Universal Love
Universal Love was founded in 2003 in Hamburg/St. Pauli, Germany when vocalist-Andy Peters met and came to know guitarist-Malte Moderegger. As a freshly converted christian, Andy had a lot of song ideas running through his head waiting for the right time when he could finally get them out and record them for all to hear. Guitarist-Malte Moderegger also just happened to be an accepted producer in Germany which played a big role in helping them both to bring this solo-project to light. Malte contacted a good friend of his - Stephan Krause who layed down the percussion drum lines for the band in the studio. Tim Bunge also joined the band in the studio to lay down the Bass lines for the project. Another friend of Malte - Michael Händel recorded the rhythm and solo Guitar work. This debut album was simply titled - 'Waiting' and was issued by Spieker Records/Kiel/Germany. One year after the publication of 'Waiting' the band went on tour with and supported a band called 'The Alan Parsons Project' on their Germany-Tour. While on the road, a new band began to emerge and was soon born - 'Universal Love'. The name is referring to the fact that Jesus is the 'universal love' of/in this world. He is Love and Love is God. Without this spiritual love nothing would exist and no matter would have been created.
Shortly thereafter, the band began creating songs for future projects however, they would never do another gig together. Most of the band-members went their separate ways and established families and had other music-projects in the works. Even though it seemed bleak for the band, Andy always had the vision that they would reunite to produce an album with songs full of holy power and take them to the world. During this time that the band was on hiatus, almost all the tracks for a new album were being written by Andy for a future time and a future album.
With new motivation, in 2016 the band came together after a 15 year hiatus and once again entered the studio to produce their follow-up album to their 2003 release - 'Waiting'. Their new album was produced in studio at MMP in Hamburg, Germany. and was titled 'Evil Inside'.
Shortly thereafter, the band began creating songs for future projects however, they would never do another gig together. Most of the band-members went their separate ways and established families and had other music-projects in the works. Even though it seemed bleak for the band, Andy always had the vision that they would reunite to produce an album with songs full of holy power and take them to the world. During this time that the band was on hiatus, almost all the tracks for a new album were being written by Andy for a future time and a future album.
With new motivation, in 2016 the band came together after a 15 year hiatus and once again entered the studio to produce their follow-up album to their 2003 release - 'Waiting'. Their new album was produced in studio at MMP in Hamburg, Germany. and was titled 'Evil Inside'.
2018
In 2018 Universal Love released their sophomore full-length album titled 'Evil Inside' with some help from 'Spinnup Music'. Evil Inside finds the band playing 90's style Grunge with a slant towards traditional Rock'n Roll music. As one listens from track to track you will notice that the arrangements are varied and that the band has delivered up a solid follow-up release with no fillers to skip over.
Frontman-Andy Peters does a good job behind the mic of varying his vocals between clean style vocals to a slightly heavier gruff style delivery.
From track to track, two things that stand out is the band's desire to reach the lost along with their desire to lift the Lord up in praise. Universal Love has included 3-tracks where we find that their lyrics are praise oriented - "Free Me", "Praise The Lord", and "Everything I Need".
Lyrics are all overtly Christ centered without coming across as preachy as one can see in the following lyric:
"EVIL INSIDE"
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE BETTER
THAN SOMEBODY ELSE?
AND DO YOU THINK YOUR GOOD DEEDS
WILL HELP YOU IN THE END?
WHEN YOU THINK
YOU ARE BETTER THAN SOMEBODY ELSE
YOU'LL JUDGE YOURSELF
AND GO TO HELL
'CAUSE WE ARE
EVIL INSIDE
WE ALL NEED CHRIST
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR LOVE
WHY SEARCH FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?
THERE'S JUST ONE GOLDEN DOOR
WAITING FOR YOU TO GET IN
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR LOVE
WHY SEARCH FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?
WITH HIS DEATH ON THE TREE
HE HAS FREED YOU FROM SIN
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE BETTER
THAN SOMEBODY ELSE?
AND DO YOU THINK YOUR GOOD DEEDS
WILL HELP YOU IN THE END?
WHEN YOU THINK
YOU ARE BETTER THAN SOMEBODY ELSE
YOU'LL JUDGE YOURSELF
AND GO TO HELL
'CAUSE WE ARE
EVIL INSIDE
WE ALL NEED CHRIST
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR LOVE
WHY SEARCH FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?
THERE'S JUST ONE GOLDEN DOOR
WAITING FOR YOU TO GET IN
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR LOVE
WHY SEARCH FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?
WITH HIS DEATH ON THE TREE
HE HAS FREED YOU FROM SIN
(See Site Info for Sword Scale meaning)
If you find yourself longing for the days where Rock was put into a blender and what came out was Grunge then you are in for a treat here with Universal Love's - 'Evil Inside' release. Do yourself and the band a favor by picking up a copy of this energy filled release by Universal Love.
One can make album purchases at the following links:
Musicians:
Andy Peters-Vocals
Malte Moderegger-Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Michael Händel-Rhythm Guitars & Solos
Tim Bunge-Bass
Stephan Krause-Drums
Andy Peters-Vocals
Malte Moderegger-Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Michael Händel-Rhythm Guitars & Solos
Tim Bunge-Bass
Stephan Krause-Drums
