Frontiers Records [Release date 04.11.16]
“Kingmaker” is Pretty Maids’ 15th studio album if you include 2014’s superb “Louder Than Ever” which contained re-recordings of old tunes plus 4 newbies and it continues their run of high quality releases.
The Danish band still contains founding members Ronnie Atkins (aka Paul Christensen) on vocals and Ken Hammer (aka Kenneth Hansen) on guitar. Joining them are Rene Shades (aka Rene Sehic) on bass and long term drummer Allan Tschicaja. Keyboard player Morten Sandager left in 2014 and has only recently been replaced by Chris Laney who joined too late to actually record on the album so, the honours went to Anubis Gate’s Kim Olesen.
Opener When God Took A Day Off fairly motors along after an appropriate intro featuring chanting monks and cannot be faulted at all. Title track Kingmaker follows along a similar hard rock vein.
Face The World and Humanize Me lighten proceedings a little with their classy melodic rock. Last Beauty on Earth is the big ballad and offers the chance to wave the lighters (nowadays mobile phones) in the air.
The heavier side of Pretty Maids returns on Bull’s Eye and The King of Here and Now. Heaven’s Little Devil is very commercial and could pass for The Poodles at times.
Ronnie was singing about his goats on “Motherland” (I See Ghosts) and this time around he seems to be singing about the ceiling in his house (Sickening)…funny how you mishear things and then cannot hear it any other way…classic track nonetheless.
Production, courtesy of Volbeat producer Jacob Hansen, is crystal clear throughout.
What is it with superb European melodic hard rock bands? Pink Cream 69, Shakra, Gotthard, Jorn, Pretty Maids…they are all head and shoulders above their US counterparts.
Quite a lyrically dark album but still another class outing from Pretty Maids…improves with every listen. ****½
Review by Phil Berisford
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 24 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 26 November 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
