The sound of this album certainly marks the beginning of a new era in the Scorpions. Crazy World (1990) seemed to close out the 80s-like (yet still timeless) sound, while Face The Heat features a more "Americanized" sound. What I mean more specifically is that this album has flavors of Van Halen and Guns N Roses, rather than your typical Scorpions - which is not a bad thing either. The Scorpions are indeed a band of German descent, however, that isn't to say they sound disctinctively such. It's just simply tough to describe, or articulate, but regardless, it still is some quality Scorpions music - and no worries, it does contain the band's signature tone.

     Perhaps this infusion of a different sound is owed partially to famed rock producer Bruce Fairbairn. The late Fairbairn was a truly successful and renowned producer - his credits include the mega-hit Bon Jovi album, Slippery When Wet, and also one of my favorite Van Halen albums, Balance, made in 1995. Clearly, those two albums are from some of America's favorite rock bands, so that touch of American-made rock could have made its way into this Scorpions album.

     From a songwriting perspective, Face The Heat is generally heavier than prior releases, especially in the opening track "Alien Nation." It is a thunderous, well-crafted, and technical wonder that will surely grab your attention from the start. The rest of the album boasts a fine selection of modern classics - and like most Scorpions albums, it contains some nice ballads, despite the album's lean toward a heavier tone. These classics include the John Lennon-esque "Under The Same Sun", which seems to pay homage to Lennon's song "Imagine" with the lyric, "Why can't we live as one?" Other great tunes include the very Van Halen/Sammy Hagar-ish "Someone To Touch", the rich sound of "Woman", and also of "Taxman Woman." It also closes with one of the very best songs in the Scorpions library - "Lonely Nights." In similar fashion to the finale of their must-have 1984 release Love At First Sting (which ended with the epic "Still Lovin' You"), this album closes out with a gorgeous ballad that has such emotional strength, and great textured and layered composition in the musical sense, from the vocals to the guitar and basslines, to the drums - it's superb.

     The U.S. release of Face The Heat, which I have, also has a hidden bonus track at the end of "Lonely Nights" entitled "Marie's The Name (His Latest Flame)." Whether or not it correlates with "Lonely Nights" is debatable, but regardless, this surprise ending is simply awesome. Originally, it was an Elvis Presley song - and who would have thought the Scorpions would cover an early 1960s pop song? It certainly remains the most unique of songs in Scorpions lore - it's great stuff.

     Overall, Face The Heat is better than some critics had given it credit for. Sure, it may be one of their lesser known releases, but that's because it was buried underneath the new grunge albums of the time. Regardless of that, its slight obscurity should not outweigh its legitimate merits, as it is indeed another strong, solid Scorpions album that is littered with some truly awesome songs, that I would say have since become Scorpions classics.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Lonely Nights"

"Alien Nation"

"Under the Same Sun"

"Someone to Touch"

"Woman"

"Marie's the Name (His Latest Flame)" [Hidden Track]

"Taxman Woman"

-Kurt L.

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