progthrashheadbanger I give this album four and a half stars because while the music is awesome, not all metalheads will find anything they consider 'metal' in here (ie, no blast beats or growled vocals). Those people are fools, and I pity them for being so close-minded about music, especially as rich a genre as metal. That Metal Show speaks highly of this band, and they don't get people like Dave Mustaine on for nothing.

The title track ,probably about some crazy, smashed night, features fast, furious, hellbent riffage and just kills from the outset. What follows is 37 minutes of sheer thrills that ebb and flow punk-rock like. Highlights include the rocker-ballad "No One Like You", the punky "Now!". The songs aren't that catchy, but catchy doesn't equal greatness.

Bottom line: If you've never heard these guys in their full glory and you're willing to hear something a little older than vintage Maiden, buy this.

1967/ 1976 Compilations are often passed off as the final album of a band. For me "Deadly Sting" is a valuable compilation if you love 80's Scorpions. I was a child when the songs in this compilation were written and recorded (I'm born in January 19th 1978). Between Mike Oldfield, Alan Parsons, Duran Duran or Spanda Ballet, Scorpions are one of my preferred band in 80's and my ambition was to be able to buy their albums. But Dokken, Great White, Rick Wakeman, Jwthro Tull, Mr Big, Van Halen, Dio, Black Sabbath or Journey (for good examples) came before Scorpions in vinyl format. To date I own several CDs and MCs by Scorpions but no vinyls!

I said that often compilations are compiled ambendo to turn it into the final album of a band or artist. In this case of EMI/ Electrola production by Scorpions. Goal achieved? I believe you. But not really want. It's just that the songs deserve to end up in an anthology of the best of the Scorpions in 80's are the same for everyone! Not much else to say on the subject. Scorpions suddenly as it should be noted in the 80's did not produce true Heavy Metal, but a mix of Rock, Pop and Heavy Metal That is good for everyone. In fact one of my classmate who was the medium of Madonna fans, at the same time was also an expert in Scorpions. She also has a sister at least 10 years older (I have a brother) that is not foreign to this influence. But this fact is important to understand how Scorpions are transversal to the world of listeners. If we, therefore, we are going to judge a compilation of Scorpions this is a fundamental parameter.

This compilation start with "Coming Home": Long intro, thoughtful and sweet. Great guitars and Klaus Meine good, although a little suffering. The song becomes, then, a great rock and roll, very fast and sufficiently Heavy Metal. The style are typical of Proto Power Metal (good for who love Judas Priest or Saxon). A great song. The second song is "Rock You Like A Hurricane", a great Hard Rock song with POP taste. Unfortunately, "Rock You Like A Hurricane" is aging badly affected too much in some parts of the musical climate of 1984. "No ne Like You" is a typical Scorpions song of 80's: pure Heavy Rock with great refrain and guitars, not technical but with immediate feeling. One electric guitar present clean sound, one guitar is distorted but in refrains both guitar present the same line and guitar solo is only a claim to change the pattern of the song, as often happens in their songs. "Lovedrive" is a typical 80's Heavy Metal song: Hard Rock with Punk flavor, in this case with anthemic and simil neo classical arrangement and writing. Soloist guitar are technical but not intrusive. "Bad Boys Running Wild" is an anthemic Hard Rock song with AOR taste. If I find fault "Bad Boys..." contains only a little too anonymous guitar solo. "I'm Leaving You" is another good song, similar to Lovedrive" for concept. At the same time "I'm Leaving You" is too anonymous and for this fact aged badly, "I'm Leaving You" remain a great song, of course. "Passion Rules The Game" present a funky structure in another typical Scorpions song. Not a perfect song, not a bad song, not a powerful song. "China White" is a great Doom/ Power Metal song. Slow, Heavy, without compromises, "China White" is one of the most insipid songs for the non-metalheads that Scorpions have produced. In addition "China White" is one of the more psychedelic songs of their 80's production. "Walking On The Edge" is anothe Hard Rock song with AOR taste, in this case a great song if you love bands as Journey (but not only). "Coast To Coast" is an anthemic, dreamer and powerful Neo Classical Hard Rock instrumental song. In a certain sense "Coast To Coast" is a modern view of Richard Wagner compositions. "Loving You Sunday Morning" is a complex song but not technical: in my opinion this song is one of the first Neo prog song or Prog Metal song. Remain the fact that "Loving You Sunday Morning" is a pure Hard Rock song. "Another Piece Of Meat" is, in spirit with title, a slaughter song. And the final result is a great Speed Metal song! "Dynamite" is another Speed Metal song but with more punky taste in an anthemic song. "Can't Live Without You" is a song that present all the ingredients of 80's Scorpions in a sort of Glam Metal style song. This song present mini soli of guitar, very interesting but present a simple main guitar solo, not interesting. "Edge Of Time" is a unreleased song. But this song is atribute to some forms of modern metal and hard Rock with the presence of keyboards. Interesting but not memorable, if not for the great chorus. Because, at the end Scorpions is Scorpions!

