The fourth full-length studio album by the legendary German Hard Rock band.
It was released in 1976 and was the first album of the band to attract attention outside Europe.
The album was a step in the band's shift from Psychedelic music to Hard Rock. For the first time in the band's career, the line-up stayed the same with Klaus Meine on vocals, Uli Jon Roth on lead guitar, Rudolf Schenker on rhythm guitar, Francis Buchholz on bass, and Rudy Lenners on drums. The nine tracks were laid down with Dieter Dierks producing.
The band is in top form and churns out some melodic yet blistering Heavy Rock. "Virgin Killer" is full of heavy songs and exceptionally fast, innovative guitar leads by Uli Jon Roth. These songs are infectious and Uli's guitar solo on the Jimi Hendrix inspired "Polar Nights" exhibits the thunder-heavy riffs and grooves that make it a classic!
The title is described as being a reference to time as the killer of innocence. The original cover featured a nude prepubescent ten-year-old girl with a shattered glass effect obscuring her genitalia, which stirred controversy in the UK, U.S. and elsewhere. As a result, the album was re-issued with a different cover in some countries.
"Virgin Killer" is just a milestone. In every sense of the word, it wows the listener with a fresh, rocking sound and an all around tighter musical base. It lacks the Psychedelic noodling that we loved on "In Trance", but the songs are catchier, more polished and Klaus Meine’s vocals are the best they’d ever get in the 70s. His light, attitude-filled crooning sails deftly over the crisp guitar riffs and energetic drumming. This whole album is just really tailored to perfection all around. The songs are short and manageable.
The Hendrix comparisons are endless, "Virgin Killer" is simply essential listening! Truly one of the revolutionary, early Heavy Metal albums; a landmark album for the genre's development that made Uli Jon Roth a guitar legend!!
RCA, 1976/1977/1988 (ND70031). Made in Germany.
Tracklist:
1. Pictured Life 3:25
2. Catch Your Train 3:38
3. In Your Park 3:45
4. Backstage Queen 3:13
5. Virgin Killer 3:44
6. Hell-Cat 2:58
7. Crying Days 4:40
8. Polar Nights 5:08
9. Yellow Raven 5:01
Total playing time: 35:32