Scorpions - Humanity Hour 1 (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

SUBLIME

Kevin Dobbs "dragonboots" | Perth Western Australia | 10/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well its definately the release of the year in this household. What a sublime set of intelligent well constructed classic rock tracks this release has. I can't stop playing it. And fear not the name Desmond Child either, because to these ears he has pushed the Scorps to their best effort in a long long time if not of all time.

"Hour 1" kicks off proceedings with military precission, a tytanic build up to a rip-snorter of a chorus that won't leave your head any time soon. A loose concept runs through this disc and this song is the scene-setter, warning us if we don't change our ways we will loose our humanity, 'try to stay down, you better run for cover underground' the final consequence when machines finally rule the world. Building off the pace set by the premier song we have the first of many highlights in "The Game Of Life". A subtle builder leading to another winning chorus, the passion in the vocals and guitar work is heart stopping. I love it. Just when you can't believe the song can get better it has a fantastic bridge and classy guitar solo to help your jaw drop further.

"We Were Born to Fly" launches off some aggressive (relatively speaking) guitar work to an atmospheric vocal. It contains a sublime couplet 'take another breath, just close your eyes let nature do the rest' and is another five star plus moment. Simple piano work leads us into "The Future Never Dies" before exploding soncially as it climbs the keys with lush orchestration abound. Beautiful lyrically and musically. It reminds me a little of Queen at their most glorious and most pompous, and I hear a little of "Winds Of Change" an ecclectic mix but a very succesful one. The gentle piano work returns to close us out in the coda.

"Your Loving Me to Death" and "321" are the most typical Scorpion numbers offered here but that is not a bad thing good solid rock songs. I feel the first is the better of the two. "Love Will Keep Us Alive" is the ultimate track on offer on this release and I swear that I will never tire of this great song. An acoustic and strings blend ballad, with sublime electric guitar work. I think this has to be my personal highlight amongst many shining stars. It is so perfect it nearly brings a tear to the eye everytime I hear it. The hard rock brigade may not be so forgiving of this but I can't help liking what I like.

"We Will Rise Again" builds off another wall of guitars and breaks through to another hum-dinger (is that a German word?) It hold court to a brilliant chorus and fine vintage vocals. It just gets stronger the further down the track listing you go. "Your Last Song" is textured melodic rock of the highest quality, lyrically either a romance ending or saying goodbye to the world.

"Love is War" is the winner of the best chorus award of the decade, "The Cross" winner of the most unexpected but successful collaboration nomination with Billy Corgan. I feel this one points a finger at the contradictions of religion and is perhaps the deepest offering lyrically, certainly another favourite moment. Closer "Humanity" returns us to familiar Scorpions territory and the military drums heard in Hour 1 are back. A strong closer with frenetic violins bringing things to a fantastic climax.

Phew if it sounds like I am gushing, then you would be right. Don't let trends dictate what you will listen too, this is a winner, a thorough bred amongst a field of contenders from the 70's and 80's who are quite happy to release second rate 'best ofs' and in the process not be creative anymore. Support the brave and buy a classic.

"

Oh Hell Yes!!!

Sinister Minister | 08/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After the last CD by the scorps "Unbreakable" i was somewhat skeptical about the hype that surrounded this CD, such as this being the best since the mid-80s. But I have to agree for once withthe hype! This is an amazing collection of intelligent, at times aggressive music. The Scorpions prove once and for all that they can hold thier own riff wise with the likes of Rob Zombie and the like (Hour 1, 321) Its nice to see that some of the great masters of metal music are still willing to get up off thier butts and show the young punks how its done! Bands like Heaven and Hell, Judas Priest, and now the Scorpions. I'm not going to bore you with blow by blow discriptions, just go out buy the damn CD and let it blow you thru the wall!!!"

A Pleasant Surprise. Outstanding.

Steven Burns | - | 03/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had no idea Scorpions had a new album. One day, listening to the radio I heard "Humanity" and that was it, I was hooked.

The rest of the songs are just as good, the whole album is emotionally charged and full of energy.

I ended up buying three copies, one for myself and the other two as presents.

I love the way the CD starts, the way it ends and everything in between.

If you ever liked Scorpions, you will like this album.

"

This is a GREAT album

Edward La Volpe | NJ USA | 07/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best Scorpions Album since Love Drive. I have been listening to the Scorps since they were "THE" underground band when I was in high school. So I go back to Virgin Killers and before. This Album is GREAT. To those talking about the Scorps losing their "sting" you can't expect 55 + year olds to write an album of anger like their old stuff. This album shows a mature group of successful musicians doing what they do best. That is writing songs with great melody and believe me, when they need to get heavy they do. I cannot stop listening to this opus. One song is catchier than the next. Klaus sounds unreal and Mathias lets it rip when he needs too..... Buy this CD as you will not be sorry.... ALBUM OF THE YEAR HANDS DOWN...... Desmond Child is a RICH Man for a reason..... The songs, playing and production are all top shelf."

Scorps Still Stinging!

StompGod | 06/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's true, rock fans - Scorpions have created THE rock album of the year and one of the best in their long history. From the opening riff of Hour 1, it's clear that Germany's greatest rock band has come to rock you like only they can. The group has teamed with songwriter/producer par excellence Desmond Child in a calculated effort to update their sound, while retaining all of the classic Scorpions sting. The record has a loose concept forewarning of a future where man will be pitted against intelligent robots of his own making. Granted, it's not a new theme by any stretch, but it's the songs that really matter and the band delivers in spades with several of the heaviest tracks they've ever recorded and some very fine ballads that stand up to anything in their catalog. This record also sees a marked increase in the amazing lead guitar work of Mathias Jabs, one of the great metal players of the last 20 (almost 30!) years. He shreds up a storm on tracks like "We Were Born To Fly" and the super-heavy "We Will Rise Again". Singer Klaus Meine has also delivered perhaps his most incredible performance to date. At 59, it's apparent that this vocalist of vocalists is still improving, making his well-documented vocal problems (nodes, total voice loss, two surgeries, therapy, etc.) of the early 80s a distant memory. While Meine can still wail with the best, he also employs the lower register of his range to great effect, as evident on "Love Is War". Throughout the disc, his harmonies are more spellbindingly gorgeous than ever, provoking chills on "The Future Never Dies" and "Love Will Keep Us Alive". The writing chores seem to have been split evenly between the three principals, Rudolf Schenker, Meine and Jabs with help from Child and the versatile Marti Frederiksen (who collaborated with particularly fine results with Jonny Lang on Lang's "Long Time Coming" disc from 2003). This is Jabs' largest contribution to the writing of a Scorpions record since he replaced the legendary Uli Roth in 1979. If you include the Limited Edition bonus track, "Cold", Jabs boasts 5 credits to Schenker and Meine's 4 each. The amazing thing is that every track is uniquely a Scorpions song in every way, with just the right balance of classic and modern. No doubt this CD will do well in Europe, where the band is still big, especially in Russia and surrounding countries, where they're the near-equivalent of The Beatles in their prime of popularity in the West. Album closer, "Humanity" has world-wide smash written all over it and it won't be surprising to see it repeat the global success of "Wind of Change" in 1990. This is a band who has found their stride yet again with a lyrically and musically mature record packed with all of the hallmarks that have made Scorpions one of the biggest selling rock acts in the world. If you like real guitar-driven rock music with substance and more hooks than a tackle shop, BUY THIS CD!!!"

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