08. Scorpions Taken By Force 1978 (RCA)
Heavy Metal
I'm feeling blue since you’ve been gone.
Overview
It’s taken the Scorps four studio albums before finally appearing here on my main review list. Now without beating about the bush, the Scorpions are without doubt one of my most beloved of all hard rock and heavy metal bands from the late 1970s and early 1980s period, quite simply due to the number of stunning songs that the band put out, along with the unforgettable powerful nasal whine of Klaus Meine! The Scorpions were also one of the first metal bands that I ever really liked, so the Scorpions always evoke a huge amount of nostalgia for me when it comes to this kind of music! Early Scorpions though, were a far cry from the metal force that they would actually become in the latter period of the 1970s, a force that would make them a major influence on the soon to be NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) Their first album was
Lonesome Dove and like a number of non-anglophone bands at this time, it was littered with musical errors as the band tried to meld a hard rock, psychedelic and krautrock effort together. Despite this calamity, it was the only album of their earlier period to feature the mesmeric Michael Schenker before he jumped on the UFO ship, after having impressed whilst the Scorpions were supporting UFO. Their second album
Fly to the Rainbow and now featuring Ulrich Roth on guitar was a marked improvement all round and had the roots of their future sound, but Klaus Meine still hadn’t asserted himself vocally, as both Uli Roth and Rudolf Schenker (the group founder and elder brother of Michael) also shared vocal duties on these albums. By the time of their third and fourth albums
In Trance and
Virgin Killer, the band had dropped the longer musical suites that had plagued their earlier albums and were now churning out a heavier and tighter sound overall, and despite finally finding their niche here and the trademark Scorpion’s sound, a certain something special was still lacking from these albums! Perhaps it was the band still not being fully aware of just how good vocalist Klaus Meine actually was, as guitarist Uli Roth was still chipping in vocally on some albums, or perhaps in was the fact that the band were a German band, who were still trying to find the correct balance that would appeal to a genuine English speaking market.
Taken By Force recorded in 1977 and largely released in 1978, would see the band put out their most composed and complete release yet, and the year would be topped off with the superb live album
Tokyo Tapes as well.
Album
Steamrock Fever- With an intro that features the brief sound of construction work and then vocals that actually don’t really sound like Klaus Meine, the songs turns out to present itself as a thrustful and meaningful rocker, which has some good work by the band on offer.
We’ll Burn the Sky- With its slow ballad type start, the song would quickly pick up pace and give us a steady and rhythmic rocker, before then falling back into a quieter and more intricate musical section and the song keeps these two patterns flourishing together for more than 6 minutes of glory, a true classic.
I’ve Got to Be Free- Penned by Uli Roth and a consistent track from beginning to end, and the song is one of the heavier efforts on the album.
The Riot of Your Time- With a great guitar strumming intro, this is a dynamic track with a pumping melody and a great example of how good this band were when it came to song titles. This track is one of the best and most accomplished efforts on the album and a prime example of the album’s darker feel.
The Sails of Charon- The second side of the album starts with the first of two songs penned by Uli Roth and this the first is the stronger of the two tracks, which also happens to be another album highlight as well, especially with its special effects, rocking intro and outstanding guitar work from Uli Roth.
Your Light- This song has a touch of subtle funk in places (Germanic style) and the song after feeling itself out, turns out to be an easy paced album track.
He’s a Woman, She’s a Man- A thunderous intro and the band let it all hang out here, but the song is probably too overly repetitive to match the quality of its title.
Born to Touch Your Feelings- The album closer would become a virtual blueprint for the slower side of the band over the next several years, as they would duplicate aspects of this sound on their future ballads.
Klaus Meine- Vocals
Ulrich Roth- Guitar
Rudolf Schenker- Rhythm
Francis Buchholz- Bass
Hermann Rarebell- Drums
Production- Dieter Dierks
Verdict
By 1978 one thing was certain and that was the Scorpions were putting out some of the best and most sexually explicit and controversial album covers around (
In Trance and
Virgin Killer) and
Taken By Force would actually see them release an album to match the quality of their covers, even though
Taken By Force would be one of their few albums that didn’t feature a woman in a provocative style, it featured a graveyard instead! As said earlier, the band had nearly been there on their two previous albums
In Trance and
Virgin Killer, two albums very similar in style and sound, and both containing some very good songs, but a certain amount of composure had still been missing on those albums.
Taken By Force addresses this slight, as the band now take their foot off the accelerator to give us a much more composed and consistent listen overall.
Taken By Force not only has the band fusing their current sound, with the darker style of their earlier albums, but it also sees the band writing longer songs again. These are songs such as “We’ll Burn the Sky” and “Born to Touch Your Feelings” which are two songs of great calibre and demonstrate how the band had now gone full circle musically. The majority of
Taken By Force is taken up by a number of thrustful tracks like “Steamrock Fever” and the classic “The Riot of Your Time” which truly laid down the Scorpion’s gauntlet when it came to melodic heavy metal. But what truly made the album special were the aforementioned classic songs like “We’ll Burn the Sky” and “Born to Touch Your Feelings” which are songs that fully encompass the Scorpions sound, a sound which contained rhythmic and melancholic vocals, great guitar work and the band’s uncanny mix of blending powerful rock, that is spliced with moments of epic balladry and yet treats that balladry like a casual verse just slotted into the song. The second side of the album starts two songs penned by Uli Roth and both of the songs give a hint to satanic lyrics but both are very different in style. “The Sails of Charon” is a classic guitar ticker with Uli Roth at his best, whereas “Your Light” is a subtle effort with a tinge of funk.
Taken By Force would finally see the Klaus Meine and Ulrich Roth songwriting partnership finally flourish, but alas Ulrich Roth would bale out after this album! Despite the lofty appraisal I’ve given this album, the band would still be capable of producing even better material, which was just around the corner. But what is special about
Taken By Force, is that it’s an accomplished piece of work, by a band that had finally recognized their strengths and had finally got them down on one album. If ever a metal band could be deemed as being charming, then the Scorpions with Klaus Meine’s Germanic yet melancholic voice certainly fitted the bill.