"Sting In The Tail": the seventeenth and - said by the band to be - final album by the German Rock/Metal legends. Well, will have to wait and see 'bout the Hannover-based multiplatinum band's exodus since too many times statements like this have been said and not done, hence (in the meantime) let's focus on what this brand new SCORPIONS studio album has to offer to both loyal fans and willing rockers/metalheads. Should we wait to be stung by this dozen of new cuts, in other words?

Counting 38 year's of official discography, with the original formation of the band dating back to 1965(!), SCORPIONS resembles a lot to many other 'classic' long running bands in terms of 'crowd marketing': they had their major nonstop artistic recognition back in the 70s/80s, they never split up but carried on making albums and they still have die-hard fans kneeling no-questions-asked in front of their altar but also non-sense rivals seeking the outfit's dialysis in favor of newer bands asking for their slice of the pie (as if such bands have the dynamics to eat so)...Still, the big SCORPIONS advantage separating them from enough of their contemporaries is that they still carry a big following plus they really kill at sight onstage at their gigs.

To the music, now: "Sting In The Tail" bears a -have-seen-it-somewhere-else straightforward cover and features 12 songs (one more cut, "Thunder and Lightning", added for some special edition release) that will give enough weapons to argue upon for friends and enemies. And that's a good thing, I guess, for this new album since it heavily brings forth the SCORPIONS stamp to our delight. The production, handled by Mikael "Nord" Andersson & Martin Hansen (who have also contributes parts in the making of songs along with names such as Eric Bazilian, Fredrik Thomander and Anders Wikström), is really convincing carrying the SCORPIONS sonic tradition but also bringing on a fresh air while the leads in specific sound like spitting fire, something I can recall being quite in impressive long back in the "Crazy World"/"Face The Heat" days. Initially - as I read - thought to be named "Humanity: Hour II", I'm thankful this new CD changed title since there's not much in 'sequel common' with the 2007 predecessor.

"Raised On Rock" kicks in and it's time to have a hardrockin' party; "I was born in a hurricane", Claus Meine cries out and we agree getting ready and in for the kill! "Sting In The Tail" bursts out and is an even more dynamic and shakin' cut to bang your head at (Meine's voice sends shivers, oh yeah). "Slave Me" features an American Rock groove and is quite a mismatch in a rockin' sense; the melodic chorus and the guitar solo shall win you over, though. "The Good Die Young" sees ex-NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen offering back-up vocals (she's not heard that much...) and is a mild tune with nice acoustic guitars & leads though quite a surprise for the SCORPIONS standards (they've been leaders, not followers, remember).

"No Limit" is quite galloping and peculiar in its beginning, then to unfold a classic SCOPRIONS profile fans of the German legends will fall in love with. "Rock Zone" says it all, on the other hand; move and shake to this fast 'in your face' taker while celebrating your 'full booze' Rock Club Saturday night out. "Lorelei" resembles to the ballads the band has developed - in terms of harmony songwriting - the last e.g. 15 years, with sensational vocals and some impressive guitar leads but a rather common chord base for the SCORPIONS myth. "Turn You On", on the other hand, shall stick your guts to the wall in its impressive minor chords base and proves to be quite an outsider in this new CD; "c'mon - if you wanna feel the sting"!

"Let's Rock" is a clear invitation to the classic 'crawling' tempo rockers; imagine a LED ZEPPELIN aura with the SCORPIONS 80s edge, though. "SLY" (meaning?) proves to be a sentimental sting, out of nowhere. Really, the ballad type boasting this 80s landmark eerie I've long gone missed in this band. "Spirit Of Rock" is maybe the less interesting number to my ears (a mid-pace manifest "yeah yeah" rocker?) while "The Best Is Yet To Come" (does the title hide a reverse message?) wraps up the songlist by creating an ambient tranquil atmosphere you'll not resist to if keen on the SCORPIONS ballads stuff; not an effusive title though, if asked.

Would like to have the option for a multi-rating system in this one. "Sting in The Tail" shall mean a little to vintage SCORPIONS fans (meaning the 70s era) while devotees of the more loud 80s period will possibly shed a tear to the album's neat hammering will; more juvenile fans will find a lot of interest in the songs' channels, too. A vinyl edition is on the way for us romantics, and - not to forget - if the "good enough for a swan release?" question is valid then, in general, "Sting In The Tail" is an album you'll probably get yourself tied to (gradually) in order to let the emotion flow. The guys from Germany rock hard in this CD, many times you'll probably feel you're breathing the "Blackout", "Savage Amusement" or "Crazy World" LPs air and - on top if it - the performance of (mainly) Claus Meine and the whole band in general is nothing less than a 'fine mood' bunch of rockers willing to rock you to the bone (bearing in mind the modern times we live in), even if four 'ballad type' cuts are included here. OK, "Sting To The Tail" does not climb up in comparison to some of the band's ultimate classics - and we already knew that - but exposes nearly all the good stuff this outfit has been loved for in their tremendous career.