Scorpions – Rock Believer

As much as I love Scorpions, to these discerning ears, they haven’t put out an album worth listening to front to back since Love at First Sting (1984). Sure, there’s a handful of standout songs on each album, many of which have since become personal favorites (i.e. “Lust or Love”, “Alien Nation”, etc.). However, the albums as a whole tend to fall victim to mainstream rock trappings, lackluster production, and snoozefest ballads. Being the optimist I am, I continue to check out new Scorpions releases, in hopes of hearing a return to the glory days of the early 80s. And folks, I am overly pleased to announce that this long awaited return has finally arrived.

Rock Believer is the 20th studio album from the German metal pioneers. It’s also their first in nearly 40 years to fully embrace the tropes that made Scorpions so beloved in the first place. Each song draws from a specific region within the hard and heavy spectrum, and is fully fleshed out with the band’s signature dose of melody, punchiness, and joy. Not only this, but sonically speaking, Rock Believer SOUNDS like it was recorded in the early 80s. No joke, if you played some of these cuts for a suburbanite dad who hasn’t followed this band since his high school days, he’d probably believe they were Blackout B-sides. So before we get into the album itself, major props to producer Hans-Martin Buff for nailing the old school atmosphere.

The band comes storming out of the gate with the party ready opener, “Gas in the Tank”. This blatantly 80s display of hard rocking attitude and classic hooks sets the stage for an album chock full of, well, exactly that. This formula is also demonstrated on “Knock ’em Dead”, a marriage of power pop and Teutonic steel that wouldn’t sound out of place on Lovedrive, and the infectiously catchy title track. It’s radio accessible, yet without sacrificing any heaviness or intensity, just like the good ol’ days. Of course, my favorite moments on this effort are when the band chooses to amp up the heaviness, setting the hard rock aspect in the background. Whether it be the fast and furious “Roots in My Boots”, brooding euro metal of “Hot and Cold”, or valiant rage of “Peacemaker”, there’s no shortage of headbanger delights on Rock Believer.

This review wouldn’t be complete without showing love to the white ponies of the album, “Shining of Your Soul” and “Seventh Sun”. “Shining of Your Soul” is groovy and mysterious with an air of exotic adventurism, boasting pseudo-reggae rock riffs reminiscent of Lovedrive‘s “Is There Anybody There?”. Meanwhile, “Seventh Sun” stands head and shoulder above the rest as the album’s crown jewel. It’s dark, morose, and menacing…everything one wouldn’t expect of Scorpions. Musically, it has more in common with Mob Rules era Black Sabbath than say Animal Magnetism, but I can’t complain. Who knew Scorpions had the ability to be a power doom outfit when they felt like it?

Aside from the obligatory ballad in “When You Know (Where You Come From)”, there is not a dull moment on Rock Believer. It’s a full throttle smoker, keeping true to the tradition of Scorpions and German metal as a whole. If this is the beginning of a creative renaissance that I could’ve only dreamt of a few years ago, I say bring it on. Clearly, the metal is flowing strong through these (in the case of Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker) septuagenarians’ veins. Rock Believer is proof positive.

9 out of 10

Label: Vertigo Records

Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock

For fans of: Krokus, Accept, High Spirits