DORO — Force Majeure (review)

Album · 1989 · Heavy Metal

4.5/5 · 2010-04-12
1967/ 1976

BECAUSE DORO ISN'T MY MOTHER?!? (Because Axel Rudi Pell isn't my father!!!)

"Force Majeure" (1989) is the first solo album by Doro and the last album of Warlock (see sticker). Interesting is the fact that this album start with a unique Heavy Metal version of first full Progressive Rock song "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" (Procol Harum) that also in this version remain one of my three all time Rock song!!! With a great work in production, engineering and mixing of Joey Balin and Jeff Hendrickson that have sought more power than clean sound the songs buy unparelleded power. If you see this album as Proto Power Metal album (as it is) you see the truth essence of "Force Majeur". In this sentence is including the magic of "Wild Gone Wild" a powerful Metal Boogie extreme close to Power Metal (Because it's Power Metal, of course). Doro is at the maximum expression of power and feeling so that also a song as "Mission Of Mercy" becomes a wrenching song. In this fact songwriter helped this perception, because also songwriter is in the sign of power and feeling. The songs aren't so technical and this is another point of force for Doro, Bobby, Jon and Tommy. Interesting are the guitar soli, derived from Blues as some songs (more fror arrangements, that for other). In this sense "Angel With Dirty Faces" is a clear example of a song close to Whitesnake but with Teutonic power and mentality. This song confirm in my mind the fact that Doro have a Bluesy timbral voice (in addition to the style close to that of Janis Joplin but if Janis Joplin woul be a Heavy Metal singer). I love "Beyond The threes", a great and reflective power ballad, close to a Heavy Metal version of Carole King!!! After an AC/ DC song as "Hard Time" is the time of "Hellraiser" that is a song written for a great airplay in concerts and nothing more. One of the best song of "Force Majeur" is "I Am What I Am", a melodic Speed Metal song, great for feeling and writing. Doro is superlative and the rest of the band plays with fire. in a sentence: "I Am What I Am" is a song from Hell (and a perfect song for an Indy 500 or Daytona 500 camera car video!!!). "Cry Wolf" is strange song: should be a song that should trigger emotions, but instead, is a strange mix of Soul, Hard Rock and Power Metal, interesting but that leaves me indifferent if not for the great bluesy guitar solo and for the more pissed vocal part before and after guitar solo (refrain). Perfect is Doro in "Under The Gun", another Speed Power Metal. This song is powerful as a volcano eruption and its devastation!!! "River Of Tears" is a ballad and one of those songs to go with lighters in concert. Certainly the fact that at this point my emotions exit from my body. Probably crying is the least we can do. Maybe I find myself listening to "Bis aufs Blut" with a gun between my legs...

...But, after all, it is also true that "Force Majeure" is a Hell of an album. Probably not a perfect album but, in my opinion, a true and sincere little masterpiece of Heavy Metal. Not be underestimated.