SCORPIONS — Blackout (review)

Album · 1982 · Heavy Metal

4/5 · 2021-01-18
siLLy puPPy

Hannover, Germany based SCORPIONS has had a few distinct phases in its multi-decade career beginning with its rather uncertain Krautrock meets hard rock beginnings on the debut “Lonesome Crow.” The Uli Roth years developed the band’s distinct mix of catchy pop hooks infused with heavy bluesy rock and early heavy metal but the crystalline lineup didn’t come to fruition until guitarist Matthias Jabs joined the band thus cementing the distinct brash bravado that would propel SCORPIONS to the top of the heavy metal heap where they experienced international success all throughout the 80s.

While albums like “Lovedrive” and “Animal Magnetism” got this particular lineup warmed up and even became the band’s first gold records, it was the 1982 release of the band’s eighth album BLACKOUT that coincided with the mainstream success of heavy metal that SCORPIONS became one of the biggest bands in the entire genre. Part of this sudden ascent to international stardom resulted from MTV shuffling videos 24 / 7. The addictive hooks of “No One Like You,” one of the band’s most famous singles coupled with the bad boy bravado antics at Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay on the video which was enough to drive a metal crazed public bonkers!

This was a do or die era for the SCORPIONS perched to ascend to greater stardom or totally fall as lead singer Klaus Meine had to undergo surgery on his vocal cords and the uncertainty of the outcome haunted the band’s very existence however Don Dokken was picked as a replacement singer if for any reason Meine was unable to continue his duties as vox box in chief. Luckily not only did Meine come through the experience with no complications but his voice actually smoothed out a bit taking some of the grit off which began the era of the more pop crossover SCORPIONS.

BLACKOUT established a much more accessible sound after the more experimental “Animal Magnetism” fortified with infectious pop hooks and the sizzling twin guitar attack of Matthias Jabs and Rudolf Schenker. With drummer Herman Rarebell and bassist Francis Buchholz, this was also the band’s most famous and successful lineup. The band was extremely popular live with its energetic performances. The album with its nine tracks starts out with the distinct high-octane title track and doesn’t let up until the closing “When The Smoke Is Going Down” with the by then established signature ballad in the form of “You Give Me All I Need.” Don Dokken who recorded the demo songs for the album was kept as a backup singer on some of the tracks.

While most of the tracks are full steam ahead with fast tempos and Meine’s vocal gymnastics hitting ridiculously high octaves, the closing “China White” and “When The Smoke Is Going Down” slow things down a bit, the latter of which is another excellent ballad that showcases Meine’s uncanny multi-octave vocal abilities. While it was uncertain whether or not BLACKOUT would ever even come to be due to Meine’s vocal woes after countless delays, as things turned out it was just the beginning of the SCORPIONS most successful phase of its career that would last the entire 80s.

Personally BLACKOUT isn’t my favorite pick for best SCORPIONS album as i much prefer “Animal Magnetism” which came before and even “Love At First Sting” which came after but as far as quality heavy rock / metal from the early 80s is concerned, BLACKOUT is excellent 80s metal with addictive melodies, outstanding musicianship and fiery delivered in every possible way. Although i find the cover artwork to be quite cheesy i can only assume that dude is screaming so loud to break glass so that he can warn us about the coming BLACKOUT. Get your survival gear now!