Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

XS ROCK

Hard Rock & Metal

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG) Announces New Studio Album, Universal

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG) Announces New Studio Album, Universal

There are few rock guitarists on this planet who’ve had such a lasting influence on so many renowned musicians as MICHAEL SCHENKER. With his outstandingly fluid style, inexhaustible wealth of ideas, and instinctive feel for hooks and melodies, MICHAEL SCHENKER is a living legend who, despite his longstanding and distinguished history, still impresses with his unflagging energy and drive. The blond stringsman from Sarstedt, Germany began his international career in the early 1970s with the Scorpions, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group U.F.O., and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (otherwise known as MSG), Temple Of Rock, and MICHAEL SCHENKER Fest. SCHENKER and his career, which has spanned more than five decades, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.

Now his latest MSG album is about to be unleashed, scheduled for release on Atomic Fire Records on May 27th under the programmatic moniker of Universal. His latest offering will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs, and inspiring solos. As we have come to expect from him, SCHENKER has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist, Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Vandenberg), who will also be MSG’s frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (Helloween), and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), keyboard player Steve Mann (Lionheart), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow), and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (Black Sabbath), Barry Sparks (Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken), and Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tony Carey as a very special guest. But more about that later.

First, let’s talk about the basic parameters of the new recording: Like its predecessor Immortal (2021) and the MICHAEL SCHENKER Fest albums Resurrection (2018) and Revelation (2019), Universal was produced by MICHAEL SCHENKER and Michael Voss (Lessmann/Voss, Mad Max) at Voss’s Kidroom Studio, which has become something of a creative home-away-from-home for SCHENKER. “Michael Voss is happy to wait until I have worked out an idea and takes the time to really get to know the song, simultaneously developing ideas for the vocals,” SCHENKER describes of the fruitful collaboration which has one cog intermesh with the other. “Then we work out the drums, bass, and some keyboard parts together. He always has plenty of great ideas up his sleeve.” Compositional highlights abound on Universal, from the haunting opener “Emergency” and the subsequent “Under Attack” with its casually driving groove to “The Universe,” featuring an atmospheric duet by Ronnie Romero and Gary Barden, “Wrecking Ball,” performed as brilliantly as ever by Ralf Scheepers, and “London Calling” with its homage to the British capital’s musical spirit.

The rock anthem “A King Has Gone” and its intro “Calling Baal” both have a special significance: The track, sung by Helloween frontman Michael Kiske, is a tribute to the immortal Ronnie James Dio, in particular to his performance on the 1976 hard rock classic Rainbow Rising. For this reason, SCHENKER has brought together an original Rainbow rhythm section consisting of Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley, additionally enlisting keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on Rainbow Rising, for a terrific Moog synth intro – a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener “Tarot Woman.” The impressive result “Calling Baal / A King Has Gone” is already considered to be one of the most important and successful songs in SCHENKER’s career to date, both musically and lyrically.

In line with all these highlights, the spectacular MSG album cover designed by Zsofia Dankova (Powerwolf, among others) features SCHENKER in a futuristic spaceship, floating high up in orbit. The artwork is based on the guitarist’s own visions, “I had the original idea for the album cover a few years ago, but only now does it seem to fit perfectly. So, I sent some older sketches to my label Atomic Fire Records and based on this the final artwork and album title were created.”

No doubt about it: The title, artwork, and new songs suit MSG as perfectly as his characteristic Flying V suits MICHAEL SCHENKER! Stand by for more from MSG in the weeks to come.

http://www.michaelSCHENKERhimself.com

http://www.facebook.com/MichaelSCHENKERRocks

http://www.instagram.com/michaelSCHENKERrocks

http://www.twitter.com/MWSCHENKER

http://label.atomicfire-records.com/project/michael-SCHENKER

http://www.facebook.com/atomicfirerecords

http://www.instagram.com/atomicfirerecords

http://www.twitter.com/atomicfirerec

You May Also Like

Featured Articles

During the 80’s hard rock ruled the airwaves. Quiet Riot’s Metal Health became the first #1 metal album of all time. Soon after the...

Featured Articles

For every Motley Crue, Def Leppard, and Van Halen, There were many other bands that were really good, but somehow didn’t quite make it...

80s Heavy Metal

The 1980s hard rock and metal scene is widely known as a generation of excess and a lot of over-the-top imagery. In fact, most...

