Cracking year 2004 is turning out to be for the return of classic rock bands - we’ve already had UFO, Tesla and TNT - now the Scorpions weigh in with their new album and the Scorpions are back on form! This is certainly their best album since the 80’s and the rocking is firmly back. Not only do the twin guitar assault of Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs fire again but credit to drummer James Kottak (ex-Kingdom Come/Wild Horses) who adds the big drum sound the Scorpions lacked at times back in the 80’s. Pawel Maciwoda is the new bass player - although the hugely talented Barry Sparks (Dokken) plays bass on two tracks.

‘New Generation’ carries a political message but fear not the Scorpions still know who to woo the ladies as we have ‘Can You Feel It’. The latter is a cracking rocker and you can imagine it becoming a live favourate. Klaus Meine can still hit the notes and ‘Winds Of Change Fans’ can whip out their lighters as ‘Maybe I Maybe You’ carries on where the former left off. In some bands this would be very cheesy but the Scorpions carry it off and you just know Meine puts his all into his performance. The song does have strong Queen overtone especially when the guitars kick in halfway through the song. I defy anyone not to shake their head and tap their foot to ‘Someday Is Now’ - a ‘rock You Like A Hurricane’ for the 21st century.

Only ‘She Said’ hits the mediocre button (that opening guitar is very similar to ‘Bell Bottom Blues’ by Derek & the Dominoes!). But the rock ends the album with ‘Remember the Good Times’, which sees the Scorpions in reflective mode as they look back on their lives from the 60’s to now (not sure the new bassist will remember the 60’s though). This song highlights all that is good about the Scorpions - great guitar riffs and soloing, catchy choruses and above damn fine tunes.

****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Band website