Is it Loud Enough is a superb six disc box set comprising of the first four Michael Schenker Group studio albums from the 1980s and two discs of various demos, alternative versions etc. Oh: and a 52 page booklet which has interviews with the whole package housed in a sturdy case.
Go back to the late 1970s. Schenker has left UFO. A brief dalliance back with Scorpions followed as he popped up on their classic Lovedrive album.
What does Schenker do next…..form is own band and call it the Michael Schenker Group.
Those first four albums are peerless, stunning, bombastic classic heavy rock. Schenker is at the top of his game and for me his best work over his entire career. I still recall snapping up the debut from good old Bradleys Records in Sheffield (anyone remember Bradleys?) and going to see MSG on the following tour.
The debut is stunning from first note to last. Schenker peels off the big riffs, chords and jaw-dropping solos with each song instantly memorable and unforgettable. The crushing Armed and ready kicks it off. Cry for the Nations, Victim of Illusion and Feels Like a Good thing take no prisoners and that’s just side one….! Side two just as good with infectious instrumental In to the Arena and the huge epic of Lost Horizons closing it out featuring one of Schenker’s defining solos. Remarkable.
Such a classic album. Schenker able to do his own thing on his own terms with it being “his” band and not perhaps restrained by being in UFO – though what he did with them was classic also.
Next up is the second album simply titled MSG. What a line-up. Paul Raymond, Cozy Powell and Chris Glenn. Gary Barden remained on vocals however his style never quite sat right with me. Anyhoo – vocals aside the music equals the debut.
Ready to Rock and Attack of the Mad Axeman thump away hard. On and On spookily atmospheric. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie as one of the great riffs and Never Trust a Stranger (written by Paul Raymond) a glorious sweeping ballad type thing.
Keeping the quality up to ridiculous heights came Assault Attack in 1982. Barden was gone. In came Graham Bonnet for an instant uplift in vocal quality. More stunning stuff here such as the poppy Dancer, the storming Samurai, the great Desert Song and the hooky Searching for a Reason.
The following year it was Built to Destroy. Bonnet was out (if you don’t know why, look it up) and Barden returned. Whilst not a bad album I think Built to Destroy is a dip compared to the first three. Sounds to me a little tired and as though running out of ideas.
Indeed – it was then the final Michael Schenker Group album and next Schenker teamed up with Robin McAuley naming that project the McAuley Schenker Group.
No mistake however that the first three are stone cold, done deal classics and Schenker truly stamped his mark as one of the great rock guitarists.
The two discs of the demos, alternative versions and whatnot are interesting as is the booklet and interviews.
I imagine it’s likely you have one, some or all of the first four albums. If you do, then this box set probably one for completists to bag the bonus discs.
If you’re not familiar with Michael Schenker on any level – then pick up this and see (or rather hear….) a master at his best. Have a look at the video for Armed and Ready for example:
At time of posting (30 March 2024) this six disc box set, booklet etc has just been released and is a reasonable price of around £40. Compare that with the silly price being shown for the upcoming Black Sabbath Anno Domini 1989-1995 box set of around £90 for four CDs and some extras – how can that be justified?
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