PINK CREAM 69 - Ceremonial
March 26, 2013, 11 years ago
(Frontiers)
Odd that long-running German outfit Pink Cream (once home to current HELLOWEEN vocalist Andi Deris) is now almost an afterthought to some of its members (at least financially, hence this being the first release since In10sity, back in ‘07), with bassist-turned-power metal producer extraordinaire Dennis Ward garnering praise for his studio wizardry (as well as moonlighting in UNISONIC), ditto singer David Readman, who can be seen fronting VOODOO CIRCLE. Apart from the keyboards and occasional odd synth guitar squawk, this is hard rock, in the late 70s English tradition, (not as odd as it sounds, given the aforementioned gents are American and British, respectively), Ceremonial is comprised of a dozen easy on the ears tunes that rarely touch the metallic, yet always verge on commercial/balladry (see ‘Wasted Years’, just one title previously used by bigger bands: ‘Land Of Confusion’, ‘Superman’, ‘Big Machine’, etc.). The heaviest moments come all too infrequently (‘Big Machine’, the guitar driven ‘I Came To Rock’ and the VAN HALEN inspired ‘Let The Thunder Roll’). Speaking of VH, guitarist Alfred Koffler wants to be Eddie Van Halen. Sadly, the MTV staple (‘Panama’, ‘Jump’, ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’) not the one who played on the first two albums.
