Paradise”. It is another emotional moment on the album that follows a similar pattern to the earlier ballad and pleases the listeners’ ears even more. “Better the Power” sees the return of the metal roots, and the closer is a highlight of “Babylon”. Dirkschneider and The Old Gang conclude the album with an almost eight-minute epic. It is a moderately paced track with a dark vibe. The driving force of “Beyond the End of Time” is a throbbing beat, and the song shows that older lions still roar.

Dirkschneider and The Old Gang is a great collaboration between veterans of German heavy metal, with Manuela Bibert giving the sound a new twist and youthful energy. “Babylon” is a fantastic album, and the joy of collaboratively creating it resonates in each song. Thumbs up!