Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Don’t Sell Your Soul

September 30th, 2025 by david.wilson

earMUSIC [Release date 03.10.25]

The announcement for this album came as a bit of a surprise to many. Michael had been out touring his UFO live set around the globe, so where he found the time to fit in the writing and recording of this album is anyone’s guess.

As with previous releases, Michael has teamed up with various vocalists to take to the mic across the eleven tracks on offer here. Depending on your personal preferences this can either be a good thing, or can make an album a bit of a patchy affair. I will leave you to form your own opinions on that…

The album opens with the title track ‘Don’t Sell Your Soul’ which is built around a chugging riff that urges the song on. Erik Gronwall takes vocal duties here, and on the bulk of the albums tracks, and puts in a good performance.

We then enter the ‘Danger Zone’ with Michael showing a flash of his fretboard skills at the start before the track settles in as a classic melodic rock song with a rock solid riff. That then leads us into the ‘Eye Of The Storm’ which moves things up several gears. A driving bassline coupled with a heavy riff and an excellent vocal performance from Robin McAuley makes this an early album highlight.

Joining Michael for this album are his current live backing band, Bodo Schopf on drums, Barend Courbois on bass and Steve Mann on guitar and keyboards, and they prove to be a very tight unit.

‘Janey The Fox’ slows things down a bit with a bluesy riff and a laid back vocal. The song itself twists and turns and is an interesting composition. We then get back to more familiar ground with ‘I Can’t Stand Waiting’ which, again, is another melodic rock staple. A great song very much in the classic Schenker vein.

Michael Voss then steps up to the mic for ‘Sign Of The Times’ which ups the ante once more in the full-on rock stakes. Michael’s guitar work here is highly impressive and a good reminder, if you needed one, on why he is still at the top of the six string tree.

Next track, ‘The Chosen One’, has a darker feel to it. A slow, brooding track that reminds me in part of Dio era Rainbow, right up until the drums kick in and Michael streaks off at lightening pace towards the end of the track. Quite the finishing flurry!

We then return to more traditional fare once more with ‘It’s You’. Another straightforward rocker, which is no bad thing, complete with more blistering fretwork from Herr Schenker.

Robin McAuley then takes the mic once more for ‘Six string Shotgun’. This is another dark, brooding number with a big chorus which Robin handles with ease. Of all the vocalists on the album, for me, Robin stands out above the rest. His distinctive vocal delivery is a perfect fit for Michael’s music and harks back to the glory days of the McAuley/Schenker Group.

Given that the band were busy touring the UFO back catalogue whilst recording this album, it comes as no surprise to find a bit of that influence within this album. The melodies and song structure of ‘Flesh and Bone’ bring to mind some of UFO’s big hitters, but has the Schenker stamp firmly on it.

The album is rounded off with ‘Surrender’ which gives Bodo Schopf a real workout on his double bass pedals. This is a fast paced, riff laden track which brings the album to a close at a frantic pace.

This album sends a firm message that Michael can still write a great song and that his nimble fingerwork is undiminished after all his years of rocking. Proof indeed that if you have talent in spades then you don’t need to sell your soul to be a rock god! ****

Review by Dave Wilson

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