Tag: pink cream 69

This is the first PC69 album that came out way back in ’89, and they have changed so much over the years. Now, they are a killer hard rock band, writing some killer tunes that stick in your brain.

This album is a borderline glam sleaze record with that harder edge, courtesy of the guitar of Alfie Koffler. Apparently they had a reputation of being “dicks” back in the day and there is a Freak Kitchen tune called Jerks which is all about these guys. Anyhoo, what’s the album like, I hear you ask?

Well, it ain’t half bad. It ranges from the awesome Rolling Down A Thunder and Welcome The Night, to the meh with Close Your Eyes (ballad). However, my favourite track is Partymaker, where the band give it their best Van Halen impression. A high speed riff and guitar fest with double kicks all the way. Parasite brings the sleazey vibe that I mentioned earlier, any late 80’s LA band would have been proud of this one.

I do prefer the PC69 with Dave Readman on vocals, but this is a fun album nonetheless.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

This is album number three from one of Germany’s most underrated bands, Pink Cream 69. This was also the last for singer Andi Deris before he jumped ship to join Helloween. This version came out as part of RSD a few years ago, and just to show how record companies don’t care about vinyl at all, it was released in just a hard plastic cover. I’m sure if you are a collector you will be aware of “gassing,” where over time the plastic breaks down and adheres itself to the record. Anyhoo, enough of me moaning it’s the music we are here for.

I love this album as it was sort of a transition record moving away from the hair band grooves to a more hard rock sound, and I think no other one sounds like it. Plus it contains one of their best tunes in Keep Your Eye In The Twisted. Great groove and riff and a chorus that you will be singing constantly as it just sticks in your brain. Yes, it’s my favourite tune. Face In The Mirror and Way Down run it very close however, both are killer songs and the breakdown in Way Down is superb. And, Monday Again has to be one of the heaviest tunes the band have done with double kicks pounding all the way.

Great band and a great album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Another band that were quite big in mainland Europe but didn’t do so well in the US. Pink Cream 69 have been around since ’87 but this album was released in ’91. Unlike their melodic counterparts in the US who all but disappeared after the great grunge unpleasantness, PC69 consistently released albums and toured them. At this point vocalist, Andi Deris was still a part of the band before joining Helloween and its his best record with the band. I love this album as it has that perfect blend between metal and hard rock. Plenty of crunch but the melody is never far away.

Killer start with Livin’ My Life For You, a great uptempo rocker with a great riff and groove. Talk To The Moon is even better. A slower groove but it sounds a lot heavier, and the guitar sound is awesome. Hell’s Gone Crazy keeps the band’s metal credentials in tact as the double kicks are pounding all the way. Superb hook and chorus, great guitar sound and it’s my favourite track. Do You Like It Like That was released as a single in Europe and rightly so as it’s probably one of the more commercial songs here. Ballerina closes out Side 1 and was also released as a single, but this one’s a ballad.

Maximum riffage to the intro of Side 2 opener Signs Of Danger. They do these songs so well. A great dirty riff and groove to Walkin’ Out To Heaven, plus superb leads from Alfi Koffler. Stray Kid follows and I really love the riff and vibe at the intro. The main verse and song is pure LA. Piggy Back Bitch has a cool quirky riff and groove, great middle eight. The album closes out with Where The Eagle Learns To Fly and it’s another power ballad. I never get why bands close out albums with a ballad. I’m a “go out with a bang” kind of guy.

Still a great album, though.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the 12th studio by the German melodic hard rockers, and would be the last to feature original member and main songwriter and producer, Dennis Ward. The band have been through their fair share of personal changes, including original singer, Andi Deris, leaving to join Helloween. His replacement was a relative unknown powerhouse from Burnley, Dave Readman, who has been there ever since.

I have quite a few of there albums, but this is the first I have on vinyl. Glad to report that the quality of songs is as high as ever. Dennis has gone out on a high as the songwriting and production are really high and is up there with their best albums. Opening track, We Bow To None, is a beast of an opening tune with double kicks pounding away. Walls Come Down is a more commercial sounding tune with a great chorus and melody. Unite And Divide is my favourite so far as it has a superb melody and hook with some killer guitar from Uwe Reitenauer – who would also leave the band after this album. No More Fear, if possible, is even better! A really awesome melody, hook, and groove with a killer riff. Man Of Sorrow is a big build up track that starts real slow and kicks in with a great riff and melody. Path Of Destiny starts with a really heavy opening and is the heaviest track so far.

If this album came out in ’84, these guys would be kings of the world. Vagrant Of The Night is the big centrepiece of the record with Readman showing what a great singer he is, and also some killer guitar from Reitenaur. Bloodsucker is the most simple track on the record, with a very easy riff and melody but works really well. Whistleblower has a nice chugga riff and a great choppy groove – it picks up the pace nicely.

We close out the record with The Other Man, and the focus here is on the vocal and the harmonies which are just fantastic. It will be interesting to see where the band go from here as Ward and Koffler have been the main songwriters, and with no Dennis, who knows? But this is one hell of a record to go out on.

10/10 from The Grooveman.