Scorpions
Return To Forever

50 years of career and not feeling them. It was way back in 1965 when the German guitarist Rudolf Schenker, then a 17-year-old, founded the band. Unknown to most for 4 years, in 1969, after renaming the band "Scorpions," he recruited singer Klaus Meine and his younger brother Michael (also a guitarist). Three years later they released their first album of original songs, "Lonesome Crow." It was 1972, and thus began the history of the greatest German band of all time, and one of the greatest in the history of rock in general. Fifty years later and 19 studio albums (including Comeblack from 2011), the band is still at the top of the world rock scene. Very few missteps in their career, consistently above-average albums, and some gems given to history like "Virgin Killer," "Taken By Force," "Blackout," "Love At First Sting"... In 2010 they announced that the album "Sting In The Tail" would be their last. But the desire to go around delivering their music to fans was too great, and thus 5 years later the band returned to the studio and gave us "Return To Forever." An album that revisits some tracks recorded in their long career and never released. 12 tracks in perfect Scorpions style. The lineup includes ballads, after all, the band has perhaps been the greatest exponent of this genre. Let's start by saying that the album is a great record! As previously written, the Scorpions have really made very few missteps in their long career, and "Return To Forever" maintains the band's tradition.

It kicks off with a thousand with three highly substantial tracks. "Going Out With A Bang," "We Built this House," and "Rock My Car" press on the gas pedal and present a band in great shape. The years pass but Meine's voice remains untouched by time. Perfectly singing the songs in question with the same desire and passion that a youngster entering the music world for the first time would have. The first single released, "We Built this House," is a classic stadium anthem, sure to be a hit live... With that chorus to sing at the top of your lungs. "Rock N Roll Band" is the fastest track on the album. A lethal blow, which you wouldn't expect from these "old-timers" with more than 50 years of career behind them. James Kottak pounds on the drums as if there's no tomorrow, while the duo Schenker and Jabs show they haven't lost their touch and deliver a tremendous performance. "Catch Your Luck and Play" is another stadium anthem. Spectacular guitar intro and catchy chorus, just waiting to be sung. Angus Young said if a song is capable of making your foot move, it’s a winner, and "The Scratch" fully reflects this statement by the AC/DC guitarist... A killer riff that drags you along for the entire track and Meine deserves applause! The album closes with the ballad "Gypsy Life," and perhaps it's also the most beautiful ballad on the album (there are three slow tracks). It's by no means at the levels of classics like "In Trance" or "Still Loving You," but it flows away effortlessly.

To sum up, it can be said that "Return to Forever" is a great album, not a masterpiece, after all, it doesn’t even have the pretense to be one. Despite their age, the group proves to be in great shape and will soon be going back on tour to promote the album and celebrate the huge milestone of 50 years of career. The desire to have fun is still strong, and the band has no intention of stopping or growing old. After all, in the track "The Best is Yet To Come," the group sang "How can we grow old when the soundtrack of our lives is rock n roll?"... Never were words more accurate... Long Live Scorpions!!