Review: Scorpions “Love at First Sting” [Harvest Records]

As many experts and reviewers have previously stated, a common disease that rock and metal albums have suffered since the 1970s is how the greatest moments can fade some others away. Love at First Sting is one of those albums. The formula herein displayed is not different from its predecessor. Still, something distinctive is that this release tends to be more commercial, and the numbers expected to be the heaviest here end up being cheesy. Riffs and goods solos are not absent at all, the production is good enough, and its musicianship is at least acceptable. However, the album has certain blatant ups and downs.

The opening part of the album is excellent and promising, with “Bad Boys Running Wild” and the all-time classic “Rock You Like a Hurricane”. These couple of songs have good 80s heavy metal stylized riffs and memorable guitar solos with some magical commercial touch in them. Both numbers remind the good old 80s sound that various German bands have already exploited. “Big City Nights” is another good number that aligns with the album’s concept. Everything is about partying, rock and roll, and powerful twin guitars in the Judas Priest vein. The remaining stuff is just cheesy and even more commercial than the other three numbers, which vary from pop ballads to other proggy numbers, and then you have the terrible speedish number “The Same Thrill”. While many consider this album an essential part of the band’s catalog, it is true that it is mainly on account of the popular numbers featured therein and not because of its sound structure. Have someone mentioned, “Still Loving You”? This number is irrelevant in the album. It does not even fit here. And that’s what makes this album an overrated piece.