DORO — True at Heart (review)

Album · 1991 · Heavy Metal

3.5/5 · 2010-04-13
1967/ 1976

"True As Heart" is Doro's third solo album. In my opinion this album is only a normal album by a perfect Metal singer! In my opinion is in songs as "You Gonna Break My Heart" that Doro finds its natural habitat. Due to its style Doro is Metal Soul singer and the style of "You Gonna Break My Heart", reflective, with tons of emotional passages and tons of Power is perfect as in a ballad as "Even Angels Cry". This Power ballad, similar to a Journey ballad is another perfect habitat for Doro's voice. So I love these two songs!!!Vice versa "The Fortuneteller" is not a song that please me too much: Doro recite in a mid tempo which sounds like a metal version of Tangerine Dream (and the refrain not save this song, in my perception). But the real problem of this album (and of Doro, in general) is that Doro push the button of Soul Metal syle in vocal part, so that with a music that have echoes of Hard Rock, Dio, Purple and Motorhead and the final result is not perfect: No Niagara Falls born in the Netherlands!!! In my mind the problem is also the production and mixing: too close to Hard Rock and/ or AOR: Toto, Journey or Hall & Oates are other type of artist. Ok, this production is perfect with "Fall In Love Again", a tearjerker ballad, where Doro is superlative, becoming the Maria Callas of Heavy Metal (and at the same time a sort of Lemmy in a skirt). "Heartshaped Tattoo" sound in my mind as a perfect song for a concert in a biker meeting, not only for Hard Rock flavor or for chorus airplay but also because Doro raising the tone of his voice comes to be a female version of Chris Boltendahl (grave Digger, one of my favorite singers...)!!! In this album, with this type of production and style songs I prefer Doro when she sings for feeling and emotions and thus with clean voice (in the tons of ballads in this album presents, therefore). In a great substance I prefer the version of Doro that is photographed in page 9 of booklet that the Doro's version with serpent if back cover of "Calling The Wild" album!!! Is it normal if I love all Doro's version, after all? (and in fact in a song that "I'll Make It On My Own" that is a ballad, yes, AOR, yes but full Heavy Metal power ballad I love Doro, also if not use a clean voice!!!). "Gettin' Nowhere Without You" is a strange song for me: Pat Benatar is here. But this is Doro, a totally different singer, also if when the songs arrive in R&B field (but this song is 100% Heavy Metal, also if with slow R&B structure and alto sax solo). I adore also this version of Doro's music, because another natural habitat for this incredible and perfect singer. Singer who can afford to play with its femininity in "I Know You By Heart", a sort of Metal New Age ballad with Barry White afflatus!!!

Due to production and mixing, other to Hard Rock flavor of the more aggressive songs this album is great only in the ballads (that in a great substance are all power ballads). Sure Doro confirm its status of great and perfect singer. But for a real vision I think that Doro wasted an opportunity to go down in history. But the photo on page 12 of booklet... I can not criticize an album as to give a bad grade. I can not be objective as I should. Why then, with humility, a woman like Doro I would like as a companion for life!!!