Review by Sonny for Scorpions - Taken by Force (1977)

I did get into Scorpions a little bit around 1979, mainly because of their association with Michael Schenker who had completely transformed english hard rockers UFO, a band I was quite a fan of at the time, especially on their "Strangers in the Night" live album. I bought Scorpions' "Lovedrive" album and caught them on the subsequent tour but, in truth, I always considered them no more than second tier rockers. I don't remember listening to "Taken By Force" at that time, so my view on it is completely in hindsight.

What have we got here then? Well, I really think it is a stretch to label this as a metal record, it is hard rock pretty much through and through with "I've Got to Be Free" and "Your Light" even sounding like funky, psychedelic Jimi Hendrix tracks. The band can write some catchy melodies for sure and they are a reasonably tight unit, but that is pretty much all there is to them. The lyrics tend towards the corny, "Steamrock Fever" being particularly egregious, especially with the kids' backing chant of "Steamrock band, Steamrock band" - what the fuck, are you serious?! Also whilst I would concede that Klaus Meine does have a distinctive and instantly recognisable voice, his singing doesn't appeal to me all that much and I don't think he projects as much energy or emotion as, for example, a Ronnie James Dio with whom I have seen him compared in the past.

I would agree with the common consensus that side two opener "The Sails of Charon" is by far the best track, but even that feels like it has been truncated so as not to become too demanding on the listener. "He's A Woman - She's A Man" is a decent attempt to pump some adrenaline into proceeding, but to label it proto-thrash as some have is wishful thinking at best and delusional at worst. Then there are the awful ballads, with "Born to Touch Your Feelings" having me itching to press the skip button but, being the dedicated individual I am, I stuck it out and suffered for completions sake. But the truth is I hated this fucking song intensely and closing the album with it only leaves a lasting feeling of resentment towards the album as a whole.

There is no denying that Uli Roth is a talented guitarist and without his contributions I think this would hardly register a blip on most rock or metal fans' radars. His guitar work tranforms a track like "We'll Burn the Sky" into something far more interesting and energetic than it at first appears and he was responsible for writing "The Sails of Charon", so kudos to the guy for that at least. As I said earlier he also does a decent Hendrix impression, especially on "I've Got to Be Free" which, in the right context, I could quite enjoy, but I haven't come here to hear Jimi Hendrix, if I wanted to do that I would go to the man himself. I have never listened to Roth's solo material, so maybe I should as he is obviously the main talent in the Scorpions' camp.

Overall I would have to say this reinforces my view of Scorpions as second tier hard rock / proto-metal, several streets behind the likes of Priest, Motorhead and Thin Lizzy and they always feel to me like they had their eye on gaining radio play and the popularity that would entail. There next two or three albums were better but, for me, they will always be nothing more than a footnote in my musical world.