Michael Schenker - Beware Of Scorpions (SPV)
Schenker's back - not that he ever went away. For those of you unaware, Michael Schenker is one of the greatest axe pyrotechnician's (and nuttiest rock stars) on the planet. He's also penned some of the finest hard rock ever written - from his days in the Scorpions with brother Ralph, or more significantly during his time with UFO.
Although the Michael Schenker group - the guitarists on and off solo project of the last two decades - has experienced a mixed reception from the critics over the course of its existence. While Schenker's debut release 1980's The Michael Schenker Group album was a big critical success and the man has always had big name musicians at his side, last album, instrumental Dreams And Expressions, was critically panned. Beware Of Scorpions should have no such problems in respectably putting Schneker back in the return to form books - and to these ears, he succeeds very nicely in the process. No Turning Back and My Times Up are instant attractions - the kind of big, stadium, anthemic sing-along's that put his writing on the map. All classic, bluesy tinged hard rock, vocalist Chris Logan proves his tones worthily, to, bringing to mind Paul Rogers or Free's Danny Bowles - a high compliment indeed.
Fallen In Love opens with vocal harmonies that are more All Saints or Destiny's Child-esque than MSG, before thankfully mutating into a decent offering. On Your Way and Eyes Of A Child shift gears admirably, and of course, the album features all the fret wank-ery you'd hope for. For any of you obsessed with two handed tapping, you'll die and go to heaven after listening to this - the albums full of it! Showing off the blonde German riff mans talents, while this latest is a good MSG disc it still features the odd 'stuck in an 80's time warp' track (Reflection Of The Heart) - Schenker, nnnnnnnnnnnnnno! Although for as strong as this opus is, let the truth be told: in our heart of hard rock hearts, we're still awaiting that perfect Scheker solo album - and this just quite isn't it.
Whether its part of his erratic, temperamental nature (what makes him the true rock star he is) that just takes off take extra special edge, who knows? If for example, he could swerve free of the drink - the stuff that brought last years UFO reunion tour to a permanent end - would this be the answer? Maybe Schenker could take some advice from his drummer Jeff Martin's lyrics on the track Roll It Over: "Been drinking something, I shouldn't drink." But then, would you swap Schenker's irregular personna (lets face it, how many people outside of a WWF wrestling ring would have the audacity to attack a fellow band member, with a steel chair, live on stage, during of the most significant gigs of UFO's tour*) for a classic MSG album? A tough call, that… Seriously though, like the recent album done with UFO (Convenient), Beware Of Scorpions for the best part does the business. But you do feel, if only Michael could cut out such traits in his character, the musical rewards would be much greater.
Verdict - @@@@
Andy Law
Schenker's back - not that he ever went away. For those of you unaware, Michael Schenker is one of the greatest axe pyrotechnician's (and nuttiest rock stars) on the planet. He's also penned some of the finest hard rock ever written - from his days in the Scorpions with brother Ralph, or more significantly during his time with UFO.
Although the Michael Schenker group - the guitarists on and off solo project of the last two decades - has experienced a mixed reception from the critics over the course of its existence. While Schenker's debut release 1980's The Michael Schenker Group album was a big critical success and the man has always had big name musicians at his side, last album, instrumental Dreams And Expressions, was critically panned. Beware Of Scorpions should have no such problems in respectably putting Schneker back in the return to form books - and to these ears, he succeeds very nicely in the process. No Turning Back and My Times Up are instant attractions - the kind of big, stadium, anthemic sing-along's that put his writing on the map. All classic, bluesy tinged hard rock, vocalist Chris Logan proves his tones worthily, to, bringing to mind Paul Rogers or Free's Danny Bowles - a high compliment indeed.
Fallen In Love opens with vocal harmonies that are more All Saints or Destiny's Child-esque than MSG, before thankfully mutating into a decent offering. On Your Way and Eyes Of A Child shift gears admirably, and of course, the album features all the fret wank-ery you'd hope for. For any of you obsessed with two handed tapping, you'll die and go to heaven after listening to this - the albums full of it! Showing off the blonde German riff mans talents, while this latest is a good MSG disc it still features the odd 'stuck in an 80's time warp' track (Reflection Of The Heart) - Schenker, nnnnnnnnnnnnnno! Although for as strong as this opus is, let the truth be told: in our heart of hard rock hearts, we're still awaiting that perfect Scheker solo album - and this just quite isn't it.
Whether its part of his erratic, temperamental nature (what makes him the true rock star he is) that just takes off take extra special edge, who knows? If for example, he could swerve free of the drink - the stuff that brought last years UFO reunion tour to a permanent end - would this be the answer? Maybe Schenker could take some advice from his drummer Jeff Martin's lyrics on the track Roll It Over: "Been drinking something, I shouldn't drink." But then, would you swap Schenker's irregular personna (lets face it, how many people outside of a WWF wrestling ring would have the audacity to attack a fellow band member, with a steel chair, live on stage, during of the most significant gigs of UFO's tour*) for a classic MSG album? A tough call, that… Seriously though, like the recent album done with UFO (Convenient), Beware Of Scorpions for the best part does the business. But you do feel, if only Michael could cut out such traits in his character, the musical rewards would be much greater.
Verdict - @@@@
Andy Law
