Pretty Maids are a band that at one stage came onto my radar and I ended up buying a best of compilation called "The Best of....Back to Back". That was quite a while ago and to be honest it was one of those albums that I haven't played that much, despite there being some decent tracks on there such as "Red, Hot & Heavy".
On to the present and this new album from these Danish rockers. Despite being Danish, they've got a soundbite from Obama opening the title track which in time honored metal tradition is a uptempo number designed to grab your attention. The next couple of tracks adopt a more melodic approach. INVU reminds me of the Treat album that was released recently. The lead off single "Little Drops Of Heaven" is very catchy and a really good track. The more muscular, but yet still melodic, "One World One Truth" & "Final Day Of Innocence" are decent tracks with some good guitar work.
It is then onto a full assault for "Ceilo Drive" & "It Comes At Night" as the band go into heavy metal mode. The way the band seem to suddenly veer off into this sort of metal mayhem is probably the reason that the earlier compilation didn't cut it for me. The band came across as a little schizophrenic and also tended to sound a little average on the more metal tracks. However, this time, I'll have to admit that the more metal tracks are better and manage scrabble their way into positive tractor.
The Bon Jovi-isms of "Old Enough To Know", the sufficiently melodic "Beautiful Madness" and the slower more acoustic "Breathless" all make good impressions. There a remix of "It Comes At Night" as the final track, but it isn't a radical departure from the earlier version.
The band have clearly put those years since I first checked them out to good use, as they have a good album that keeps me engaged even on the more metal moments.
Rating: 3 stars