Christian Rock & Metal

01. Stryper-Stryper has to be at the top of this list. Not because I think they’re the best, but because their contribution to Christian...

Hard Rock & Metal

Formed in 1982 by Tom Keifer and Eric Brittingham, Cinderella was one of the biggest bands of the ’80s rock and metal era.  Following several...

Hard Rock & Metal

Recently, I received an advanced release for Josh Todd & The Conflict’s debut album, “Year Of The Tiger”. Most of you probably know Josh...

Hard Rock & Metal

Britny Fox was formed in 1985 with “Dizzy” Dean Davidson on vocals, former Cinderella drummer Tony Destra, former Cinderella guitarist Michael Kelly Smith and...

80s Heavy Metal

The 1980s and early 90s saw hard rock and heavy metal go mainstream and reach a large audience worldwide. The genre was split into...

80s Heavy Metal

The 1980s were an awesome time thanks to the glam/hair metal scene. The image almost became as important as the music during this period,...

80s Heavy Metal News

Watch First Video From New Skid Row Album "The Gang's All Here"

80s Heavy Metal

Today Skid Row and Erik Grönwall jointly announce that Erik will step down as the vocalist for Skid Row. Longtime friend Lzzy Hale of...

Ratt Drama Goes "Round And Round" With Juan Croucier Touring As "The Other Voice Of Ratt" Ratt Drama Goes "Round And Round" With Juan Croucier Touring As "The Other Voice Of Ratt"

80s Heavy Metal

Ratt was one of the more successful bands of the 80s hard rock scene with multi-platinum album sales and was practically on every cover...

Black Sabbath To Release Tony Martin Era Box Set "Anno Domini 1989-1995" Black Sabbath To Release Tony Martin Era Box Set "Anno Domini 1989-1995"

80s Heavy Metal

“Anno Domini 1989-1995” is a long-awaited new Black Sabbath super deluxe box set collecting material from the Tony Martin era. The box set includes...

Watch New Video For "Crack Cocaine" Featuring Ozzy Osbourne From Guitarist Billy Morrison's New Album Watch New Video For "Crack Cocaine" Featuring Ozzy Osbourne From Guitarist Billy Morrison's New Album

80s Heavy Metal

“I guess the way that your love makes me feel/Must mean I’m really addicted,” sings OZZY OSBOURNE on “Crack Cocaine,” the newly released track...

80s Hair Metal Fans Should Love The New Video And Song "Dina" By King Zebra 80s Hair Metal Fans Should Love The New Video And Song "Dina" By King Zebra

80s Heavy Metal

King Zebra unveils their highly anticipated album, “Between The Shadows,” scheduled for release on April 12, 2024. The band hailing from the picturesque city...

ARMORED SAINT Announce North American Tour With Queensrÿche; New Music Underway ARMORED SAINT Announce North American Tour With Queensrÿche; New Music Underway

80s Heavy Metal

Iconic heavy metallers ARMORED SAINT, who’ve been hard at work demoing tracks for their upcoming new full-length, will return to the stage later this...

Hard Rock & Metal News

Listen To Brand New Single "Saoirse" By Rotting Christ

Hard Rock & Metal

In celebration of their 35th year as a band, this May, Rotting Christ are releasing their 14th album. ΠΡΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΟU (Pro Xristou) is bound to hold...

Holy Mother Unleashes "Fire Video From Upcoming New Album "Rise"! Holy Mother Unleashes "Fire Video From Upcoming New Album "Rise"!

Hard Rock & Metal

HOLY MOTHER presents the follow-up to “Face This Burn”, and their overall seventh studio album: “Rise”! Slated for a release on June 7, 2024 via Massacre Records, the album...

Listen To "Promise Of Apocalypse" By Eleine Listen To "Promise Of Apocalypse" By Eleine

Hard Rock & Metal

Swedish symphonic dark metal five-piece ELEINE unveil a visualizer video for their latest single, ‘Promise Of Apocalypse.’ The song is taken from the band’s...

Lutharo Unleash Video For Metal Masterpiece, "Chasing Euphoria" Lutharo Unleash Video For Metal Masterpiece, "Chasing Euphoria"

Hard Rock & Metal

The wait is over! LUTHARO, the powerhouse of metal, have finally unleashed their much-anticipated album »Chasing Euphoria,« which is now available worldwide through Atomic...

