Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 3, 2016

I joked in our Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock: On a Mission - Live in Madrid 4K Blu-ray review about how it was virtually impossible to avoid the music video of The Scorpions’ “Rock Me Like a Hurricane” when I sprang for my first cable box back in the day, this despite the fact that the tune itself didn’t chart all that high in America. In a sign that the universe either has a sense of humor or a sense of sadism, that unforgettable anthem is back with a vengeance in Scorpions Live in Munich 2012, a homecoming of sorts for the still energetic band. With typical arena rock pyrotechnics that perhaps harken back to a time when music videos were a “thing”, this concert is vibrant and propulsive, even if Klaus Meine sounds just a little tired some of the time in the vocals department. Backed by Rudolf Schenker, Matthias Jabs, James Kottak and Pawel Maciwoda, the Scorpions prove that they’re still capable of providing some stinging (sorry) rock licks.

The band’s set list for the concert is:

1. Sting in the Tail
2. Make It Real
3. Is There Anybody There?
4. The Zoo
5. Coast to Coast
6. Loving You Sunday Morning
7. We’ll Burn the Sky
8. The Best is Yet to Come
9. Send Me an Angel
10. Holiday
11. Raised on Rock
12. Tease Me Please Me
13. Hit Between the Eyes
14. Kottak Attack
15. Blackout
16. Big City Nights
17. Still Loving You
18. Wind of Change
19. No One Like You
20. Rock You Like a Hurricane
21. When the Smoke is Going Down

Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eagle Vision, an imprint of Eagle Rock Entertainment, and Universal Music Group with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. This is a presentation whose clarity and detail levels tend to be dependent on the lighting regimens used onstage. When the lighting is bright and relatively normal looking (i.e., not shaded to weird hues), detail levels are excellent and clarity also very commendable. Unfortunately, a number of odd tones are used throughout the concert, including some frankly kind of ugly yellow (see screenshots 1 and 6) and blue (see screenshot 2), the latter of which especially tends to deplete detail levels even in some relative close-ups. Some very minor noise intrudes in some of the darkest shots, typically those involving the audience.

Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 features nice sounding LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks. While the 5.1 track nicely opens up the lower end, commendably it doesn't disperse the vocals, and so prioritization remains good throughout. There's some great propulsive energy at several moments, including a fun drum solo by Kottak. Fidelity is excellent and there no problems to report on these tracks.

Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no supplements offered on the Blu-ray disc.

Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Okay, universe, you've given me two discs in just the course of a couple of months which include "Rock You Like a Hurricane." I get it—it's one of those songs you can't get away from. The Scorpions give that tune as well as several others from their now long and storied career a good, boisterous reading in this concert, one which has good video and excellent audio. For fans if not for those who (maybe like me) have heard that aforementioned tune a time or to too many, Scorpions: Live in Munich 2012 comes Recommended.