From the outset, the Scorps pull in the listener with one of the vew few rousing rockers entitled "Wild Child." From that great opener, to the intro of the next track "But The Best For You", you'd think that it is following the typical formula - but it is not the case. Once "But The Best For You" breaks into the first verse, you are treated a much more mellow sound - it's quite refreshing. Pure Instincts as a whole is such a departure from their larger body of work, it's startling, but also stunning, as it is done so very well.

     Pure Instincts not only showcases a legitimate songwriting talent, but from an actual band chemistry standpoint, the musicians themselves are all in top form. Klaus Meine delievers some breathtaking vocals throughout the piece, and the versatility exuded by the guitarists, bassist, and drummer, is simply amazing.

     One of my all time favorite Scorpions songs is on this record, entitled "Soul Behind The Face." For some bizarre reason, Pure Instincts is currently absent from iTunes, as I would recommend picking up that song right away. Though, that isn't to say this album isn't worth getting! Quite the contrary! It's a terrific and unique piece of Scorpions lore that stands out in their larger body of work. I always felt the Scorpions were among the very elite in terms of arena rock bands, as they have always showcased a certain talent much better than the likes of the mediocrity in that genre (bands like Ratt, Tesla, Bon Jovi, etc.).

     I know I've been gushing over this album, but it also has a few misfires along the way. These few tracks, like the banal "Stone In My Shoe" for example, do not detract from the great strides made here. I also must make note of the closing track - "Are You The One?" It is a song of such simplicity - in its message and in its delievary. Klaus Meine sings his heart out in front of a orchestral ensemble, with some light guitar touches in the background - it's gorgeous.

     Overall, Pure Instincts is a wonderfully mellow, sometimes theatrical showcase of this bands talent. If you ever thought that the Scorpions were simply a glam-arena rock band, think again. Listen closely, and you'll find out they are so much more.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Soul Behind The Face"

"But The Best For You"

"Are You The One?"

"Wild Child"

"Does Anyone Know"

"You And I"

"When You Came Into My Life"

-Kurt L.

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     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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     The pacing and track positioning of this album is superb. It seems to have a natural flow about it. It isn't a particularly long album either, with only nine tracks, it sort of makes me want to hear more - I think that is a good thing! Does it feel complete then? Yes, definitely. It has one dud track right smack dab in the middle of it, entitled "The Same Thrill" - and that's it. Aside from that, the rest of the record is terrific!

     The other eight tracks are tremendous. From the opening hard-stomp of "Bad Boys Running Wild", to the thematic "Rock You Like A Hurricane", to the catchy "I'm Leaving You", the half ballad, half hard rockin' "Coming Home", the album is not short of greatness.

     The latter half of the record is just as impressive. "Big City Nights" has some unforgettable guitar riffs and awesome melodies. I love "As Soon as the Good Times Roll"; now that is a song that conveys as great sense of musicality and songwriting savvy. It's not the Scorpions best song ever, but it is definitely a career highlight. From the technical standpoint, I love the sound of that track. For the first half of the song, the drums are played off the beat of the rythym - it's not jarring at all, it really works well. The second half of the song, the band switches and then the drums play on time with the beat, but then the guitar plays behind the rythym, it's really cool stuff. Plus, they take the traditional rock convention of "letting the good times roll", which dates back to the days of Chuck Berry in the 1950s, and they, the Scoropions, create their own discintive take on it.

     While "As Soon as the Good Times Roll" exudes great ability of song construction, many, many other tracks on this album do just the same in their own respects. The following track, "Crossfire" is another classic - with its military march drums driving the song, it features a howling vocal performance from Klaus Meine and an awesome sense of political interest and rebellion, about how innonence should not be caught up in the 'crossfire.'

     In my opinion, I've always been fond of an album that closes with a sweeping epic song. Love At First Sting ends with such a disctinction. "Still Loving You" is pretty much the ultimate in terms of having a closing song. With its tear-jerking theme, its subdued yet restless guitar riffs and melodies, to the throaty and wide ranging performance from Klaus Meine on vocals, it has it all. It clocks in at six plus minutes in length, it packs a lot of punch, and leaves an indelible impact - it's a bonafide classic. You couldn't ask for a better way to finish out an already awesome album!