After all, "Deadly Sting" might well be classified as the definitive albums of the Scorpions in relation to 80's. Of this fact there is no doubt. But, it is true, an album of Scorpions have another magic. At the end: if you do not have nothing of 80's Scorpions' production this compilation is a good introduction.

progshine OK, ok, I admit, I was just curious cause I knew their background on the 70's was kinda Progressive Rock influenced.

And ok, ok, I admit again, I never liked Scorpions, they always seemd to me too much 'fake' as a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band, and even more on the late 90's/00's.

I didn't liked Lonesome Crow (from 1972), so I was kinda worried when I first start listening this 1974 Fly To The Rainbow, to begin with, the cover, a very bad one.

The sound here, it's hard rock driven, with a lot of space rock influence (specially on the final track 'Fly To The Rainbow' a rip off Pink Floyd 70's era), and all in all, not bad. But of course, wasn't the 'Progressive Rock' album I was looking for, even knowing was just a little influence.

'Fly People Fly' is another good track, and 'Speed's Coming' is a great Rock n Roll. 'They Need A Million' brings some latin rhythms, not with percussion and etc, but on the tempo. 'Drifting Sun' is the Hard Prog of the album, a good track as well.

All in all we have a ok album, above the medium, but not that high, so 3,5 stars is the note for me.

Certif1ed In the beginning, back in 1975...

The other sort of heavy metal was well and truly born. Rather than a hard rock album with a couple of metallish songs, "In Trance" is the very first bona fide METAL album.

Far from being traditional, this sets the ground rules for how the passionate fans of the genre hear the music; It's diamond-hard, noticeably blues-avoiding, technically peerless in its genre, and razor sharp.

Let's go on... the riffs totally kill, the vocals are powerful and screamy, yet in total control and richly melodic, the drums and bass pound, and the solos are light years away from that infernal noodling bluff that you get on most hard rock albums.

Of note, for those who've been living under a rock, are Uli Jon Roth's breathtaking solos, like Jimi Hendrix reincarnated and having gone to college for some intense guitar lessons - then having forgotten it all to simply provide liquid metal solos that flow like mercury, yet cut like a laser.

To top it all, the great music also coagulates into great songs with an edge of radio-friendliness.

This is a far cry from the Krauty-space rock of the first album, despite the loss of Rudolph Schenker's tech wizard of a brother. This is an acknowledgement of the metal god power The Scorpions found in songs like the prophetic "Speedy's Coming".

"Dark Lady" sets the scene for metal's development, with it's aggressive, snarling intro and Sabbath-esque gallop, this, combined with Meine's trademark screams is where it's at.

People often cite Thin Lizzy and Wishbone Ash as the forerunners of the twin guitar attack, but nowhere is it more evident and prevalent than in this song. The trilling decending motifs scream Iron Maiden at you in no uncertain terms, and the trem work is Slayer all over. The tech riffs suggest Megadeth - gods, the list of dues to pay goes on and on.

Try to find something more intense outside of Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" from before 1975, and tell me what it is!

The title track follows, the template for all metal ballads. Feel those ice-cold fingers running up and down your spine, and hold that lighter up high. Stone Cold, Ice-Cold, Metallic classic, with harmonic minor runs a-plenty.

The instrumental sections are so achingly melodic, with twin lead bliss, that you positively die of that "something beautiful lost" feeling. You have been warned... these are melodies of timeless beauty enriched with harmonic perfection and sonic wondrousness.

