Continuing his run of live platters (fourth since '08 and second in as many years), former Accept frontman Udo Dirkschneider releases a double CD (also on DVD), with 14 tracks from his solo catalog (not a single song from his old employer!). The difference here is that in February 2014, the band was in concert with a military orchestra: the North Sea Marine Music Corps. As a tie-in, the diminutive singer resurrected the show at Wacken, this year. All the band members wore ties, Dirkschneider in contrasting white shirt and black, unbuttoned dress vest.

This collection offers deep (rarely heard) cuts, including several of the offbeat numbers that typically close U.D.O. discs. There are only four numbers chosen from the last decade and half predate 1998! The "pinging" of a submarine sonar greets the introduction of the orchestra for 'Das Boot', a brass horn laden introductory piece that ultimately segues into the metallers' appearance with 'Future Land'. The between song banter is in German. That and a pair of fully symphonic interlude (Grieg's 'In The Hall Of The Mountain King' and Samuel Hazo's 'Ride') are the lone non-rock moments. Guitars come screaming out for 'Heart Of Gold'. Still something disconcerting about brass fanfare high note. Doro Pesch shows up on 'Dancing With An Angel'. Staccato bras fanfares turn prod fan chants, to start 'Days Of Hope And Glory'. A little bit of schlager, 'Cut Me Out' is a lounge lizard special, with female backing vocals. By contrast, the accordion begun romp 'Trainride To Russia' alternates between Russian and English lyrics. 'King Of Mean' gets the metal pumping again, ending with brass crescendo. Early on, 'Book Of Faith', an odd track any way you slice it, takes on something of 'Peer Gynt' feel, with the orchestration. The latter, instrumental half, works well. The evening ending 'Animal House' is fairly straight forward, electrical instruments to the fore, apart from chorus fanfares.

Not sure how many times one will listen to these arrangements, but interesting to hear, once.