What is it about European rock guitarists? Is it something in the diet, or something in the water? Either way, you get a guitar player of the quality of Michael Schenker who has proved over many long years and too many concerts to mention that, with only a couple of notable exceptions, their choice of vocalists really does leave something to be desired....And this new album; Temple of Rock, is no exception, with some of the vocals bordering on the awful. In fact at times it can almost be a Spinal Tapesque parody of a rock band in so much as the vocal and the lyric has a tongue rammed very much into the cheek - however, that is not to say that this album is a bad 'un, it's just that it is not consistent (good OR bad!). You go from the high's of Before The Devil Knows You're Dead with it's ear-worm riff that really does well and truly embed itself into your brain to the lows of the awful pop/rock sound of Remember - it could almost have been written (and played!) by a certain M.Bolan in his heyday!
Such a shame because with a decent set of pipes singing the lyrics (even though some are cringeworthy) the album could so easily have merited all 5 stars! If you don't believe me, have a listen to Phil Mogg's ageing voice fronting the latest UFO album; Seven Deadly.....it really, really does make all the difference in the world....so Michael, please, get a decent singer and present us long standing fans with an album to cherish and not feel ridiculed if some metal merchant hears our loud stereo playing Remember.......!