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April 2024

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Scorpions: Black Out SACD

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

5.0/5.0

Website (Label/Purchase)
Audio Fidelity Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 29.12.2014

The Scorpions were on the rise in the early Eighties. When Blackout, their eighth studio album, hit the streets in 1982 it became their best selling album to date. The band embarked on a monumental world wide tour and laid waster to audiences with their catchy and accessible melodic hard rock twisted with heavy metal.

Scorpions: circa 1982

But its final form could have been different. Vocalist Klaus Meine was facing vocal chord problems, so the band tapped Don Dokken for the first demos. Thankfully, Meine had successful surgery and was able to complete the album.

Now, Audio Fidelity, with some sage wisdom, has tapped Blackout for special release in the Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) format. As you know the mastering for this format allows greater clarity, brightness, and the nuances to be revealed from the album. But you must have a SACD to get these benefits; otherwise, it still plays in a regular CD player, and may even seem a little sharper to your ears.

The strength of this album comes from the simple depth and breadth of the songwriting. The Scorpions knew how meld hard rock with metal sharpness and then rap it up in melody and near pop-like accessibility. They could rock loud and rowdy with testosterone dripping numbers like the title cut, Now, and Dynamite. And the would turn to smooth grooving ballads and anthems with Can't Live Without You and You Give Me All I Need. Then follow it up with slow burning acoustic When The Smoke Is Going Down. Blackout, fundamentally, was and still is a solid album from start to finish, showing the Scorpions at their peak. It certainly deserves the special treatment in the SACD format. Recommended.

Scorpions - Blackout (1982)

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Blackout, fundamentally, was and still is a solid album from start to finish, showing the Scorpions at their peak. It certainly deserves the special treatment in the SACD format. Recommended.

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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]