Doro Pesch tears into a song like a three-year-old tearing open a Christmas gift... with no mercy and reckless abandoned.  She only did one more record with Warlock before moving onto her solo career and hasn't taken a break ever since.  She's worked with anyone who's anyone in Heavy Metal over the years and sounds as amazing as ever on her latest effort "Fight".

Now, I was a big fan of Doro before I had ever spoken or met her.  And so often in this business, interviewing someone can decrease your respect and admiration.  Not in this case, I can't begin to explain how gracious, polite and downright sweet Doro was.  Her slightly broken English was simply charming and her modesty put me at ease from the very start. If you EVER get the chance just to meet this Legend, drive, fly, run or walk, you won't be sorry. 

I spoke with Doro about "Fight", here duet with Peter Steele, her career in Heavy Metal and American beer.

TORCH:  Doro, I love "Fight", it's dark, heavy and the song-writing is excellent.

DORO:  (very pleased)  Oh, thank you!  That makes me happy when people love something, you know!

TORCH:  It's not a drastic departure from your last CD "Calling The Wild" really...

DORO:  Yeah, the difference is that we played everything live in one studio, there's no technical stuff, the studio was great, but it's pure and raw, back to the roots more.  I'm glad you like it, sometimes you're in the studio and you're alone with the band so it can be nerve-wracking before it comes out.

TORCH:  Do you find that a lot of your fans still expect that big, polished sound that Warlock had or are they happy with the new direction?

DORO:  So far it seems they are happy, from what I can tell people really like it.  I mean, every record is completely different, "Burning Witches" was different than "True As Steel" and "Triumph And Agony", which is my favorite, was different again... sometimes it's all what you can technically do and ummm.... I always try to do one hundred and fifty percent!

TORCH:  I think that from all the bands of that 80's era, you've really adapted well with you sound.  We played the song "Fuel" on our show from "Calling The Wild" and it had a great response...

DORO:  (amused, pleased)  Oh really, "Fuel", I don't think that has been played on radio before...

TORCH:  Yeah, we had a good response from all ages, but yeah, it's really hard to get a song on the radio these days!

DORO:  Yeah, but that's great, that's great... and that's why I wanted to keep such a raw sound, I don't like all that commercial pop stuff, I really don't, I just keep it really rough and not even compete with getting on the radio and just keep it really heavy and stuff.

TORCH:  Can you talk about "Descent", the duet with Peter Steele of "Type-O Negative", how did you hook up with Peter?

DORO:  Actually, we have a couple of mutual friends, and I was going to a concert in New York where Twisted Sister, Overkill and others were playing as a benefit for the New York Fire Fighters and the people of  9-11.  I ran into a friend of mine who is actually from Germany and she does merchandising for Roadrunner.  She asked me about the new record and if I was to have another duet on the album and I said no, but I have a song called "Descent" that I wrote with my guitarist and it calls for a great voice and it would be great if Peter Steele could sing on it, and she said "I know Peter!".  She called him and he was interested so I went to his place and played my demos and he played his and it went from there, it couldn't be more perfect!  I was always a big fan of his voice and it turned out really cool, he's like ten octaves below mine! (laughing).  But I love doing that stuff, having guest musicians, I just did a duet with Udo Dirkschneider too that turned out great.

TORCH:  That's awesome!  You know, I've been a huge fan of German Heavy Metal for years and I've asked this question of Matt Sinner, Udo, my friend Carsten Shulz in the band Domain, what is it about Germany and the quality and devotion to heavy Metal?

DORO:  You know Germany is quite nice, it's a good people for average people and it's quite conservative so you play Heavy Metal to break out... I had the urge to do something different.  Germany is a good place to live, but for instance, musicians get respected much more in the States, but in Germany you are like a low-life! (both laugh). 

TORCH:  Now, I know you must be tired of this question or observation because it's quite obvious.  You are a woman in a predominantly male industry, but you have survived for many years and have a successful career.  Have you seen the industry change over the years for women?

DORO:  I don't know I think there are a lot more women out there doing it and I'm always happy I can give good inspiration.  I must say that back when I started there were some great women like Lee Aaron, Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Wendy O. Williams, and it hasn't come as far as you'd think, I'd like to hear more women in Heavy Metal.

TORCH:  Well Doro, I could talk to you for hours about Metal, but I know you have a car waiting (both laugh).  Now I don't suppose you like this American beer we have very well eh?

DORO:  Yeah, it's not as strong as German beer but I drink much more!

TORCH:  (both laughing) Ah yes, very good, very good.  Well again Doro, it's been a pleasure, you've meant so much to the world of Heavy Metal over the years, I wish you all the success you deserve.

DORO:  Oh thank you so much, and you keep that Metal stuff alive and thanks again.

DORO - "Fight" - SPV

The reigning Queen of Heavy Metal returns from the successful "Calling The Wild" with another powerhouse, "Fight".  This time around Doro took to the studio with the idea of making a raw and "live" sounding album.  There's very little effects added to the mix which results in about as close as you get to live, without actually being live.  If you compare the sound to the earlier Warlock material, you'll find a totally different sound, it's very gritty and real, back to the roots of rock.  In some ways it's not a drastic change from her last project, just a little less polished.

So now you have an idea of the sound, what about the songs?  Well, you'll be pleased to hear that this is quite possibly her darkest and heaviest work, even if there are some slower tempo songs on the album.  Take "Descent" for instance, not her heaviest work, but since she has "Type O Negative" frontman Peter Steele singing on it with her, it comes out as a dark and eerie little number.

The more up-tempo stuff is thick, heavy and loaded with hooks.  "Fight" was written, or became the theme song for German Regina Halmich, the Woman's World Champion Boxer.  "Always Live To Win" and "Chained" are two more anthems that'll get you pumped up.  "Salvaje" is probably the catchiest tune on the album, which incidently features Savatage guitarist Chris Cafferty.

On the lighter side, there's "Undying", "Wild Heart" , "Fight By Your Side" and "Hoffnung" will all tug at the heart-strings, even though they have a darker edge to them.  Doro's voice is as beautiful as ever on these songs as well as on "Legends Never Die", a song written by Gene Simmons.

Overall, a strong effort by Doro, I can't say it's the best, that's just too hard to do with all of her material and different sounds over the years.  She had proven to still be on top of her game and a "Living Legend" in Heavy Metal.  There's nobody even close right now, Lita Ford has been on hiatus for some time, Lee Aaron is doing Jazz albums, Joan Jett is alive and kickin', but she's not really true "Metal" and Pet Benatar is in a similar situation.  For true Heavy Metal, Doro IS the reigning World Champion, and unless something drastic happens, she may always be wearing the belt.

www.doropesch.com - www.doro.de