THE MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP - Universal (LP)

EN 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 axeman from Sarstedt began his international career in the early 1970s with the Scorpions, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group U.F.O. 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. His newest album Universal will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs and inspiring solos. Like its predecessor Immortal (2019), Universal was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss (Lessmann/Voss, Mad Max) at VossÆs Kidroom Studio. 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 MSGÆs frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (Helloween), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) and Graham Bonnet (ex-Rainbow), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow, Blue Íyster Cult) and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (Black Sabbath), Barry Sparks (Malmsteen, Dokken) and Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tony Carey as a very special guest. Compositional highlights abound on Universal, from the haunting opener æEmergencyÆ and the subsequent æUnder AttackÆ with its casually driving groove to æThe UniverseÆ, featuring an atmospheric duet by Ronnie Romero and Gary Barden, æWrecking BallÆ, performed as brilliantly as ever by Ralf Scheepers, and æLondon CallingÆ with its homage to the British capitalÆs musical spirit. The rock anthem æA King Has GoneÆ and its intro æCalling BaalÆ both have a special significance: The track, sung by Helloween frontman Michael Kiske, is a tribute to the immortal Ronnie James Dio, already considered to be one of the most important and successful songs in SchenkerÆs career to date, both musically and lyrically. No doubt about it: The title, artwork and new songs from Universal suit MSG as perfectly as his characteristic Flying V suits Michael Schenker! DE Es gibt auf unserem Planeten nur ganz wenige Rockgitarristen, die so viele prominente Berufskollegen nachhaltig beeinflusst haben wie Michael Schenker. Sein erstaunlich fl³ssiges Spiel, sein enormer Ideenreichtum, sein instinktsicheres Gesp³r f³r Hooks und Melodien: Michael Schenker ist eine lebende Legende, die trotz einer langen ruhmreichen Vergangenheit noch immer vor Tatendrang spr³ht. Der blonde Gitarrist aus Sarstedt begann seine internationale Laufbahn in den fr³hen 1970ern bei den Scorpions, erlangte nach seinem Wechsel zur britischen Rockformation U.F.O. weltweiten Ruhm und setzte seine global riesigen Erfolge anschlie¯end auch unter eigenem Namen und mit Formationen wie Michael Schenker Group (kurz MSG), Temple Of Rock oder Michael Schenker Fest nahtlos fort. Universal wurde, wie schon der Vorgõnger Immortal (2019), von Michael Schenker und Michael Voss (Lessmann/Voss, Mad Max) in VossÆs Kidroom Studio produziert. Auch auf dem neuen Album Universal findet man sõmtliche Tugenden des Ausnahmemusikers: erstklassige Songs mit hymnischen Melodien, griffige Gitarrenriffs und inspirierende Soli. Wie gewohnt hat Schenker auch diesmal wieder gro¯artige Mitmusiker f³r seine Studioproduktion verpflichtet, als Hauptsõnger Ronnie Romero (Rainbow).