Pretty Maids – Pandemonium (2010)
I have been a fan of Pretty Maids since their classic Future World release. Needless to say, I was pretty excited when I received the news about the band’s follow-up to 2006’s Wake Up To the Real World. With Pandemonium, Pretty Maids have turned in another solid effort, and one that will definitely appeal to fans of the band’s previous releases, and melodic rock in general.
The album opens up with the title track, “Pandemonium”. It seems like to me that Pretty Maids tried to recapture some of the same magic from Future World, and more or less it does. I thought it was odd for a Danish band to have prattlings in their song from U.S. President Barack Obama, and quite frankly, I could have lived with it. Aside from that, “Pandemonium” is a pretty solid opener. I love the up tempo keys of Morten Sandager, and the heavy guitars of Ken Hammer. Ronnie Atkins voice is a lot heavier and more coarse than I remember it being, but it works great with this type of music.
“I.N.V.U” is another melodic monster that reminds me a lot of the current style of the band Gotthard. This is another great tune from Pretty Maids.
If you have been listening to the Hard Rock Hideout Radio Show, you have heard the song “Little Drops of Heaven” a few times by now. In my opinion, this song is easily one of the best of Pretty Maids career. Check it out in the video below.
“One World One Truth” is another up tempo rocker. This one has it all! Blazing guitar solos, great vocals, killer keys. “One World One Truth” does not disappoint at all.
The intro of “Final Day of Innocence” reminds me of the Who’s “Teenage Wasteland”. This song is a pretty catchy melodic rocker that will have you singing along in no time.
“Cielo Drive” is one of the heavier cuts on Pandemonium,. I am a sucker for these up tempo heavy tunes from Pretty Maids, and this one is easily one of my favorites.
You get two versions of “It Comes at Night” on Pandemonium. This song mixes it up with some cool guitar work, killer piano, occasional voice coder. You will want to hit replay after you hear this song the first time. This is some killer stuff. The second version of the song is a minute and a half longer with a longer intro. I think I like the longer version better, but both are very cool.
“Old Enough to Know” has a much more updated song to it, and doesn’t have the dominant keyboards that are present on the other songs on Pandemonium. As a result, “Old Enough To Know” almost sounds out-of-place on this album. The song is a little lighter than what I would expect from Pretty Maids, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them have a hit with this song. This is more in the vein of the music on Bon Jovi’s The Circle.
Luckily, the detour for Pretty Maids is a short one, and the heaviness returns on “Beautiful Madness”. “Beautiful Madness” is a mid-tempo number that is a real grower. I find myself cranking this one up in my car.
The song “Breathless” reminds me a lot of Foreigner. This song would not have been out-of-place on Foreigner’s last CD, “Can’t Slow Down”.
Overall, I enjoyed the songs on Pandemonium quite a bit, and found no filler tracks. This is one of the better melodic rock CD’s I have listened to in 2010!
Pandemonium will be released in the U.S. on June 8th. You definitely don’t want to miss out on this CD. You can pick up Pandemonium at this link.
For more information on Pretty Maids, please visit the prettymaids.dk.
Rating: 
Out of 10
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)
Pretty Maids are:
Ronnie Atkins – lead vocals
Ken Hammer – guitar
Allan Tschicaja – drums
Morten Sandager – keyboards
Kenn Jackson – bass
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This song rips it! Very cool album too… thanks for spotlighting Pretty Maids!
Stone
great song,from a great band,been a fan sinse 1985
great song,from a great band.been your fan sinse 1985.
Great job Rob. Ive got my copy ordered. I cant wait. love Pretty Maids!
AWESOME SONG, “LITTLE DROPS OF HEAVEN”, YOU TOUCHED MY HEART & SOUL WITH THIS SONG… LOVE IT!!! ROCK ON!!!
PEACE 🙂
ANGEL