Rock Believer (Deluxe)

Scorpions

Released on 2/25/22 by Vertigo Berlin
Main artists: Scorpions
Genre: Rock

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You never come across something surprising when you’re looking for it (obviously, that goes against the principle of a surprise). For several decades now, nobody has been expecting Scorpions to deliver unforgettable hits like they used to. How can you top albums like Taken by Force, Lovedrive, Love at First Sting and Blackout (which turns 40 in 2022!)? The band has been known for its cult ballads in recent years, though their last full-length albums were rather unexciting. Add to that a so-called farewell tour that ended up lasting 3 years and resulted in the band “having so much fun” they decided against calling it a day anyway, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that Scorpions’ future wasn’t all that bright.

No one was expecting Rock Believer; the German rockers have caught everyone off guard. The first singles they released from this album were promising, like the title track Rock Believer, which was just made for live performances, the rebellious Peacemaker and the incredible Seventh Sun (which is in the same bracket as the band’s previous tracks China White and The Zoo) as well as the masterful Shining of your Soul which offers a delicious throwback to the late 70s. And, incredibly, the ballads have taken a backseat! The band has made the decision to return to hard rock, and they’ve proved that they’ve still got it. Thank god the singles are not just for show; they’re representative of what you can expect from the whole album. Roots in my Boots, Knock ‘em Dead and the mid-tempo Call of the Wild wouldn’t be out of place on the much-loved albums from their golden years.

Even the inevitable ballad When You Know (Where You Come From) isn’t sickly sweet and reminds us – if anyone needed reminding – that these are the same musicians who wrote gems like Always Somewhere and When the Smoke is Going Down. It’s hard not to attribute this return to serious rock with the arrival of Mikkey Dee (ex-Motörhead) on drums, the man who plays with a tree trunk in each hand. Without overdoing it, he’s given an extra dynamic to Scorpions' music, and it’s clear the rest of the band can feel this too: Klaus Meine has never sung so well (and it’s great to hear his natural voice, free from any unnecessary effects), and soloist Matthias Jabs has treated us to some high-flying riffs that hark back to the days were his guitar was chatty in the best way. In short, Rock believer will make you smile when you hear the name “Scorpions” once more.

Comebacks of this level aren’t common, in fact they’re downright rare. At this point in a career, it’s hard to make any predictions for the future, but if Rock Believer was to be Scorpions last release (let’s hope it won’t be), then it would certainly be added to their long list of essential albums. It’s their polite way of saying: “Who’s the boss?” © Charlélie Arnaud/Qobuz

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Rock Believer (Deluxe)

Scorpions

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