Pretty Maids Pandemonium
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
Pretty Maids is one of the most criminally underrated bands of the past three decades. Pretty Maids SHOULD have a handful of number one hits and a few platinum albums to their resume. They consistently produce the highest quality melodic Hard Rock on the planet, each studio effort, and yet, people are still discovering them. While the song (and album) “Future World” certainly put the band on the map, it was their 1990 release Jump the Gun (called Lethal Heroes in America) that SHOULD have made them a global phenomenon. But that was in 1990 when Grunge hit, and the best album Pretty Maids ever recorded went critically unheralded and fell between the cracks. The heavily melodic brilliance of Jump the Gun wasn’t quite replicated on later releases, although Carpe Diem and Planet Panic came pretty damn close, but the new studio effort Pandemonium meets and may just surpass anything Pretty Maids has released thus far.
You know the winds of change or blowing when on the opening song and title track American President Barack Obama is quoted. Political beliefs aside, bands like Power Quest devoted an entire album to bashing former President George W. Bush, so it’s definitely a change when another European band has a more positive perception of America’s current leader. “Pandemonium” is a keyboard-heavy anthem, with new permanent member Morten Sandager flaunting his skills immediately. Pretty Maids singer Ronnie Atkins has always owned one of the more recognizable and unique voices in the industry; he can croon and sing ballads but unlike 99 percent of singers, the higher he sings, the heavier and more gritty the vocals become. He used to be downright guttural in the early ‘80s, but on the aforementioned Jump the Gun Atkins found a middle ground between the two styles and has continued to improve through the decades. Atkins sounds like no one, and his trademark vocal prowess is one reason why Pretty Maids will always stand apart.
Although the band released “Little Drops of Heaven” as the first single, there’s little doubt that “I.N.V.U.” is the highlight of Pandemonium. “I.N.V.U.” begins like a searing rock anthem, but then smoothes out into a mid-tempo radio hit. Again, Atkins takes the edge off his voice on the lower passages, and guitarist Ken Hammer flows between the initial frantic riffs to a more sedate style during the verses. It is the chorus, though, the sheer melody and honesty that pulls you in, with Atkins singing, “You’re flawless, prestigious, and I envy you. I’m faceless, ungracious, and I envy you.” The swirling keys bring you back to their earlier hits but it’s still modern enough, especially with Hammer’s guitar playing, to keep things current. This song reminds of “Savage Heart” or even “Over and Out,” two timeless Pretty Maids compositions from days gone by …
Up next is the first single/video, “Little Drops from Heaven.” It’s a way more mainstream song, along the lines of W.E.T.’s current album. More AOR focused and slightly more cheesy, it does feature magnificent hooks and it probably the catchiest song on Pandemonium. It’s just not as good as “I.N.V.U.”
One thing about Pretty Maids, though, is they do want to “Rock the House.” Hell, they even wrote a song about it once. So when you get to “Cielo Drive,” a racing anthem that is all speed and wicked Hammer riffs, don’t be surprised at how heavy the band can play. “Cielo Drive” is also a song about the madman killer Charlie Manson, so when Atkins sings, “Hell, tonight! No one left alive, on Cielo Drive!” the menace just drips from the words, and it haunts.
Their next single must be “It Comes At Night,” since they have a bonus remix as the last song. The bottom end from bassist Kenn Jackson steers the verses, along with drummer Allan Tschicaja’s off-time fills and overall expert explosive style. This is a bit more complex than some of the radio leaning compositions on Pandemonium, and also has that weird Richie Sambora vocal “wah wah” part like on their song “Living On a Prayer.” The cool thing about this song, along with the overwhelming menace, is the dual key and guitar solo.
While “I.N.V.U.” could be and “Little Drops from Heaven” is a single, the song “Breathless” also has “hit” written all over it. Pretty Maids can somehow write a Heavy Metal song about a murderer and then turn around and pen a love song that is utterly believable. Few bands can master either style — Pretty Maids is a master of both.
Pandemonium is simply one of 2010’s best releases, and it doesn’t matter what other albums come out in 2010, because 99.9 percent won’t be able to stand up next to Pretty Maids this year.
Genre: Hard Rock
Band:
Ronnie Atkins (vocals)
Ken Hammer (guitars)
Kenn Jackson (bass)
Allan Tschicaja (drums)
Morten Sandager (keyboards)
Track listing:
1. Pandemonium
2. I.N.V.U.
3. Little Drops of Heaven
4. One World One Truth
5. Final Day of Innocence
6. Cielo Drive
7. It Comes at Night
8. Old Enough to Know
9. Beautiful Madness
10. Breathless
11. It Comes at Night (remix bonus track)
Label: Frontiers Records
Web site: www.prettymaids.dk
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.8/10