Tag: pretty maids

This is album number four from Denmark’s finest, released back in ’92. It has always amazed me how Pretty Maids weren’t bigger outside of mainland Europe. They have everything that any decent hard rockin’ band should have. Great songs, a killer sound, a frontman and vocalist that sure can sing and work a crowd, plus a rhythm section and guitar player that can really play.

This album came out in prime time grunge yet, unlike other bands of the same persuasion they carried on releasing records and never veered too far from the path. The album kicks off with Running Out, a supercharged rocker with a chain saw guitar riff that rocks your world right from the get go. Who Said Money follows and is more of a patented hair band anthem. A huge hook and chorus coupled with a hands in the air groove with a very simple riff. Nightmare In The Neighbourhood is a ballad masquerading as a killer mid tempo groover. Slow start with a lighters in the air intro then crunch, we’re off and running. Love the guitar sound and riff, man these guys sure can write a hook and chorus. Great track!

The title track is up next and after the spoken word intro it is four to the floor double kicks and killer riff city. The added keys and superb vocal and harmonies make this my favourite track. A nice, fat, low end, chugga riff opens up Come On Tough, Come On Nasty and again the hook and chorus are massive. Five years earlier a American radio would have been drooling all over this one. Raise The Flag closes out Side 1 with a blast. Melodic rock meets speed metal.

Credit Card Lover gets Side 2 underway with another melodic rock anthem. Huge hook and chorus that just sticks in your head. Know It Ain’t Easy slows the tempo down with the first proper power ballad of the album. The riff returns with Healing Touch, a massive stomp groove coupled with a massive hook and chorus, and a middle eight to die for, this is another winner. In The Flesh is the pedal all the way to the metal. Love this track and it’s a very close second to being my favourite. The album come to a close all to quickly with Please Don’t Leave Me, and if I’m honest it’s a bit of a Debbie Downer. After a selection of songs that are so good, to go out on a whimp-o-rama ballad is such a poor choice.

Apart from the last track this album kills.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

This is Danish rock band Pretty Maids’ killer second release, which came out all the way back in ’87. I’m a big fan of Ronnie Atkins’ voice as he can go from the cleans to a full on metal assault in the blink of an eye.

After the weird Disney Princess keyboard intro, the title track comes blasting in with double kicks a pounding alongside a killer riff. This tune fair screams along. Great opening! Next up is We Came To Rock, a hands in the air stomper with a huge sing-a-long chorus. Love Games is a change in vibe, as it is more of an AOR melodic rocker. Side 1 ends with Yellow Rain and it starts like a power ballad and just when all hope is lost the crunch kicks in and blows the cobwebs right away.

Loud N’ Proud opens up Side 2 with a blast. A chest thumping metal stomper to get the head bobbing. Rodeo is up next and the riff and groove remind me of the Scorpions’, as does the main vocal line, but the chorus is pure west coast AOR. It’s favourite track time next with Needles In The Dark. A full on kick ass melodic metal monster. Eye Of The Storm is a slow build power ballad, taking a while to get to the power bit. The album closes out with Long Way To Go, a big hair metal anthem with the big sing-a-long chorus.

I like this album, it’s just a fun listen.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the debut album released back in ’84 from Denmark’s leading exponents of metal. Lead by the superb Ronnie Atkins on vocals, I’ve always had a soft spot for this band. I’m also a sucker for the twin lead guitar sound, and in Rick Hanson and the delightfully named Ken Hammer, Pretty Maids have got it down to a T.

Opening track, Fortuna, is a take on Carmina Burana, before a real fast paced opening on the track Back To Black kicks in, and the title track follows with the band channeling their inner Judas Priest. Waitin’ For The Time To Come sounds like a different band as the vibe is more melodic rock, and parts of this song remind me of Def Leppard. Side 1 closes out with Cold Killer, which I think is about aliens out in space on their way to wipe out the human race.

Battle Of Pride kicks Side 2 into gear and is one of my favourites on the album with a nice up-tempo ditty that gets the foot a tappin’ and the head a bobbin’. Night Danger is another contender as the double kicks are pounding on this one. The more melodic side returns with A Place In The Night, and I have to say it reminds me of Runaway by Bon Jovi. Nice tune! The opening to Queen Of Dreams is pomp at its finest and something Styx and Angel would have been proud of. The album closes out with Little Darling with the chugga’s really drivin’ the song along.

Big fan of The Maids, and they would go one to release some killer records.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the third album by Denmark’s finest export to the melodic hard rock and metal world. A great band that have continued recording quality albums since their inception back in ’81. Whereas a lot of bands of this genre disappeared in the 90’s due to a change in the musical climate, these guys kept on plugging away and sold shit tons of records in the process.

This album was produced by Roger Glover who knows a thing or two about great records, in fact, he actually plays bass on one track, and Ian Paice drums on one track also. This could be the best melodic rock album you have never heard, as outside of mainland Europe they aren’t that well known. Killer songs with a great production make this a must have album in my opinion. My favourite tracks (and there are a few): opening track, Lethal Heroes, hits the spot perfectly with a killer melody and hook, Rock The House rocks and grooves hard with a great riff and is a get up and rock kind of song. They even have “Journey moments” with tracks like Young Blood, which would have made a great song for Schon’s mob. The winner of track of the album though goes to Attention, with the double kicks a pounding and a great euro metal riff. Big shout out to singer Ronnie Atkins, who is the owner of a great set of pipes and is the hero of this record.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.