Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Pink Cream 69 - Thunderdome 2004 SPV - Reviewed by EC

Track Listing 1. Last Stance 2. Thunderdome 3. Gods Come Together 4. Carnaby Road 5. Here I Am 6. That Was Yesterday 7. Shelter 8. Retro Lullaby 9. My Sharona 10. As Deep As I Am 11. Another Wrong Makes Right 12. See Your Face

The German rock sensation known as PC69, or Pink Cream 69 for the faithful, have issued a personal welcome to the "Thunderdome", a classy joint fueled by high-octane, big business hard rock ala Accept, Victory, and the ever important Van Halen.

Fans of Pink Cream 69 will love this new record, simply called "Thunderdome". I always enjoyed this band, whether it was the Andi Deris fronted group of the mid 90s, who unleashed hard rock gems like "One Size Fits All" and "Games People Play" before giving way to the David Readman era, starting with the group's highly acclaimed "Electrified" album, a record that is still considered the Pink Cream ultra-trophy. "Thunderdome" incorporates all things grand and razzle-dazzle, with the high strung six string fury of guitarist Alfred Koffler to Readman's charismatic rock-god chariot from which he unleashes his party-society morning service. This act is top of the class and are destined to be one of the greats, really surpassing all of the 80s hard rock bands at this point simply through hard work and longevity if not sheer wattage and perfectly crafted albums. Pink Cream 69 OWN guitar based modern day rock and roll folks, and there really isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it right now.

"Thunderdome" is just a massive explosion of hard rocking attitude, delivering all of the perfection one needs in a rock record these days while keeping it professional and down to Earth. This is just really classy stuff, ranging from the emotional ballad "That Was Yesterday" to the bombastic high-wire tricks of ""Carnaby Road". Readman keeps it real on all songs, keeping the drama and emotion intact but still letting it fly when necessary. This guy knows how to sing, whether its powerful metal, bluesy ballads, or just rock for rock's sake, and songs like "Thunderdome" and "Shelter" prove all of that and more.

The HUGE guitars are here, roaming all over "Carnaby Road" and "Gods Come Together", with its in-your-face 80s boom that delivers a crushing groove and a chorus that begs to sit with Styx, Queen, and Bad Company in pure melodic grace, a high place reserved for the best of the best, which certainly includes this class act. I love the penning of "Here I Am", making this song one to drive home with on a sunny evening. In fact this whole album can be seen from a summer shore, with the record adding that special summer vibe, roaming the streets with the top down and a blonde by your side, the perfect companion piece for that Friday evening get-away.

I love everything about "Thunderdome" and easily see this one as the band's best work since "Games People Play". Buy or die!

--EC 02.17.04