It may just be me but the last few Schenker releases have been pretty damn good.
There are few rock guitarists on this planet who have had such a lasting influence on so many renowned musicians as Michael Schenker. With his outstandingly fluid style, inexhaustible wealth of ideas and instinctive feel for hooks and melodies, Michael Schenker is a living legend who, despite his longstanding and distinguished history, still impresses with his unflagging energy and drive. The blond stringsman from Sarstedt, Germany began his international career in the early 1970s with the SCORPIONS, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group UFO and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG for short), TEMPLE OF ROCK and MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST. Schenker and his career, which has spanned more than fifty years, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.
Now his latest MSG album is about to be unleashed, scheduled for release on Atomic Fire Records on May 27 under the programmatic moniker of "Universal". His latest offering will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs and inspiring solos. As we have come to expect from him, Schenker has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist Ronnie Romero (RAINBOW, VANDENBERG), who will also be MSG's frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN) and Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR), keyboard player Steve Mann (LIONHEART), drummers Simon Phillips (TOTO, THE WHO), Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER), Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW) and Bodo Schopf (ELOY), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (BLACK SABBATH), Barry Sparks (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DOKKEN) and Barend Courbois (BLIND GUARDIAN, ZAKK WYLDE), with Tony Carey as a very special guest.
Like its predecessor "Immortal" (2021) and the MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST albums "Resurrection" (2018) and "Revelation" (2019), "Universal" was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss (LESSMANN/VOSS, MAD MAX) at Voss's Kidroom Studio, which has become something of a creative home away from home for Schenker.
"Michael Voss is happy to wait until I have worked out an idea and takes the time to really get to know the song, simultaneously developing ideas for the vocals," Schenker describes the fruitful collaboration which has one cog intermesh with the other. "Then we work out the drums, bass and some keyboard parts together. He always has plenty of great ideas up his sleeve."
Compositional highlights abound on "Universal", from the haunting opener "Emergency" and the subsequent "Under Attack" with its casually driving groove to "The Universe", featuring an atmospheric duet by Ronnie Romero and Gary Barden, "Wrecking Ball", performed as brilliantly as ever by Ralf Scheepers, and "London Calling" with its homage to the British capital's musical spirit.
The rock anthem "A King Has Gone" and its intro "Calling Baal" both have a special significance: The track, sung by HELLOWEEN frontman Michael Kiske, is a tribute to the immortal Ronnie James Dio, in particular to his performance on the 1976 hard rock classic "Rainbow Rising". For this reason, Schenker has brought together an original RAINBOW rhythm section consisting of Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley, additionally enlisting keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on "Rainbow Rising", for a terrific Moog synth intro — a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener "Tarot Woman". The impressive result "Calling Baal"/"A King Has Gone" is already considered to be one of the most important and successful songs in Schenker's career to date, both musically and lyrically.
In line with all these highlights, the spectacular album cover designed by Zsofia Dankova (POWERWOLF, among others) features Schenker in a futuristic spaceship, floating high up in orbit. The artwork is based on the guitarist's own visions.
"I had the original idea for the album cover a few years ago, but only now does it seem to fit perfectly," he says. "So I sent some older sketches to my label Atomic Fire Records, and based on this the final artwork and album title were created."
Photo credit: Tina Korhonen
Chris Akin and Erik are diving deep into the new ABBA virtual show – are these "ABBAtars" the future, or will they kill live music as we know it?! They'll give their unfiltered takes on whether these high-tech spectacles could replace real concerts. Plus, they break down the buzz around Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's BACK TO THE BEGINNING retirement show. Will it be a metal masterpiece or a final fizzle? Tune in for all the hot takes!
#ABBAVoyage #VirtualConcerts #LiveMusicFuture #OzzyOsbourne #BlackSabbath
ABBA Voyage, virtual show, live music, future of music, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, retirement show, concert technology, music industry, Chris Akin Presents
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Seth is back from Gatlinburg, and Chris Akin is ASTOUNDED by the amount of money he blew on "useless nonsense" – hear Seth's spirited defense! Then, get ready for a HUGE announcement: Jim Florentine is joining them for a special show in September! Finally, they dive into the hot topic of "crazy violent Liberals" and vent about how "unfair" it is that Tom Brady seems to have everything handed to him.
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#VacationFail #JimFlorentine #PoliticalRant #TomBrady #Unfiltered #TravelWaste #ComedyShow #Liberalism #NFL #Controversial
Gatlinburg vacation, useless spending, Jim Florentine comedy, violent liberals, Tom Brady success, podcast debate, conservative talk, celebrity envy, political commentary, stand-up comedian
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Get ready for an explosive episode as Seth and Chris Akin dive into the pending USA/China tariff deal, then immediately get into a SCREAMING MATCH over fast food pricing! Should your burger be cheaper if you ditch the lettuce? You won't believe how heated it gets! Plus, the shocking news of Nick Chubb joining the Houston Texans – how will Browns fans react to this betrayal? #FastFoodFight #NickChubb #Browns #TariffDrama #PodcastClash
#FoodDebate #NFLNews #TradeDeal #Argument #ClevelandSports
fast food prices, burger ingredients, economic tariffs, Nick Chubb Texans, Cleveland Browns fans, fast food debate, trade war, NFL free agency, sports talk, money saving tips
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Brace yourselves, metal podcast fanatics! Chris Akin and Neeley REVIEW the "Back to the Beginning" Live show, celebrating the retirement of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Was it legendary or laughably bad? We hold nothing back, dissecting the good, the bad, and the downright pitiful as only CMS can!
The Classic Metal Show is the cancel-proof show that no one else dares to be. With Chris Akin and Neeley delivering uncensored rock talk and anti-woke commentary, we're your source for music news unfiltered and all the heavy metal drama the mainstream won't touch. This is the rock podcast you've been waiting for.
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Get ready for pure rage, chaos, and brutal honesty! Chris Akin is UNHINGED as he rants about people shooting fireworks in his yard. Then, brace yourself for his BRUTAL review of Jurassic Park: Rebirth – this movie gets absolutely DESTROYED.
The Classic Metal Show is the cancel-proof show that no one else dares to be. With Chris Akin and Neeley delivering uncensored rock talk and anti-woke commentary, we're your source for music news unfiltered and all the heavy metal drama the mainstream won't touch. This is the rock podcast you've been waiting for.
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Bill dives deep with Sergio, guitarist and founder of Costa Rican thrash metal band Necrolisis! From childhood hip surgery to discovering metal through Iron Maiden, Transformers, and yes—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Sergio's origin story is wild! We talk Costa Rica's thriving underground metal, why math is key to brutal riffs, and how he balances shredding with being a chemical engineer. Plus, the story behind "Templo de Fraude," their concept album critiquing organized religion. Packed with insight, laughs, and pure metal energy!
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Necrolisis, Sergio, thrash metal, Costa Rica, metal interview, Iron Maiden, Transformers, TMNT, Templo de Fraude, concept album, chemical engineer, music origin, underground metal, guitar riffs
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💥 Metallica’s And Justice for All is one of their most complex records, but was the lack of bass a major flaw or a bold choice? 🤔 The riffs are undeniable, but did it make the album feel empty?
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Here's an interview I did with Paul and Gene 20 years ago. Little did I know our relationship would collapse into bitterness and estrangement over my opposition to Tommy and Eric wearing Ace and Peter's makeup. What can I say? Two guys made up to look like Peter and Ace from KISS' heyday. I can't look at that.
