Customer Reviews

Assault Attack

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When "Assault Attack" came out, I remember thinking, "Graham Bonnet? Hmmmm. We'll have to listen closely." The quality of Bonnet's voice is distinctive. Not a great singer but a ballsy vocalist. I'll take 'distinct' over 'technically proficient' any day. Having said all that, it is the _instrumental_ on this album that will tear your head off; "Ulcer." The lead break is one of the fastest, cleanest, most liquid runs off a fretboard this side of Allan Holdsworth with more menace and Teutonic swagger. Back in the day, I was trying to play the solo over and over on the LP, swinging back the tone arm to catch the solo's beginning. Amazing to this day. The other song, noted more for its rhythm guitar work is "Broken Promises." Great syncopation, nice fat, warm rhythm sound, and Graham Bonnet singing his guts out, which is what the tune called for. There is _no_ filler on this album. The rhythm section was killer and Michael's touch and tone was gorgeous. I'm warning you though: that solo in "Ulcer" man! WHEW!

This is the best sounding MSG album, and probably the most aggressive. With former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet making his debut with Schenker. The vocals are great and sound so much different than Gary Barden ('80-'81,'83-'84). Drummer Ted Mckenna is on top form, and of course Schenker is awesome. Never one to show-off; his solos are perfect pieces within the song. But when he lets it go look out! "Rock you to the Ground", "Desert Song" and the instrumental "Ulcer" are incredible songs that epitomize Schenkers' genious. One of the best hard-rock albums ever.

It is a shame that one must get this on import here in the U.S. I have owned it on LP and cassette, but not on CD until now.

This is a sadly-overlooked album by a sadly-overlooked guitar wizard. One would have thought that Michael Schenker's connection to brother Rudolf's band, Scorpions, would have raised his profile here, but it was not to be. Even during the '80s shred mayhem days, the German Flying V master who helped pioneer the genre didn't get the credit he deserved. He should be up there with Iommi, Blackmore, Vandenberg, Malmsteen and Moore.

There is not a bad song on here. The title song and "Samurai" (my favourite) are very heavy, and even the hit single (in Europe), "Dancer," has plenty of heft along with melody. "Ulcer" should be required listening for students of rock guitar.

It's too bad Michael wasn't able to hold this band together. Many know of Graham Bonnet's sacking after his sole live appearance at Britain's Reading Festival, which was unfortunate, because he wails on this album, just as on Rainbow's "Down To Earth". Cozy Powell (RIP) is missed, but Ted McKenna has nothing to apologise for. Chris Glenn slots in nicely on bass, and Tommy Eyre provides just enough keyboards - not overdone, not underdone.

If you're a fan of European melodic heavy metal, this is indispensable. Also get Schenker's first two albums, his work with UFO, the Scorps' "Lonesome Crow" and "Lovedrive."

I've been enchanted with this album since the summer of 1984 (2 years after its release). It is definitely a summer album (see Desert Song), and the band / combination of Michael & Graham Bonnett is exceptional. Ulcer is hands down my favorite song ever...I challenge anyone who doesn't feel like they could conquer the world listening to this blistering track. Top to bottom, Schenker's best. Listen and enjoy...it's guaranteed.

I bought this back when it came out and it influenced my own guitar playing tremendously.

This CD contains some of MSG's best songs (all of his early work is pretty essential though) and is probably his most consistent CD.

I agree with the previous reviewer from Greece, this is Schenker's best solo album. MSG is also a good album (and don't forget UFO classics like Obsession and Lights Out!), but this album has classic songs such as Desert Song (great riff and bass guitar!), Samurai, Assault Attack, and Rock You To The Ground. Apparently Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz, Impelliteri) could not write lyrics so Schenker gave him a magazine and told him to use it for ideas. It obviously worked! Schenker's playing is melodic and tasteful and the riffs rock!

Assault Attack is an album full of melodic and burning guitar licks and riffs. It is by far my favorite MSG album because it captures the essence of Michael Schenker's sound and provides the listener with some great songs. All the songs have something to offer. If you like melodic hard rock or are a guitar fan, check out this album.

This album first came out in a storm of controversy. Could Bonnet write lyrics? How would Schenker cope with a vocalist so different to Barden. Rumors of Bonnet drinking and being unable to learn the lyrics of the Barden-era songs. And after a bad warm-up gig, Bonnet is fired. Hence the credit on the album to "Gary Barden for the future" (rehired to MSG)

However, what resulted from the short Schenker-Bonnet liaison is an album that stands the test of time incredibly well. Martin Birch's production is spot on and gives Schenker's music an aggressive and heavy feel lacking from Glover and Nevison's efforts on the first two MSG albums. McKenna is excellent (Cozy Powell never got as good production as this), some amazing Glen basslines come through (listen to broken promises), and Bonnet - well he's Bonnet. Either you love his leather lungs style or hate it. The lyrics are a weak point but are quirkily bad, and so, in their own way classic. "You put me down / that's what I said / you put me down and then you kick me in my head" being a classic example. Or "The women scream as the camels run". And Schenker - just amazing and like everyone benefiting from Birch's production.

All in all, well worth getting on import. Also on the import version, a 9th track not previously available "Woman from uptown" which is as good as the others on the album.

Not perfect, but still a classic.

This LP was what I wanted. Got it for my brother before he died. He was very pleased and got to listen to some great music before he left. Thank you.

This record has much to recommend it to the diehard vintage hard rock fan. The songs are well constructed, the playing is impeccable and the production values are stellar (courtesy of legend Martin Birch). Most Michael Schenker fans consider `Assault Attack' to be his magnum opus. So why am I not in love with this album? Is it because I'm not a real big fan of Graham Bonnet; didn't like him in Rainbow and his voice does nothing for me in MSG. Also except for maybe the title track, there isn't a song on hear that I would out over any of my favorites from the first two LPs. There are some very choice cuts here including the aforementioned "Assault Attack", "Samurai" and "Desert Song". "Dancer" is unabashedly pop which is fine and "Rock You to the Ground" and "Broken Promises" are both decent blues work outs. I may be in the minority here but `Assault Attack' just doesn't fire me up. Gary Barden? Well he returned for the follow up to `AA' and the results were further mixed. If you ignore my bias against Graham Bonnet then you are probably in the group that puts `Assault Attack' on a pedestal and again I can't argue with you over its considerable merits. However my heart won't let me do that. Sail ships across the desert if you like but I Want More...