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
Discover the unsettling story of Mica Miller, the pastor's wife from South Carolina, whose death in April 2024 raised more questions than answers. On Quick Kill Chronicles, you'll explore:
The Life of Mica: Her role in the church and her marriage.
The Dark Turn: Divorce, abuse allegations, and the lead-up to her death.
The Mystery: The official story of suicide versus the cries for further investigation.
Community Response: How Mica's loved ones and online activists pushed for justice.
This episode takes you on a whirlwind journey through deception, faith, and the human spirit's quest for truth.
Warning: Contains discussions of suicide and abuse. Listener discretion is advised.
Follow Quick Kill Chronicles for more true crime stories that demand to be told. Share your thoughts on this perplexing case in the comments.
#TrueCrime #MicaMiller #PastorsWife #QuickKillChronicles #CrimePodcast
Get ready for an exclusive chat with Lacuna Coil's Andrea Ferro on Chris Akin Presents! They dive deep into the band's latest album Sleepless Empire, how they managed to keep their sound while pushing boundaries, and their triumphant return after the global shutdown. Plus, hear juicy details about working with Randy Blythe and Ash Costello. But can they really maintain their edge? You'll have to watch to find out!
Are you ready to see how Lacuna Coil has evolved?
Buy Lacuna Coil - SLEEPLESS EMPIRE - https://amzn.to/3E0SX75
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, and hit that NOTIFICATION BELL to help this channel grow!
NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated as fact. Do your own research to see if their opinions are true or not.
Please SUBSCRIBE, click the notification bell, leave a comment or a like, and share this episode!
🔥Buy Chris Akin's Book ...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... Here: ...
Dive into the dark secrets of Scorpions' history with Neeley and Chris on THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW, uncovering a band member who's been dead for half a century. But that's just the start! We expose a Hyundai ad campaign so cringe-worthy it was buried in oblivion, featuring Kiss, Tenacious D, Travis Barker, and Alanis Morissette. How did this travesty escape our radar? Brace for a rollercoaster of shock and disbelief as we dissect these bizarre musical footnotes.
Is Scorpions' legacy built on a lie or just rock 'n' roll folklore?
Sponsor:
Sponsor: Scorpions Box Set: https://amzn.to/40ihfku
Don't forget to subscribe, comment, and hit the notification bell to help us grow this channel!
NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated as fact. Do your own research to see if their opinions are true or not.
Please SUBSCRIBE, click the notification bell, leave a comment or a like, and share this episode!
🔥Buy Chris Akin's Book ...
Get ready for an exclusive chat with Lacuna Coil's Andrea Ferro on Chris Akin Presents! They dive deep into the band's latest album Sleepless Empire, how they managed to keep their sound while pushing boundaries, and their triumphant return after the global shutdown. Plus, hear juicy details about working with Randy Blythe and Ash Costello. But can they really maintain their edge? You'll have to watch to find out!
Are you ready to see how Lacuna Coil has evolved?
Buy Lacuna Coil - SLEEPLESS EMPIRE - https://amzn.to/3E0SX75
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, and hit that NOTIFICATION BELL to help this channel grow!
NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated as fact. Do your own research to see if their opinions are true or not.
Please SUBSCRIBE, click the notification bell, leave a comment or a like, and share this episode!
🔥Buy Chris Akin's Book ...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... Here: ...
Dive into the cesspool of new releases with Neeley and Chris on THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW. They tear into the latest tracks from LA Guns, Def Leppard, and the Dirkschneider-Doro Pesch collab, branding them as epic failures. Is the metal scene losing its edge, or are these just misguided attempts at relevance? Prepare for a no-holds-barred critique that might just shake your faith in these rock icons. Don't miss out on this brutal dissection of what's supposed to be the next big thing in metal!
Is the metal revival a myth or just a massive letdown?
Sponsor: Motley Crue Box Set: https://amzn.to/4jebvAD
Don't forget to subscribe, comment, and hit the notification bell to help us grow this channel!
NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated as fact. Do your own research to see if their opinions are true or not.
Please SUBSCRIBE, click the notification bell, leave a comment or a like, and share this episode!
🔥Buy Chris Akin's...
On this episode of CHRIS AKIN PRESENTS..., Chris and Erik dive into the SNL50 broadcast on Peacock – and they’re not impressed. They discuss why the show failed to live up to expectations and how it felt like a missed opportunity for nostalgia.
Erik also goes deep on how Reddit and mainstream news have been used as propaganda tools over the years. His blunt take on the manipulation of information will definitely make you think twice about your news sources.
To wrap things up, Erik shares his thoughts on the future of The Stephen Pearcy band. With the Pearcy/DeMartini shows possibly putting the band on pause, what’s next for Erik? Tune in to find out!
Are you tired of underwhelming nostalgia shows? Let us know in the comments!
Sponsor: Ratt Box Set: https://amzn.to/4jebvAD
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and hit the notification bell to help our channel grow!
NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated...
Steve Hill and his one man blues rock band is pretty fuckin' kick ass!!
Matt Pinfield interviewed the members of Plush a few months ago and they posted the interview today.
Black Label Society (BLS), the hard-hitting rock band fronted by guitar icon Zakk Wylde, has just dropped their new single, "Lord Humungus," and it's everything you'd expect from the legendary axeman and his crew – and then some. This track is a pure adrenaline shot of raw rock and roll, packed with the band's signature blend of pounding rhythms, face-melting guitar riffs, and an anthemic energy that will have you raising your fist in the air. "Lord Humungus" is available now for streaming and download on all major digital music platforms, so crank it up and get ready to be blown away.
But the real treat is the music video for "Lord Humungus," a wild ride directed by Justin H. Reich. Prepare yourself for a visual feast that's as brutal and hilarious as the song itself. This isn't just your typical rock video; it's a spectacle of jaw-dropping imagery and over-the-top antics, showcasing Black Label Society in a way you've never seen them before. Think "Berzerker" quality ferocity ...
