- Moment of Glory : by The Scorpions/Berliner Symphoniker

I have been a scorpions fan since I was first introduced to their style of hard, fast, guitar deity rock. Let me just say that after listening to this album, I have become a bigger fan. It's just too bad that the Scorps are on the tail-end of their careers, because I'm sure they could keep producing for their loyal fans. However in this day and age when most are thrilled with consuming smoothed-out synthesized teeny bop and bubble gum rock, it's hard for the *real* musicians to survive. My suggestion: Get as much of the Scorps as you can while they are still playing.

As for this album, it is spectacular. I look forward to acquiring the DVD of the performance in order to get its full effect. But for now, the album is great. Why?

First, the songs contain more sound. Any music listener can appreciate orchestra, and so adding those elements with some rock music really creates an interesting fusion of the two. Metallica was pretty successful with their effort, but Metallica's music was known for pure anger, speed, volume and agression. So when Metallica added the orchestra, only certain songs worked well, No Leaf Clover being one of them. This effort by the Scorps has matched more songs to the orchestra better than Metallica's effort. I do like the fact that Metallica's version with the orchestra puts Lars' drums in the forefront. One difference between the Scorps effort and Metallica's is that in Metallica's I get the sense that Lars is leading the orchestra, versus in the Scoprs effort, the conductor is leading the orchestra. However, despite the fact that the drums aren't solid enough in the Scorps effort, it still rocks - though I'd love to see Rarebell again.

Second, I *never* believed that Wind of Change, Rock You Like a Hurricane, and Send Me an Angel could be improved; but I was wrong. I have never heard a more well crafted peice than I hear in Wind of Change. And with the newly added and long overdue orchestral elements, this song will live forever. Adding the orchestra opens up that song and several others to a diverse, wide range of musical listeners.

Third, this album is great because it's a new, fresh sound from the Scorps, but yet manages to retain the old roots throughout. I was somewhat frustrated with the loss of Herman Rarebell as the drummer because while he was with the band, the tracks were all extremely tight, punchy and boomy. With Kottak we have a quicker, more electronic pop sound. But surprisingly, (as a drummer myself) Kottak fits very well in this setting.

I'm sure Amazon won't let me say much more, but you really need to get this album if you are a real fan. It will probably not be appreciated as much by those of you who were big fans during the mid to late 70's, but for the younger generation interested in newer music, this album will work for you. This album will also appeal to more mature listeners who expect more from music than just loudness.

Try it, I'm certain you will be surprised.