     As you can see, this was a pretty lengthy review, but I had a lot to say about Love At First Sting. I could have simply said, 'this album is great,' or, 'you should go buy this,' but more needed to be said. This album is much more than another 80s rock album, it's wholeheartedly, a great rock and roll album. It very much captures the essence of a 1980s arena rock record, but it doesn't sound dated. It is very representational of the time in which it was recorded, but it transcends that time because it features so much great nuance - whether its in the songwriting itself, or the intricate guitar work, the melodies, or of the intense singing by frontman Klaus Meine; there simply is a lot to like. With all this being said, is Love At First Sting, the Scorpions best album ever? Tough call to make, but it is definitely up their amongst the elite.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Rock You Like A Hurricane"

"Bad Boys Running Wild"

"Still Loving You"

"As Soon as the Good Times Roll"

"Big City Nights"

"Crossfire"

"I'm Leaving You"

"Coming Home"

-Kurt L.

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     Was the full written review not quite enough for you? Well, then take a look at the newest video review from Ethos on the Scorpions' newest album Sting In The Tail. I take an in-depth look at the thematic points of the album, and also I discuss some of the other cool things I liked about it - I even play a little Scorpions stuff on guitar for some fun!

     Click the link below and check out the brand new Ethos Video Review: Sting In The Tail CD Review. An Ethos Nation Production. Thanks again for watching!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXDivkwpL5M

-Kurt L.

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     The opening track, "Raised On Rock", also the album's single, is absolutely one of the Scorpions best songs I've ever heard. It has a boisterious energy that hopefully will amp up its chances of making a splash on the radio or iTunes. It's a terrific, rousing, rock stomp with that awesome signature double-guitar attack. It's got a catchy melody, and a cool bravado.

     Aside from the great opening song, the rest of the album trades back and forth between a ballad and a hard rocker. The hard rockers on this album are all loud and intense, but not the most cohesive of songs. They sometimes feel like they, the band I mean, are simply trying their darndest to go out with a bang. However, the ballads on this album are excellent. "The Good Die Young", "Lorelei", "SLY", and the half-ballad, half-anthem, ironically titled closing track "The Best Is Yet To Come" are all some of the best work here. So, aside from "Raised On Rock", are there any other good rockers here? Well, yes, "No Limit" is definitely a highlight. The strength of this album largely lies within the work of the ballads though.

     I noticed a rather interesting thematic element throughout the entirety of Sting In The Tail. There is definitely a lot of allusions to their roots, and to their past influences. Often hear some both obvious and vague references to the late 1960s, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and to the legacy of the rock n' roll genre as a whole - "Spirit of Rock" is a good example of the rock legacy being exemplified. I never really noticed before, in any other Scorpions record, this sense of nostalgia and their past influences. It was certainly a nice thing to hear, as they are not only providing you with a fun, energetic final album, but a personal sense of how they got to be where they are.

     Sting In The Tail is certainly a valiant effort. It's not a perfect album, but it definitely provides a fitting farewell to its fans. It salutes them with a one-two punch of what they do best - engage you in their ballads, and energize you with their heavy rockers. After all these years, the band itself still sounds so professional and tight. Klaus Meine, the lead singer, is 62 years old and his voice sounds as crisp, clear, and as powerful as ever - it is remarkable. So with that all being said, I recommend Sting In The Tail. The Scorpions have had a long, illustrious, and successful career, and I hope they all enjoy their final tour together, as they bow out here with grace. Goodbye Scorpions, we the fans, thank you for all the wonderful years.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Raised On Rock"

"Lorelei"

"The Best Is Yet To Come"

"The Good Die Young"

"SLY"

"No Limit"

-Kurt L.

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     This isn't a particularly great album, but it does have some bright spots. First off, take a look at the album cover pictured above, doesn't that gory scene just ooze heavy metal? That is a picture of Vic, the band mascot, making his return to the cover after nearly a decade of absence. Now, onto the music -the opening track "Disconnect" is just downright awesome - and the title seems fitting, as it is perhaps metaphorically disconnecting from the past few years of mainstream works and harkening back to the heavier heydays. The album is fairly unbalanced as it trades back and forth a good track for a mediocre one, so it never quite strikes a nice stasis - but again, with that being said, it has some highlights. The song "1000 Times Goodbye" is a bit melodramatic, but, I rather liked it, as it is fairly catchy.

     The latter half of the album is where it gains a little more consistency. "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" is strong, as is the remake "Return To Hangar", which directly correlates to "Hangar 18", one of the most memorable tracks from Rust In Peace. As you can see, Mustaine, the band leader, is clearly trying to infuse a bit of his rich musical past with this newer album - and it works from time to time, but not entirely. An instance where Megadeth seems misguided is on the song "Moto Psycho" - it's terrible.