Watch New Sebastian Bach Video "Everybody Bleeds" From Upcoming New Album "Child Within The Man" Watch New Sebastian Bach Video "Everybody Bleeds" From Upcoming New Album "Child Within The Man"

80s Heavy Metal

Check out the incredible new video and song by Sebastian Bach from the upcoming new album “Child Within The Man” set to release May...

80s Heavy Metal

Extreme performed for what appeared to be a sold-out performance for their show at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg Florida on March 8th, 2024....

XS ROCK Featured Articles

The Top 20 Hard Rock And Metal Albums Of 2023

Featured Articles

2023 had some really good hard rock and metal albums released if you know where to look and listen. The hard rock and metal...

45 Christian Heavy Metal Bands From The 80s And 90s That You Should Hear 45 Christian Heavy Metal Bands From The 80s And 90s That You Should Hear

80s Heavy Metal

Angelica Attempting to hit on the sound of guitar slingers like Van Halen and George Lynch, Angelica went for a more glam-sounding singer, similar...

20 Albums Released In 2023 That 80s Metal Fans Should Hear 20 Albums Released In 2023 That 80s Metal Fans Should Hear

80s Heavy Metal

Each year, it seems that the remaining 80s hard rock and metal bands that are still putting out new music seem to get smaller...

Check Out These 80s Metal And Hard Rock Stars' Real Names Check Out These 80s Metal And Hard Rock Stars' Real Names

80s Heavy Metal

Check out these 80’s Hard Rock And Metal Stars’ Real Names! Some of these names are well known to fans, while others might find...

Who Were The Top 15 Most-Glam Mainstream Metal Bands Of The 80s? Who Were The Top 15 Most-Glam Mainstream Metal Bands Of The 80s?

80s Heavy Metal

The 80s were the decade of excess and musically that was absolutely true as well. The hard rock and heavy metal musical landscape exploded...

Who Were The Best Straight Up, No Frills Hard Rock And Metal Bands Of The 80s? Who Were The Best Straight Up, No Frills Hard Rock And Metal Bands Of The 80s?

80s Heavy Metal

The 1980s hard rock and metal scene is widely known as a generation of excess and a lot of over-the-top imagery. In fact, most...

80s Rock & Pop

'80s POP HITMAKERS WANG CHUNG, MEN WITHOUT HATS, THE MOTELS, AND NAKED EYES ANNOUNCE THE “ABDUCTED BY THE '80s” TOUR

80s Rock & Pop

The 1980s were a unique, fun-filled era of music shaped in no small part by the emergence of MTV and the genre of New...

Watch Kevin Bacon Perform The Song "Losing The Night" With His Band The Bacon Brothers Watch Kevin Bacon Perform The Song "Losing The Night" With His Band The Bacon Brothers

80s Rock & Pop

The Bacon Brothers, featuring Michael and Kevin Bacon, are excited to announce the release of their new video, “Losing The Night”, from their forthcoming...

80s Music Video Of The Day

Take a trip down memory lane with this list of one-hit wonders on the U.S. charts from the years 1980 and 1981. How many...

Legendary 80s Pop Icon Adam Ant Announces 2024 American Tour Legendary 80s Pop Icon Adam Ant Announces 2024 American Tour

80s Rock & Pop

Adam Ant is pleased to announce his ANTMUSIC 2024 U.S. tour, which commences March 21st in St. Louis, MO. The English Beat will be supporting...

Foreigner And Styx Announce Renegades And Jukebox Heroes Tour With John Waite Foreigner And Styx Announce Renegades And Jukebox Heroes Tour With John Waite

80s Rock & Pop

Foreigner has announced the following: This summer we’re hitting the road with Styx! “We always look forward to being with our buddies in Styx,”...

80s Heavy Metal

Goodwyn was not only the singer but also the guitarist and main songwriter for the band. Goodwyn was widely revered as a great songwriter...

Alternative-Punk-Electronic

Alternative / Punk

Classic U.K. punk band Vice Squad has just released a newly remixed version of the song “Spitfire” along with a new video for the...

