Artist: ROCK WOLVES [ex-SCORPIONS, MAD MAX]
Album: ROCK WOLVES LTD. EDIT. (DIGI)

Release date: 2016
EAN/UPS: 886922707629
Media type: CD

No doubt about it, Rock Wolves leave no questions unanswered and certainly nothing to be desired. The band name alone is an unmistakable indication of the journey that this new all-star trio has embarked on: classic rock music, melodic, powerful, contemporary, diverse, with just the right degree of toughness and a sure feel for gritty hooks. This band knows how these things are done, because thanks to Herman Rarebell, Michael Voss and Stephan “Gudze” Hinz, Rock Wolves consists of three of the most renowned rock musicians of the past forty years. Musically as well as lyrically, their mission is straightforward, featuring great emotions but also clear words on current events. Their debut album will be available on Steamhammer/SPV as CD, LP and for download from 28 October 2016, the first single is scheduled for release on 9 September: ´Rock For The Nations` will mark the launch of an outstanding recording which aims at putting the focus back on timeless rock music. You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to predict that this concept is more than likely to work!

The idea to start Rock Wolves was conceived in autumn 2015 during a tour by Michael Schenker’s current band, Temple Of Rock, which Rarebell and Voss have been members of for five years. As a drummer and songwriter with the Scorpions, Herman Rarebell was significantly involved in eight of their studio albums between 1977 and 1996, among them classics such as Lovedrive, Blackout and Love At First Sting. Guitarist/vocalist Michael Voss first caused a stir in the 1980s with groups such as Mad Max and Casanova and his role in Temple Of Rock is not only that of a frontman, but also that of a songwriter and producer. When Schenker announced that he wanted to cut down on concerts in the coming months, an opportunity opened for Rarebell and Voss to start a new band together. They soon found the perfect bassist in Stephan “Gudze” Hinz. Gudze is founder member and bassist of H-Blockx and hence a representative of the 1990s rock generation. So here we have three illustrious names, three decades, and three artistic careers with similar but by no means congruent influences.

This diversity of ideas and the band’s almost boundless musical enthusiasm is reflected in every one of the eleven songs on their debut release. Straight rock numbers like the first single ´Rock For The Nations`, the shuffle groove-driven ´Surrounded By Fools`, the fast-paced ´Out Of Time`, and ´The Lion Is Loose` with its haunting live qualities, but also ´I Need Your Love`, which brings to mind the likes of AC/DC and Bad Company, are thoroughbred rock tracks that go directly to the listener’s gut and legs, as well as – like all ambitioned rock music should – touching on painful subjects. “Instead of delivering tanks and arms all over the world, Germany should concentrate on exporting good rock music,” Rarebell explains the message of ´Rock For The Nations`. The lyrics on ´Surrounded By Fools` with their warning of unscrupulous politicians are no less critical. Rarebell: “Let’s not be dazzled by their colourful election campaigns. Those politicians can easily end up bringing war to their countries.”

Naturally, no diverse rock album would be complete without two or three more quiet numbers with less controversial subjects. In ´Nothing´s Gonna Bring Me Down`, Rock Wolves have succeeded in recording a strikingly contemporary ballad which could have been penned in the same or a similar manner by Lenny Kravitz. Talking of which: the original version of the deeply melodic ´What About Love` was written by Jim Vallance, but celebrated its greatest success in 1985 with Heart, who topped the Billboard charts for an impressive 18 weeks with the song. “Our new version has been given the blessing by Jim Vallance himself. His only comment was: ´Your version is even better than my original, so go for it`,” remembers Rarebell.

The bar may be pretty high for an act with such a prestigious line-up, but a brilliant rock album like Rock Wolves’ debut has everything it takes to conquer the charts, because at the end of the day quality will always prevail, and as poet and novelist Hermann Hesse put it so aptly: ´Each beginning bears a special magic.` It will prove very difficult to resist the magic of this new band.

TRACKLIST CD:

1. Rock For The Nations 3:46
2. Surround By Fools 4:03
3. Out Of Time 3:31
4. What About Love 3:28
5. The Blame Game 3:19
6. Riding Shotgun 3:26
7. Nothings Gonna Bring Me Down 3:05
8. The Lion Is Loose 3.33
9. I need Your Love 3:33
10. Lay With Me 3:30