Pretty Maids - Planet Panic
The Danes are ones again back in business, this time with a very direct record that still containing all the classic elements.

The following are my favourite tracks:

Virtual Brutality flirts around with some distorted effects that work out surprisingly well. A very angry and in your face song with heavy rhythm guitar riffs and a rock tight drum attack.
I'm a big fan of Ronnie Atkins raw and striking voice, the slower mid-section sees him perform some great lines. This is in fact a very advanced and progressive sounding Pretty Maids song that kick serious ass.

Natural High is a traditional Pretty Maids love ballad; I must say that they have a special talent for making catchy and rocking softies. The sedative verse parts have a reassuring mood to it and the chorus has a very melodic dynamic.

Enter Forevermore has a dark and mysterious atmosphere created by some spacy keys. The relaxing guitar leads and Ronnie's all-embracing vocals are other highlights.

Playing God starts out very aggressively; a pounding bass gives it a very heavy fundament. The shift from an electric to an acoustic guitar rhythm is a cool detail and with the melodic lead section we are dealing with pure brilliance.

The album has other quite good songs and a couple not really getting up there:

He Who Never Lived has its cool aspects in some grooving parts, the powerful vocals and the skilful guitar playing. It just never becomes really interesting, partly due to a chorus line that is too tame and standard for holding the song up, not a bad song at all though.

Worthless is the other above average song that lacks that well functioning binding melody or chorus. The keyboard lays a tense mood and the acoustic guitars also sound great, but it just hasn't that driving force found in many of the other songs.

Ken Hammer throws in many really great guitar passages and variations, as in the splendid and
captivating mid-section in Who's Gonna Change, great harmonious stuff.
Overall his nerve-filled playing shines on the whole album, not overly technical but who needs that when it's melodic and powerful. The vocals are truly outstanding and the extremely tight bass and solid drums collaborate in fine manner. The moody, sporadic and well-added keys enhance the songs and works as an interesting fifth element, so musically things are presented in a convincing way.

Length-wise I find this one in the short end, not counting the cover song we get around 38 minutes of music, not much but acceptable.

Lyrically the album lives up to the high musical standard, dealing with some important themes like the abuse of religion and science, egoism and more positive aspects found in Natural High and the spiritual Enter Forevermore.

All in all this a very good album, having a nice blend of melody and intensity and some really fantastic cuts.

Written by Tommy
Monday, June 14, 2004
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Ratings

Tommy: 7/10

Members: 6/10 - Average of 1 ratings.



Member ratings

Profile pictureSteen (Staff)

Rating: 6/10
Well, this is not my favourite Pretty Maids album. That title still belongs to Spooked. ... · Read more ·

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Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Tuesday, June 22, 2004
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Comments: 245
The WORST Pretty Maids album yet! I love the way they change styles every other album, "Sin-Decade", "Future World", "Spooked", "Jump the Gun" - all classics in their own special ways, but this incarnation of the band is plodding and boring. They try to be vicious and rough and it just doesn't work. There are a few good songs (no PM album can be ALL bad!) but overall its a disappointment.

Posted by Alanna (Staff)
Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Review by Steen (Staff) - Monday, December 2, 2002
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Comments: 518
Well, this is not my favourite Pretty Maids album. That title still belongs to Spooked.

After listening to Planet Panic many times I'm still a little disappointed. It's an OK album, just nowhere near as good as I had hoped. On this album PM have taken a heavier path but unfortunately most of the songs have become extremely simple and lack the melodic touch that is their trademark. The band seems somewhat uninspired to me and there are just too many indifferent songs here.

Virtual Brutality, Natural High and Enter forevermore are the tracks that save the album somewhat and show that they haven't lost their touch.

Virtual Brutality has become one of my favourite Pretty Maids songs. To hear the power of this song live has to be experienced. It's awesome.

A good album, but not among their best.

Rating: 6/10

Posted by Steen (Staff)
Monday, December 2, 2002










Review by Tommy
None

Released by
C&P - 2002

Tracklisting
1. Virtual Brutality
2. Playing God
3. He Who Never Lived
4. Face Of My Enemy
5. Not What You Think
6. Natural High
7. Who's Gonna Change
8. Worthless
9. One Way To Rock
10. Enter Forevermore


Style
Heavy Metal

Related links
Visit the band page

Pretty Maids - Official Website

Other articles
Spooked - (Tommy)

Live with Nice Try at Hollywood Hard Rock - Fredericia, December 17. 2004 - (Michael & Steen)

Live at the Skanderborg Festival 2006 - (Steen)

Live at Train - Aarhus Denmark, December 13th 2006 - (Michael)

Live at Open Air Varde - July 27th, 2007 - (Tommy)

Pandemonium - (Alanna)

Pandemonium - (Steen)

Wake Up To The Real World - (Alanna)



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