     Aside from the shortcomings, The World Needs A Hero has several memorable songs. If you look back at Megadeth from a broader historical perspective, this album was indeed, in the least, a step in the right direction. Following this 2001 album, Megadeth continued to make new music, and their subsequent releases following The World Needs A Hero truly accomplished what Mustaine seemed to set out to do here - bring the metal back, and he sure did. So, if you want to see where the re-birth of Megadeth began, take a look at The World Needs A Hero.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Disconnect"

"1000 Times Goodbye"

"Dread And Fugitive Mind"

"Return To Hangar"

-Kurt L.

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     This album is atrocious! It is amazingly bland and boring and the production is dull and muddled. I know Quiet Riot before the release of this 1988 bomb were never truly the most gifted of song-writers, but were capable enough for the most part to string together a few good, entertaining songs (even though their most popular hits are actually covers). Indeed, this would again be the case after they reunited with DuBrow in the 1990s, as Quiet Riot would regain its songwriting skill and its focus. Without DuBrow though, all of that presence is lost, leaving a wide gaping void in this record.

     To be fair, Paul Shortino is a decent singer with some solid chops. He doesn't dazzle by any stretch, but he is servicable. Unfortunately for Quiet Riot, he doesn't exude or convey any sense of energy and it drains the life out of this dismal experience. DuBrow, even in the confines of a lesser song, can at least sell it with his genuine enthusiasm, but here, not only does Shortino lack energy, but the entire band sounds deflated.

     Of this mess, I have found that there is only one song I like off this album - and honestly, I like it a lot. "Don't Wanna Be Your Fool" is a great, great song! It has an awesome 1980s sound with a great vocal performance from Shortino and some cool guitar licks from guitarist Carlos Cavazo. So, if you were ever interested, then I'd say just download this song off iTunes or something and skip the rest of the tracks.

     I must say that I am a huge Quiet Riot fan, having listened to practically all of their albums, and this one, by far, is the worst. Without DuBrow, the album suffers enough, but the songs themselves (with the exception of the one I mentioned before!) are terrible. Not only does this album fail on a musical level, it also features a truly hideous album cover, one that indeed repulses the eyes, thus failing in the aesthetic sense as well.

     Thankfully the rest of Quiet Riot and Kevin DuBrow came back to their senses and reunited to make the bands best effort, Terrified, in 1993.

     Stay away from this album, stay far away, and leave it to decay in the damp, dank basements of music history.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Don't Wanna Be Your Fool"

-Kurt L.

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     Temple of the Dog is a beautiful, supremely crafted album. Chris Cornell is the primary contributor and songwriter, and his work here is some of his best. At the time, Soundgarden was practically a heavy-metal act, and Temple of the Dog showcased Cornell's ability and savvy to write much more melodic material. Indeed, the first two songs on this album, "Say Hello 2 Heaven" and the 11 minute opus "Reach Down", are straight from the heart lasting tributes to Wood. The rest of the album is more straightforward grunge rock at its best - it has some tremendous depth. In essence, the rest of the album is celebration of the art itself and the fantastic chemistry that is possible when great musicians and friends come together and play together, a certain magic that is attainable.

     This album also features a then-unknown Eddie Vedder, who lends his vocals in a duet with Cornell in the song "Hunger Strike" which now among fans has reached legendary proportions. On seldom but special occaisons, Cornell will join Vedder and the rest of Pearl Jam on stage to perform "Hunger Strike" live - indeed a rare treat. I had the privalage to see Cornell live in concert fairly recently and he performed "Say Hello 2 Heaven" and it brought the house down. This album has something of a cult status, but at the same time, it remains as one of the best pieces of music collaberation this generation has known, and stands as one of the finest examples of grunge era music.

     When Pearl Jam was formed a year later, with Vedder at the helm as lead singer, they shot to superstardom, and Temple of the Dog only gained popularity as both Pearl Jam and Soundgarden shared such fantastic success. The staying power of this record though is not simply because it is a novelty for fans of these two great bands, but that it is a true exemplar of terrific music that exudes Chris Cornell's song writing prowess - not to mention his awesome vocal range; in fact, on the song "Say Hello 2 Heaven", apparently Cornell reaches his highest vocal octave ever recorded - now that is cool!

     This is one of the best albums of the 1990s, and one of the best of the era with every song being a winner.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Say Hello 2 Heaven"

"Reach Down"

"Wooden Jesus"

"Hunger Strike"

"Call Me A Dog"

"Times of Trouble"

-Kurt L.

