Scorpions-Animal Magnetism (1980)

With "Animal Magnetism", Scorpions ushered in the 1980s with their seventh album, a record that, despite containing echoes of the dark and heavy hard rock of the 1970s, already showcased some of the atmospheres typical of the heavy metal sound of their new era. The systematic guitar harmonies of Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs are accompanied by the sublime vocal melodies of Klaus Meine and the driving rhythm section comprised of the prodigious drummer Herman Rareball and bassist Francis Buchholz. Thrilling tracks like the heavy metal anthem "Don't Make No Promises" lead the album down tremendously heavy and melodic paths; "The Zoo", "Only a Man", "Animal Magnetism", "Hold Me Tight", and "Make It Real", in which they still struggle to shed their hard rock roots, while the melodic sensibility remains present in formidable compositions like the atmospheric "Lady Starlight". With this work, the German band perfectly combined the haunting sound of hard rock, their usual melodies, and the power of metal, something their fans recognized, achieving a well-deserved platinum record in the North American market.