Face the Heat

Face the Heat is an early-1990s album on which Scorpions take in harder riffs and social tension while keeping big melody. The guitar shifts between sharp chopping and fluent leads, and Klaus Meine’s voice unites the transparency of the high register with taut emotion. From the weight of “Alien Nation” and the big vocal melody of “Under the Same Sun” to the aggression of “No Pain No Gain” and the drama of “Woman” and “Ship of Fools,” the songs are wide-ranging. The rhythm does not rush excessively, giving the songs weight and afterglow. It is striking that, while keeping its traditional ballad sense, it faces the era’s unease and hard sonic picture head-on. It is a record that rewards listening for how, beyond the big choruses, the guitar’s sharp phrases tighten the air of a song. Amid the changing 1990s, it puts forward a sense of renewal that is not mere nostalgia. Uniting the strength of melody and a hard-edged sound, it is an engaging hard-rock record showing a new side of the band.