Scorpions-Humanity Hour 1

New Door
2007


The Scorpions are probably one of the most consistent long running hard rock/ metal bands of our time. They have kept plowing forward over the years despite of line-up changes, label changes and the many changes in style of music is popular at the time. So when a new album is released by them then you know it's likely be good. This release is no exception despite the fact that I hesitated to pick it up at first when I saw Desmond Child's name on the credits. My fears were for nothing though and this album is steadily moving up my favorites of 2007 so far. The majority of the album certainly isn't new territory, but it is comfortable territory. Sometimes comfortable is good because on most of the songs here it just takes a few seconds for the song to pull you in. Now don't get the idea that it's just rehashed material either. The bulk of this album manages to be both familar and fresh at the same time. No small task for sure, but I think the Scorps have taken their sound and added just enough of a modern touch to make it sound sort of new yet their old fans will find plenty to like as well. Perhaps more than anything the new has an excellant flow to almost every single track. There is very little build-up or intros as most songs just charge forward into the meat of the song. That certainly works for me and gives the album a rather smooth feel as a whole. If you are not a fan of the band then there is nothing here that will likely change your mind. However serious and casual fans will likely eat this up because Humanity Hour 1 is a huge helping of the kind of rock that the Scorpions have done so well for so long.