Daily Archives: July 18, 2006

Jul 18 2006

Some news on KISS related releases

  • Reports around the Net are that Paul Stanley’s solo album, Live To Win, will be released on October 3rd via Hip-o/Universal. Like everything in the KISS world, the October 3rd date is tentative and subject to change.

(It’s been over a year waiting for this album, and YEARS waiting for some new KISS material. C’mon Paul, get this record out!)

  • Following Paul’s solo album, Universal is also releasing a new KISS box set that includes the first three Alive albums. Look for it on October 24th.

(Universal owns the KISS back catalog up to the KISS Box Set, so Alive IV is not part of this Alive box set. Sanctuary Records retains the rights to Alive IV. Also, this idea has been done before: Alive, Alive II, and Alive III were part of a limited edition box set called The Alive Trilogy (1994). They were basically the same CD versions put in a cardboard slipcase, no special extras. Universal already released a box set that included the first 3 studio albums and the just released the Double Platinum Box Set in Japan (1st 10 albums cardboard reproductions). How many times can the label release the same stuff? Gene and Paul have no say but they do get paid!

Got to KISS Kollector and KISSFAQ for more details and updates…..

Jul 18 2006

The Michael Schenker Group – Assault Attack (1982)

MSG - Assault Attack

The Michael Schenker Group – Assault Attack (1982, Chrysalis)

  1. Assault Attack
  2. Rock You To The Ground
  3. Dancer
  4. Samurai
  5. Desert Song
  6. Broken Promises
  7. Searching For A Reason
  8. Ulcer

Total Time – 39:55

Band Lineup:
Graham Bonnet – Vocals
Michael Schenker – Guitar
Chris Glen – Bass
Ted McKenna – Drums

Michael Schenker official website
Unofficial Michael Schenker website
Graham Bonnet official website

After he was let go from Rainbow following the Down To Earth tour, Graham Bonnet released a solo album, Line Up (1981) and then joined the Michael Schenker Group to record what many consider the “crown jewel” of MSG albums…..Assault Attack.

Once again paired with a genius guitarist in Michael Schenker, Bonnet helps create a classic album that the rest of the MSG catalogue will be compared to. This time around, Graham was able to contribute to the songwriting, especially the lyrics. This makes Assault Attack better than Down To Earth as it was a full band effort rather than Blackmore handing the tunes to Bonnet and saying, “Just sing.”

Assault Attack and Rock You To The Ground kick off the album as a true metallic combo, blending Bonnet’s soaring vocals to Schenker’s Euro-Metal heroics. The first track smacks you in the mouth with speed and power. As you get up, Rock You To The Ground knocks you down again with it’s powerful mid-pace groove.

What makes the album for me is songs 3 through 5, the best three tracks on the album. Dancer was Metal made for FM Radio, full of melody and a sing-a-long chorus. Schenker rips and riffs all over this song and adds one blistering solo. Samurai starts with a Schenker solo intro and just drops into a galloping pace. Bonnet and Schenker blazing a trail and then kicking it up a level come chorus time. Bonnet’s most powerful vocal on the record, haunting and anguished, you can feel the Samurai’s tale. Schenker provides the chunky riffs and the solo finds it’s way again at the end. The last of this trilogy, Desert Song, is the epic. 6 minutes woven between Schenker’s mastery and Bonnet’s tale of woe. It’s dark and brooding, sounds of metallic anguish.

Settling back into the Hard Rock groove for Broken Promises and Searching For A Reason, we hear more of the Schenker/Bonnet magic. I could see either song as an FM single. Ulcer is Michael’s solo spotlight that I usually ignore.

One album and done. Graham is ousted after an incident on stage the gig prior to the Reading Festival…..replaced by the man he replaced, Gary Barden. What a shame! The album is so good that the songs would easily translate live, I’d bet that they’d be even better! This was my introduction to Graham Bonnet and MSG so this is my favorite album by both men. I don’t think either has eclipsed this album with their future work and they both have been a part of some truly great albums afterwards. One of my “desert island” albums, easily enters my Top 10.