Bon Harris Says Nitzer Ebb Have No Plans For A New Studio Album Anytime In The Near Future Bon Harris Says Nitzer Ebb Have No Plans For A New Studio Album Anytime In The Near Future

Alternative / Punk

Electro-industrial legends Nitzer Ebb have released the following message regarding Douglas McCarthy’s health issues and the band’s future:

Face To Face, Save Ferris, Unwritten Law, Zebrahead & More Face To Face, Save Ferris, Unwritten Law, Zebrahead & More

Alternative / Punk

Brew Ha Ha Productions has announced the initial music lineup for the first-ever BRIGHTSIDE Music Festival, presented by WJRR-FM, on Saturday, April 27 at Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, Florida.  Summer comes...

Front 242 Singer Hospitalized Front 242 Singer Hospitalized

Alternative / Punk

After an incredible 40-plus-year run on the road, Belgian EBM act Front 242 are setting an end to their live concert career, announcing their...

Alternative / Punk

Toxic misogyny, violence against women, and incels are the latest target Al Jourgensen takes aim at in the song “B.D.E.” (aka “Big Dick Energy”)...

Punk Legends Cock Sparrer To Release Their Final Album "Hand On Heart" Punk Legends Cock Sparrer To Release Their Final Album "Hand On Heart"

Alternative / Punk

Punk legends Cock Sparrer announce their 8th and final album on vinyl, splatter vinyl, picture disc, CD, cassette and digital formats! No one (band...

Rock News

Watch New Black Crowes Video For "Wanting And Waiting"

Hard Rock & Metal

The legendary Black Crowes have just released their latest single and music video for the song “Wanting And Waiting”. The song is from their...

Molly Hatchet Live Photos From Thunder By The Bay Festival, Sarasota, FL Molly Hatchet Live Photos From Thunder By The Bay Festival, Sarasota, FL

Hard Rock & Metal

Legendary Southern Hard Rockers Molly Hatchet played all their greatest hits to a large, enthusiastic crowd that was on their feet throughout the entire...

Hard Rock & Metal

The 26th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival is a three-day event held Feb. 16-18, 2024 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds that...

Watch AC/DC's First Live Appearance Since 2016 At The Power Trip Festival Watch AC/DC's First Live Appearance Since 2016 At The Power Trip Festival

80s Heavy Metal

You can watch the full live performance of AC/DC from their Power Trip show courtesy of the Riff Raff YouTube channel. The band ripped...

DEF LEPPARD AND JOURNEY ANNOUNCE SUMMER STADIUM TOUR 2024 WITH STEVE MILLER BAND, HEART, AND CHEAP TRICK DEF LEPPARD AND JOURNEY ANNOUNCE SUMMER STADIUM TOUR 2024 WITH STEVE MILLER BAND, HEART, AND CHEAP TRICK

80s Heavy Metal

Def Leppard and Journey are teaming up for the Summer Stadium Tour 2024 with Steve Miller Band, Heart, and Cheap Trick! The Rock &...

Head East Release Their First album In Over 40 Years Head East Release Their First album In Over 40 Years

Rock

Legendary AOR band Head East is back and better than ever with the highly anticipated release of “Full Circle,” their first studio album in...

Rock Stars…Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now?

W.A.S.P. was originally known for outrageous antics such as throwing raw meat into the audience and appearing to torture people on a horror-themed stage....

Winger...Where Are They Now? Winger...Where Are They Now?

Hard Rock & Metal

Winger released their debut album “Winger in 1988 and it scored the band its first platinum-selling album. Winger released its second album In the...

Britny Fox...Where Are They Now? Britny Fox...Where Are They Now?

Hard Rock & Metal

Britny Fox was formed in 1985 with “Dizzy” Dean Davidson on vocals, former Cinderella drummer Tony Destra, former Cinderella guitarist Michael Kelly Smith and...

badlands badlands

Hard Rock & Metal

After guitarist Jake E. Lee was fired from Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band, Badlands was formed when Lee recruited bassist Greg Chaisson, former Black Sabbath...

Hurricane...Where Are They Now? Hurricane...Where Are They Now?

Hard Rock & Metal

Hurricane started out in 1983-84 with the original lineup of lead vocalist Kelly Hansen (vocals/rhythm guitar), Robert Sarzo (guitar), Tony Cavazo (bass), and Jay...

Black N' Blue...Where Are They Now? Black N' Blue...Where Are They Now?

Hard Rock & Metal

  Black ‘N Blue was formed in 1981 and released four successful and critically acclaimed albums through Geffen Records including their self-titled debut (1984),...