"Sting in the Tail" is the seventeenth studio album by the German rock band Scorpions. It was released on March 19, 2010, in Europe and on March 23 in North America. The album is comprised of 12 tracks and is considered the band's final studio album of original material at the time, with the band announcing plans for their retirement on January 24, 2010. Although it has been positioned as their final album, the band continued to tour and play live after its release.
The album was produced by Mikael "Nord" Andersson and Martin Hansen, who mostly integrated heavy rock with occasional ballads. Its release was followed up by a successful world tour, crossing several continents and stimulating Scorpions' decades-long fanbase. The lead single of the album, "Raised on Rock", was released on February 1, 2010.
While the album radiates strong hard rock vibes similar to their early work, tracks like "The Good Die Young", "Turn You On", "Spirit of Rock" and "Sting in the Tail" also showcase their thriving musical chemistry. Despite the announcement surrounding the band's retirement, they later retracted their decision in 2012, mainly due to the strong response to this album and their subsequent tour. However, "Sting in the Tail" marks a salient point in their discography, signifying a conclusive chapter in the band's journey and evolution.
