Ole Schenky has been one creative and productive dude for the last decade or so. There have been solo albums, Temple Of Rock and the Michael Schenker Fest. Especially the MSF have been satisfying with lots of high-quality music and the fact that he has brought back his old singers Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley with his latest singer Doogie White made the whole project both fun and interesting – with only Ronnie Romero the odd man out on one song on the latest album Revelation (2019). That being said, with his his new found spark, I have found myself wondering on several occasions why he has left the MSG (Michael Schenker Group) name to rest. I think many of us fans has had that thought once in a while.
When Schenker back in 2020 revealed that the next album would be released under the MSG moniker once again, I was first very pleased but I must admit that I felt underwhelmed when it was revealed that it wouldn’t really be a real MSG album, no this one too would include different singers – and very few of them had anything to do with MSG – or Michael Schenker at all for that matter. Sure Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Joe Lynn Turner, Ronnie Romero and Michael Voss (Temple Of Rock) are all damn good singers but why even bother calling this MSG? Why not make a solo album or another MSF record? Well, the important thing is the music after all and I had some expectations on this one.
With his Metal past Ralf Scheepers is by far the oddest choice for a lead singer on a MSG album and it’s he who kicks off the album with the leading single “Drilled To Kill”. Fast-tracked, punchy, in-your-face and metal-fueled, the tune comes across as the most Metal MSG has ever been – there’s actually a twitch of Accept’s “Breaker” in there. As a Metal tune, the song is great but apart from the classic sounding solo there’s not much of classic MSG in there. Joe Lynn Turner takes the mike for the mid-paced Hard Rock stomper “Don’t Die On Me Now”, a song that feels more like a natural MSG tune. It’s a classic 80’s rocker on a chunky rhythm with a strong main-melody and a memorable refrain that sticks, with some contrasting laid-back passages. Very good.
Fast and kicking, Ronnie Romero takes a hold of “Knight Of The Dead” with a great performance. It’s an edgy tune but with nuances, distinct melodies and a chorus that takes no prisoners. It’s a straight ahead rocker with a magnificent guitar-solo from The Schenk. Very good. Second single, the ballad “After The Rain”, featuring Michael Voss, is slow and deep with a big soundscape and a melancholic atmosphere. Style-wise, it goes back to the McAuley-Schenker days, smooth with lots of hooks but never cheesy, this tune brings on a massive chorus and would have been a big hit back in the days of MTV, I’m sure. Awesome.
Schenker takes the Metal road once again with “Devil’s Daughter”. This one is a no-fuss, straight to the point, Heavy Metal meets Hard Rock belter with an edgy rhythm and kick-drums running amok and sharp riffage. So, Schenker is German but that doesn’t mean that Power Metal has a place on his records. The song is saved by classic MSG vocal-melodies, a hooky chorus and some fine playing but Sheepers’ vocals really doesn’t help. It’s an ok tune but the album’s weakest effort. Third single “Sail The Darkness” is a real swinging and chunky number where classic MSG meets Rainbow in a fine symbiosis of 70’s Classic Rock and early 80’s melodic Hard Rock. It’s a damn catchy yet edgy number where Romero masters the memorable melodies and the catchy chorus with all the glory – and the playing from Schenker is masterful.
Taking a more pop-rock route, “The Queen Of Thorns And Roses”, the glory days of Schenker’s early 80’s combined with the Melodic Rock of McAuley-Schenker is all over us. Hooks all over the place, big melodies and a distinct and effective approach makes the tune a winner – and I haven’t even mentioned the million-bucks refrain here. Voss’ is a damn good singer and the Temple of Rock vibes comes on strong here but the guy doesn’t really own the most personal of voices. I would have loved Robin McAuley on this one, one of the best tunes on the album.
“Come On Over” brings on a chunky rhythm, beefy with a solid beat. It’s upbeat yet holds a mid pace, heavy enough but with a classic melodic Hard Rock vibe – and it’s easy to hear that this is MSG. It’s really a decent track but’s also a bit monotone in its character and nothing really lifts the tune melody-wise – the chorus kind of disappears within the song. Romero does his best but is also a bit lost on this one. Turner, however, is anything but lost in the formidable “Sangria Morte”, an upbeat, big grooved and rhythmic rocker with a galloping guitar chug and addictive melodies all over. It’s classic Schenker all the way, with a small Latin touch inserted, the chorus is contagiously catchy and Turner nails the tune like the pro he is. Brilliant.
The closing track and latest single “In Search Of The Peace Of Mind” is one of the most interesting parts of this album. It’s a rerecording of the first Schenker co-wrote with the Scorpions and the original lies on their debut album Lonesome Crow (1972). Also, here Schenker has brought in his MSF-buddies Gary Barden, Doogie White and Robin McAuley to sing the tune with Romero – a damn nice move. It’s a slow, deep and heavy tune but also a bit trippy, psychedelic, darkening and atmospheric. The tune steps up into a more uptempo vibe after half the song bringing a cool contrast to the whole thing. I dig this version better than the original but in all honesty, I was never a big fan of the first two Scorpions albums. A very good version indeed.
While it feels a bit weird that when Schenker finally resurrects the MSG moniker, it feels more like Michael Schenker Fest than ever, it’s still his best album in many moons – and I did really enjoy the two predecessor MSF records. Apart from the (Power) Metal tunes – not bad ones at all, just out of place here – and an odd filler, the quality is damn high with lots of references to both his early 80’s MSG records and the brilliant McAuley-Schenker ones. This is his 50th anniversary album and he has all the right in the world to be proud of it. That being said, I still hope for a McAuley – Schenker reunion but until/if that ever happens, I’ll enjoy the hell out of this one.
7/10
Tracklist:
1. Drilled To Kill
2. Don’t Die On Me Now
3. Knight Of The Dead
4. After The Rain
5. Devil’s Daughter
6. Sail The Darkness
7. The Queen Of Thorns And Roses
8. Come On Over
9. Sangria Morte
10. In Search Of The Peace Of Mind
CD & Festival reviews 