A New Direction.......
Daniel J. Wiedecker | San Diego, CA United States | 10/16/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For you long time Michael Schenker fans, especially those of you who have seen him live with UFO and his own bands, his talent is like this unharnessable ball of energy; the riffs, rhythms and leads flow from a seemingly endless supply. I thought Michael had played himself out of the band unit (close fans know how volatile Michael can be), relegating to instrumental work (with the 2000 exception of "Sharks" with Phil Mogg & UFO); and then came THIS album. I am guessing that the less favorable reviews are coming from those who are not entirely familiar with Michael's focus and abilities. One might call this a concept album, as it experiments with musical boundaries outside the mainstream "rock" theme that MSG generally focuses upon (Symphony Xesque). The only thing keeping me from giving this album a 5 star review is that I know the current combination will get better if they stay together; and it has for those who have heard the '03 "Arachnaphobiac" with the same members. Here on "..Scorpions" Michael is flamboyant as usual, but spreads out the chunks, chops and orgasmic soloing to fit the song themes. Chris Logan is a rising star, and the altruistic storylines (some would call them Christian) of the songs are a welcome breath of fresh air. If you are a MSG fan, this album is a must, a new beginning; if you are not, this album is probably not the best place to start; maybe UFO's "Walking On Water" would be a more appropriately recent place to get your feet wet. I personally think Michael is fabulous in anything he composes, but most probably I am biased by 30 years of his virtuosity."
Measure Your Rock Music Taste Levels
Robert Knowles | Cardiff, Wales, UK | 07/19/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Beware of Scorpions is a superb rock album of immense complexity, stunning and occasionally nigh-on impossible guitar-work, and with a depth that means it is still growing on me after years of owning it. I readily admit that those locked into the nostalgia of Schenker's early UFO days will not like the way Schenker keeps on 'moving on' in his music. However, to my mind, the degree to which this album is appreciated says a lot about how one's musical tastes have developed. Buy it, and let Schenker re-educate you as to what rock should sound like!"