MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Heavy Hitters [Deluxe Japan SHM-CD] (2026), MP3+FLAC

Ｍａｒｑｕｅｅ ／ Ａｖａｌｏｎ Japan will release the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP album “Heavy Hitters” in a deluxe Edition, for the first time pressed on SHM-CD. The disc includes five newly added bonus tracks, featuring a reinterpretation of his own song ‘Save Yourself,’ originally released under the McAuley-Schenker Group, as well as a cover of Rush’s ‘Finding My Way’ in collaboration with Sebastian Bach.

Originally planned by Schenker in 2004 as a collection of covers featuring himself and a “revolving all-star cast of guest musicians,” the album was labeled and marketed as an MSG album.
Produced by Bob Kulick who also play rhythm guitar on most songs, Schenker delivers here great versions of rock classics from UFO, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore, Hendrix, and more, helped by fantastic vocalists / musicians including Jeff Scott Soto, Joe Lynn Turner, Gary Barden, Sebastian Bach, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Tommy Shaw, Mark Slaughter, Rudy Sarzo, Tony Franklin, Jeff Pilson, Eric Singer, Vinnie Appice, Simon Wright, etc.

The brightest spot on the release is “All Shook Up,” which really sounds nothing like Elvis Presley’s recording. The entire track is filled with melodic soloing and licks by Schenker, some of his finest work of late, while Joe Lynn Turner shines on the mic. “Doctor Doctor” deserves honorable mention due to Jeff Scott Soto’s vocal performance (does this gent do any performance that’s anything less than top-notch?).
Additionally, “War Pigs” is an interesting inclusion and interpretation that works, as is Nazareth’s “The Hair Of the Dog” with its rather tongue-in-cheek “a son of a bitch” vocal parlance by the late Paul DiAnno that will bring a grin to your face.
And as the ice on the cake, as bonus tracks there’s some terrific instrumental versions of ”Blood Of The Sun” (Mountain), ”Doctor Doctor”, and ”War Pigs”, where Schenker soloing reach the stratosphere.

Overall, this is a very polished release that features some great solo work by Schenker. Also, this endeavor features some impressive performances by the stellar guests (a full list of contributing musicians follow this review).
Bottom line, as “various artists” CDs go, this is probably one of the best out there. A definite buy for hard rock / Schenker guitar-licks-loving fans.
Highly Recommended

 

Ｍａｒｑｕｅｅ ／ Ａｖａｌｏｎ 【ＭＩＣＰ～30219】
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01 – All Shook Up (feat. Joe Lynn Turner)
02 – Blood Of The Sun (feat. Leslie West)
03 – Doctor Doctor (feat. Jeff Scott Soto)
04 – War Pigs (feat. Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens)
05 – I’m Not Talking (feat. Mark Slaughter)
06 – Money (feat. Tommy Shaw)
07 – Out In The Fields (feat. Gary Barden)
08 – Hair Of The Dog (feat. Paul DiAnno)
09 – I Don’t Live Today (feat. Sebastian Bach)
10 – Politician (feat. Jeff Pilson)
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Save Yourself (feat. Robin McAuley)
12 – Finding My Way (feat. Sebastian Bach)
13 – Blood Of The Sun (Instrumental Version)
14 – Doctor Doctor (Instrumental Version)
15 – War Pigs (Instrumental Version)

Michael Schenker – guitars
Jeff Scott Soto, Joe Lynn Turner, Gary Barden, Leslie West, Paul Di’Anno, Sebastian Bach, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Tommy Shaw, Mark Slaughter – vocals
Bob Kulick – guitar
Edgar Winter – saxophone
Jeremy Rubolino – keyboards, strings production
Rudy Sarzo, Tony Franklin, Chuck Wright, Jeff Pilson, Marco Mendoza, Mike Inez, Phil Soussan, Tony Levin – bass
Eric Singer, Mike Baird, Aynsley Dunbar, Brett Chassen, Vinnie Appice, Simon Wright – drums

MP3 FLAC fake!