The Danish metal veterans;
Pretty Maids releases their follow-up
disc to the magnificent album 'Motherland'.
Their new album is called 'Louder Than
Ever' and the official release date is
the 21 March 2014. This isn't a new
studio album with all new songs. There
is 4 new tracks and 8 oldies on this
disc. The singer Ronnie Atkins explains:
"We wanted to keep the ball in spin and
release some kind of an 'in between'
album before the next 'real' studio
album. Then we were curious to hear how
some of the older songs would sound like
with the band lineup we have today and
in the hands of our current producer,
Jacob Hansen."
The track-list contains eight
songs from 1995-2006 and the songs are
re-recorded, re-mixed and re-polished
with a gentle touch from Jacob. It is a
good idea actually, instead of
re-release the older albums or do a
'Best Of' album. With these four new
songs it's worth the money to get a copy
of 'Louder Than Ever' to have in your
collection. The older songs have a
freshness and vitality in this new
package. Jacob Hansen has done a great
work and the choice of which songs they
should pick must have been a tough and
hard job. Personally Pretty Maids flew a
bit under my radar during these years,
so this is a pleasant acquaintance with
some of their older tracks. Ronnie
Atkins has taken good care of his vocal
chords through the years and is the
heart and soul of Pretty Maids' sound.
The first song 'Deranged' is a
action-filled and rapid metal track with
classy Pretty Maids colors. In the next
"new" song 'My Soul to Take', they do
step down the tempo and deliver a
beautiful and sensitive hard rock song
with strong vocals from Atkins. Best of
the new tracks is 'Nuclear Boomerang'
with pompous keys in the intro and it
quickly turns into a harsh up tempo
metal song with razor sharp guitar riffs
and will be a given live favorite! The
closing track is the fourth new song. 'A
Heart Without a Home': a ballad in top
class.
Of the older songs are 'Playing
God', the groovy 'He Who Never Lived',
'Snakes in Eden' and the awesome song
'Wake Up to the Real World' my personal
favorites. If you just like me has a gap
of music from Pretty Maids from the 90's
until 2010, this is a given investment.
Good choices of songs and they have
spiced it all up with four strong new
tracks. Thumbs up guys...
Anyhow, I really enjoyed the
time with 'Louder Than Ever'. Timeless
rock n roll from the Danish dynamite
band Number One!
Ronnie Atkins: Vocals
Ken Hammer: Guitar
Rene Shades: Bass
Allan Tchicaja: Drums
Morten Sandager: Keyboards