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     I like a lot of the material on this album (as you'll see in the TRACK HIGHLIGHTS listed below), but there are some songs that I simply don't at all. Many of them I feel are more in tune with an older generation, an older crowd, and considering Hagar is going to be 63 years old (but still sounding amazing), he clearly is and should be appealing to this older party-hard crowd. Some songs like "My Kinda Girl" don't seem to be targeted to a younger audience, but more toward people who grew up listening to these guys play in their prime (like 1980s Van Halen). It's not a bad thing, and I'm not trying to turn it into a negative, because if anything, it is actually rather appropriate. I personally love Van Halen's music, as well as Hagar's, but some tracks on Chickenfoot don't share the same sentiments - as Hagar is playing to a certain crowd.

     There are many songs that appeal to a much more broad audience - and that are just straightforward good rock, like "Oh Yeah" and "Down The Drain." There are some nice ballads as well, like "Learning To Fall." These three tracks I just mentioned are the album's best, and express the best of all the contributing members from this supergroup.

     Like some other supergroups out there, Chickenfoot hasn't completely gelled yet, and won't perhaps until their next album - if they release a second record, as I believe they will, and should! I am a big, big fan of these musicians here, particularly Sammy Hagar, and ultimately, this album was a big treat for me. I liked some parts more than others, but as a whole, it turned out to be pretty good. I definitely look forward to their next release, because it will only get better, as they will surely work out any kinks and compliment each other only more so.

     I definitely reccommend Chickenfoot's debut album, as it certainly features some nice highlights. And it seems that these four guys are really having a lot of fun at what they do - and that alone makes it worth listening to.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Oh Yeah"

"Down The Drain"

"Learning To Fall"

"Avenida Revolucion"

"Get It Up"

"Soap On A Rope"

-Kurt L.

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     After Sammy Hagar departed from Montrose following their second album, Paper Money in 1974, the band found a new talent in Bob James - and to be perfectly honest with you, I can't find a darn thing about Bob James after Montrose disbanded. No matter what research I put into it, I can't find a blurb about him, which is a shame, because he was a pretty good singer - but I'll digress. In 1975, Montrose released Warner Bros. Presents...Montrose!, and is a classic piece of 1970s rock and roll. It is part Led Zeppelin-ish (but not nearly as epic), and part prototype Van Halen (Ronnie Montrose had some great chops on guitar).

     This album doesn't have great emotional depth, as the songs aren't particularly deep, but they aren't shallow either. Some of them create some nice imagery like "Black Train" (which actually does have some depth as well) and "Whaler." Some attempt to tug on the heart strings like "All I Need", and then some are just odd, but are nonetheless great like "Clown Woman." Any attempts made here are accomplished with success, as there is a strong and consistent set list of songs here. It isn't an entirely lengthy album either, but regardless, it is very much straightforward, and it rocks hard. Ronnie Montrose was certainly one of great guitar talents of his day, and apparently, the song "Dancin' Feet" with features some incredibly complex guitar work, was a favorite of Eddie Van Halen's to play in concert from time to time back in the day - that is a major endorsement right there.

     The rest of the supporting band members are very tight and professional. As a drummer myself, I am a big fan of Montrose drummer Denny Carmassi, who shows off some really impressive nuances throughout the album. His drum beats are lively, containing plenty of fills that are sure to entertain. While the song content isn't particularly trailblazing, once again, it doesn't need to be. The musicianship is what makes this album special - from the supreme guitar work, to the taut rythym section, to great vocal performances by newcomer Bob James, Warner Bros. Presents...Montrose! is a great album. It has tremendous replayability, and should please your ears for years to come.

     It may not be the most well-known album out there, and I could wager that most people haven't heard of this, however, it's worth investing in. I got it on vinyl record a few years back, and it was totally worth it. The only reason why I got into it was because I am such a big Van Halen fan, and thought to listen to some early Sammy Hagar stuff - which included Montrose. Then I liked Montrose so much, I started listening to their other work and I came across this! Warner Bros. Presents...Montrose is currently available on iTunes for only $5.99 - what a steal! Normally I wouldn't advertise so blatantly, but I am simply just going with a gut feeling that this album is fairly obscure in today's times, so, if you want to hear it, I'd go that route. What you'll find is a rock album that sounds pretty 1970s, but regardless stands the test of time and will dazzle your ears with some tremendous and ultimately very pure rock and roll.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"Black Train"

"All I Need"

"Twenty Flight Rock"

"Dancin' Feet"

"Matriarch"

-Kurt L.

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