The twin guitar work continues to kill, and Roth shows off his Hendrix chops in "Life's Like a River". File under "Betcha Can't Play This" unless your name is Andy James. Meine demonstrates the full dramatic potential of his stunning voice - and there are some rather redundant while well exectued bass lines, but all in all, a great attempt to make this song progressive in the awesome arrangement.

"Top of The Bill" follows, a mid-paced but intense metal killer, with some nice double bass-drum work, molten guitar lines, and curious vocal overdubs - in places paying homage to Queen. The guitar at 2:10 is pure evil - Slayer through and through, and there's that harmonic pull-off, whammy bar thing that I've always associates d with Zakk Wylde.

Maybe there's a surfeit of metal ballads on this album - maybe not. What's certain is that there's no let up of intensity or quality of songwriting and performance.

"Living and Dying" hangs around a tritonic motif, with eerie keys provinding a deathly backdrop to snarling bass growling guitars, and Meine suspension power.

"Robot Man" is another stand out metal track, which tends to get included on Scorpions compilations - so I'd guess it's well known. Here the power lies in potentia, with Schenker's whammy bar insanity providing the perfect foil to Roth's technical pyrotechnics.

The intro to "Evening Wind" slays, paving the way for a kind of atmospheric, twisted balladic number, ever threatening, portentous and moody. Meine is not so convincing on this one, and neither are the rather bluesey instrumental sections - but I'm digging the fullsome bass growls and rich production - and it does get better towards the end when it all comes together for some haunting chanting.

"Sun In My Hand" is a tough chugger, modelled on Cream/Hendrix style slow blues. Roth's vocals are far less convincing than his phenomenal off-the-wall guitar playing.

"Longing For Fire" is a rather experimental instrumental, with some tasteful soloing, but that's about all that can be said for it, while "Night Lights" is yet another ballad, with some beautiful modal playing, if you're not fed up with slow/mid-paced songs by now.

From 1:58 is where the real interest lies - the duetting trilled descending runs are drop-dead gorgeous.

In summary, an album for those who like their metal technical, and think that metal only got technical in the mid 1980s - and an album for those who can't tell the difference between metal and hard rock from the 1970s! This defines it.

Half a star dropped for the over-indulgence in slow songs, which make this album feel unbalanced. Other than that, an immaculate display of everything that makes metal great.

Vorsprung Durch Technique, as they say...

1967/ 1976 Lovedrive is the sixth studio album by the German heavy metal band Scorpions, released in 1979. Lovedrive was a major evolution of the band's sound, which exhibited their "classic style" that would be later developed over their next few albums. Michael Schenker, younger brother of rhythm guitarist Rudolf Schenker, performed lead guitar on 3 songs. The RIAA certified Lovedrive as Gold on 28 May 1986 and the album ranked 25 on IGN's list of the top 25 metal albums.

"Lovedrive" begin with "Loving You Sunday Morning", a great (but very commercial) Heavy Metal anthem. Good riffs but it is the atmosphere that is the winnig element of "Lovig You Sunday Morning". "Another Piece Of Meat" is a sort of Proto Power Metal with a great guitar soli section. "Another Piece Of Meat" remain, at the same time, a great Hard Rock in the vein of previous albums, because it is slightly psychedelic. "Always Somewhere" is a great ballads from the "Kings of Power Ballads". Also if beliberately too sweet, "Always Somewhere" is the perfection if I speak about a Heavy Metal ballad, because sweet with aggressive guitar, technical (also...!!!) but with extemely good magic. "Coast To Coast" close first side of the album, and it is a great instrumental, with great magic and technical guitar riffs. "Can't Get Enough" is an interesting Hard Rock, aggressive and without compromises, a Psychedelic Proto Metal. "Is There Anybody There?" is a great but very strange Reggae Metal ballad. "Is There Anybody There?" is another Scorpions evergreen with all Scorpions elements. "Lovedrive" is another Traditional Heavy Metal, commercial but with great atmosheres and guitars. "Holiday" close the album. The start of "Holiday" is a long acoustic part. The middle part is electric and the final is Electro/ acoustic. The melody is sweet but aggressive, also if the final result is not aggressive.

In definitive "Lovedrive" is a great album, also commercial. However, "Lovedrive" is at the same time, one of the best albums of the 1970's with all the magic present and able to unleash. An evergreen for all type of Metalheads!