STINGER – Expect The Unexpected (2022)
“Expect The Unexpected” is the new album from German classic rockers STINGER. This five-piece must be doing things right as their previous LP resulted awarded as ‘Hard Rock album Of The Year’ at the German Rock&Pop Awards. They got session / guest recordings from former members of AC/DC, ROSE TATTOO, as well as DORO and DIO. Stinger has already racked up some impressive accolades.
While originally the band were proudly influenced by classic-era AC/DC, for “Expect The Unexpected” – the band’s debut with Rock Of Angels records – they expanded the musical palette to all hard rock traditional styles.
And we said STINGER is doing things right as legendary MR BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH, THE WINERY DOG bass monster Billy Sheehan play on one song here.
Taking THE WINERY DOG as comparison for this album isn’t bad idea, however STINGER rocks harder. The album kicks off energetically with ‘Diggin’Up The Dirt’ and that promises something for the rest of the CD.
‘Chasing Utopia’ with a guest role for Billy Sheehan delivering his bi ‘bass guitar’ continues the album fine and the mood is now well set.
On ‘Down At The Water Below’ the classic AC/DC riffage appears for a cool, foot-taping tune, before ‘Roller Coaster’ picks up the energetic start of the beginning with a rapid rhythm. ‘No More Master’ starts with a ‘Tie Your Mother Down’ riff, showcasing STINGER varied influences.
‘Son Of A Gun’ is a party-ready rocker in the best late Seventies arena tradition that sounds nice and fast, while the album closes with the fun, tongue in cheek ‘Two Words One Finger’, which somehow brings to mind KROKUS.
On “Expect The Unexpected” you can ‘expect’ minutes 42 of entertaining, well written & recorded classic hard rock, 3-minute guitar driven songs to enjoy with a beer at hand.
Highly Recommended
01 – Diggin’ Up The Dirt
02 – Chasing Utopia (feat. Billy Sheehan)
03 – Monkey
04 – Highfalutin’
05 – Glory And Pride
06 – Down At The Water Below
07 – Roller Coaster
08 – No More
09 – Hallelujah
10 – Son Of A Gun
11 – Not My Part
12 – Two Words One Finger
Martin Schaffrath (Vocals)
Matthew Sting (Guitars)
Adrian Seidel (Guitars)
Simon Simon (Bass)
Sammy Sin (Drums)
Billy Sheehan (Bass on 2)
BUY
www.amazon.com/Expect-The-Unexpected/dp/B09WHFGGRT
