Michael Schenker Group -In The Midst Of Beauty

I don't know how many people here are fans of  guitarist Michael Schenker's work with UFO or the early MSG, but I've got to tell you that his brand new release 'In The Midst Of Beauty' is a stunning return to form. Only a year after turning in pathetic, drunken live performances and looking like he was going off the rails for good, somehow Michael has pulled it together with perhaps his best album in over 2 decades. 

Featuring 4/5 of the original MSG, vocalist Gary Barden, bassist Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Peter Green) keyboardist Don Airey (now Deep Purple's keyboardist, but also formerly with Rainbow, Gary Moore, Jethro Tull ) and drummer Simon Phillips (who's played with a veritable who's who of rock, from Jeff Beck, Toto, Judas Priest, The Who, Camel, Gary Moore, Mick Jagger, Joe Satriani, to name just some), this is one of the best hard rock albums of the year. There's a vintage feel to this album , even down to the production which recalls the early 80's. This would've been classified as metal back then, but these days it's just classic hard rock, and damn good at that. It sounds like a BAND, not just tracks recorded in order for Michael to solo over. Great songs, many in an 80's Deep Purple style, with some stellar guitar work courtesy of Mr. Schenker better than anything he's laid down since the first UFO reunion disc 'Walk On Water' in 1995.  If you like your rock a bit harder in a classic vein, this one comes highly recommended.

Out now!

http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/

For those wondering what all the fuss is all about MS, here's what could arguably said to be his finest moment, the 1978 version of "Rock Bottom" from the classic UFO live album 'Strangers In The Night":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG6qoTMLrjQ