Faceless World is the third studio album by U.D.O., which—incidentally—stands for Udo Dirkschneider Organization. Udo himself confirmed this in an interview, where he also emphasised that U.D.O. is a band and has never been a solo project. While Animal House remains my personal favourite, Faceless World is a close second.
The album is often regarded as the band’s most melodic release, and arguably its least heavy. Right from the opening track Heart of Gold and the incredibly catchy Blitz of Lightning, it becomes clear that this record highlights a more melodic—and at the time, more commercially accessible—side of the band, in contrast to the heavier approach found on the albums that came before and after. The overall sound leans more towards melodic hard rock, though the album does contain heavier moments as well, such as the riff-driven System of Life, co-written by former guitarist Andy Susemihl prior to his departure from the band. The title track, Faceless World, is a standout and also the longest track on the album, running six and a half minutes and featuring a particularly beautiful chorus.
Most of the album’s material was composed by Dirkschneider, Kaufmann, and guitarist Mathias Dieth, with the exception of System of Life, Living on a Frontline, and Future Land, which Susemihl also contributed to before leaving the band. It is worth noting that all guitars on the album were recorded by Mathias Dieth. Although Wolla Böhm appears in the album artwork and features in the Heart of Gold video, he joined the band only after the recording was completed.
The rhythm section is comprised of Thomas Smuszynski on bass and Stefan Schwarzmann on drums. Smuszynski would later join Running Wild in 1992, performing with them until 2002. Schwarzmann remained with U.D.O. for many years and also played with notable acts such as Running Wild, Helloween, Krokus, and Accept, among others.
In my view, Faceless World is a highly accomplished album. While I won’t go into detail on all twelve tracks, several highlights deserve mention. Restricted Area features the band’s signature Accept-style gang vocals in the chorus. Living on the Frontline opens with an AC/DC-like groove and stands out as one of the most infectious and memorable songs in U.D.O.’s catalogue. Born to Run is another melodic gem, while Can’t Get Enough is arguably the album’s heaviest track, showcasing rapid double bass drumming and a barrage of riffs from Dieth. Unspoken Words serves as the album’s ballad—decent, though not among the band’s strongest in that category. Future Land, like Heart of Gold, features an extremely staccato bass tone that at times resembles a synth bass. However, it is unmistakably Smuszynski’s playing style—tight, punchy, and precise—and serves as a fitting conclusion to the album.
In summary, Faceless World stands as U.D.O.’s most melodic and accessible album, and in my opinion, one of the band’s finest works.
Released on RCA, 25 February 1990.
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