Michael Schenker Group

The Unforgiven (Shrapnel)
by Martin Popoff

Well, well, something from the whole recent, ridiculous but regal UFO experience has rubbed off on tempestuous axeman Michael Schenker, and that would be songs, songs with a band feel, songs outside of trend or metal niché-carving. And that is the beauty of The Unforgiven, a heavy Schenker classic in every sense of the word – fat, groove-brimming riffs that borrow from the blues and the Gothic conventions that Schenker helped create, but bow to no sense of obviousness. Underscoring the event is the presence of vocalist Kelly Keeling, who puts in a spiritual performance somewhere between Coverdale, Dio, Tony Martin, and a two-pack-a-day habit. He rules. And what’s more, he fits, countering Schenker’s incredible deck of smart riffs that themselves are like prime Sykes-era Whitesnake on smart pills. It’s such a home-spun mix, produced to perfection but warm beyond words, even the drums sounding like big, time-worn rocks, as Keeling and Schenker feel out new ways to court tradition. Hot damn, I hope Michael keeps this band, or more pertinently, I hope they keep him. Why can’t we all just be friends?