MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG): In The Midst Of Beauty (HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Michael Schenker Group (MSG), rather than releasing a previous best of an anterior penultimate album for the occasion, the tall blond Flyin' V style delivered a new album "Twenty Five Years Celebration - Tales Of Rock'n' Roll" on which all the singers who belonged to the MSG come to lend their voices for the duration of a song. And it was undoubtedly on this occasion that the idea, and undoubtedly the desire, to make a new record together was born in the minds of Gary John Barden and Michael Schenker. In any case, this collaboration has been eagerly awaited for a few months now. In fact, since the end of 2007, Gary Barden, former emblematic and historical singer of the MSG (singer of the group from 1980 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1984), had announced on the occasion of the promotion of his solo album "Love And War" an surprise with Michael Schenker.

This record is a great moment of auditory happiness. The chemistry between the two men works wonders, offering us real musical golden nuggets oscillating between heavy-metal and hard-rock. From the outset, the tone is set with the title "City Lights": inspired riffs and solos, a chorus that enters your ears and never comes out again. The two friends are in great shape and attack with real little vitamin gems: "Competition" and its other heady chorus", I Want You" and its Middle Eastern riff, "End Of The Line" which is not without reminding of Joe Satriani "Surfyin' With The Alien era". Then follows the little sweetness, "Summerdays", which is a magnificent piece, a semblance of a ballad with an acoustic melody.

Michael and Gary are touched by a divine grace. Certainly the second half of the album is a little more classical and maybe a little less inspired. So is it a little less easy to tame, and it takes two or three listenings to fully embrace this hard rock that sometimes offers us a return to the past. Titles like "Night To Remember", "Cross Of Crosses" or "The One" take us back to the early 80s.

There is undoubtedly osmosis between the two men and it is felt from the beginning to the end of the disc. This album oozes the joy of reunion. Yes, indeed Rock Will Never Die. We can only hope that the MSG, in its current form, will continue for some time. Just enough time to offer us another record of this quality. - Official website

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG)

IN THE MIDST OF BEAUTY

AUTRE LABEL

HARD ROCK