Metal Reviews

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Yep, this is going to suck.

I predict 2-3 pages of people bitching about the score

Is it weird that I've never heard of this band?

Oh well, if it gets people talking again.

And I hadn't heard of them either.

No, they never got the mainstream recognition they deserved. Try Red, Hot & Heavy, and Future World.

Hammerfall made the cover of Back to Back.

As for this album, I haven't heard it, but a perfect score should not be given so easily. We're talking about a legendary status, an album that will be remembered in 20 or 30 years, and I doubt Motherland will have such an impact.

Only ?

Errrrr. Yes , but like Alexander said, they don't have the recognition they deserve.

When was last time I gave 100 ? Have fun looking, it's been a few years. This should get your attention instead of trying to debunk in advance an album you havent listen yet.

Just my 2 cents

While I like Pretty Maids and while I think their talent is great; it's tough for me to imagine a 100 score given beyond pure fan boy fanaticism. I agree with Alexander that a 100 review means legendary, but I guess this album is legendary to Danny and Chris. That being said, this review does guarantee that I will pick this album up with high expectations. This band is obviously a favorite for a couple reviewers on this site and I can respect that cause I've got my own personal favorite albums I would give higher scores than most people. Rush's Clockwork Angels is the only album I have ever given a 100 score since I began frequenting these review sites. Riot's Immortal Soul was damn close. Moonspell's Night Eternal was also damn close. Some other albums I can think of that I might have given 100 scores to in the past are Emperor's Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, Rush's 2112, In Flames's Whoracle, Mayhem's Wolf's Lair Abyss, Savatage's Wake of Magellan, Blind Guardian's A Night at the Opera, Agoraphobic Nosebleed's Frozen Corpse Stuffed with Dope, The Gathering's How to Measure a Planet, Nevermore's Dreaming Neon Black, and Soilent Green's Sewn Mouth Secrets. These albums are legendary in my mind. I hope this Pretty Maids is at least close.

Not one, but 2 people have given this a 100? This album really must be something. I have read that this band is pretty solid and never got the recognition they deserve. Being from a place where albums like these are hard to get, I probably will have to stream it to get a listen. Not bitching about the score given, but to see 2 reviewers giving this a perfect score means that this must be a damn good album.

First thing i said to myself when i saw the score was "Shitstorm incoming in 3..2..1"

as far as this album i haven't heard it so i'm not going to say if 100 is deserved or not. I like Future World but never was a fanatic of the band or anything of the sort.

Will give this a listen but won't buy blindly because of the score.

Well I went in completely blind to this band and listened to their first single, 'Mother of All Lies'.

Pros:
Singer has an interesting, somewhat unique voice.
Production is good and everything is nicely arranged.

Con:
This is structurally pop music. Textbook verse/chorus with a bridge and short solo.

Now that is an absolute deal breaker for me, but I'm guessing people that can get past that will find it very competently done.

The official music video was pretty god damn catchy. It might be a little too "pop" for my taste though. I'm sure it will grow more and more on me once I finally get the album. I'll be keeping an open mind as always.

You should most definitely not buy blindly, remember reviews are subjective and the opinion of one (well two in this case but my brother and I have very similar taste after all) and if you don't find Future World is 100 / 100 material, then no blind buy, and even so I would caution the fact that motherland is a different beast, definitely more modern.

Basically if you like Pandemonium you might like Motherland as well... but those not liking Pandemonium (or at least the few killer tracks in it) have little chance to love Motherland and will definitely not agree with my score. Pretty Maids is one of the first bands I've loved in the Heavy Metal category, I've seen them live in Wacken and I've been a fan for decades... they are one of my favorite bands after all.

I've updated my all-time playlist with this album as it's one of the best albums I've heard and it has it's place there. You can always check out that list if you want to see what else I consider of the same caliber.

Thank god some people have an open mind ... yes it may sound a little like Pop here and there, but make no mistake, Pretty Maids has its root well into Heavy Metal, and there are songs with much stronger riffs on Motherland. Solos aren't long on it, but there is plenty of excellent riffing and catchy melodies to compensate. As time goes by the solos are less important to me than the overall song, music, and usually the vocal melody is my main concern (not always though).

Just my 2 cents

I understand where you are coming from, but I think when music is good, brings the right emotional response to the listener, then fuck details... that's my opinion of course.

I'm currently listening to the new Amaranthe, it's more Pop than anything else but there is a strong metal backbone and some melodeath vocals, I love the mix personally, but I know most metalhead won't. To each his own .

In all honesty I respect your opinion but I really don't see a single thing that makers this album a 100. Don't get me wrong it's a really catchy album and is pretty good, but I think a 100 is a bit overrating it. If anything maybe an 85-88 from me. Solid but not HOLY SHIT worthy.

I remember checking them out when I first started reading reviews here, maybe Ben reviewed one of there albums, but I also remember checking out Bonfire around the same time and liked those guys way more than Pretty Maids so stuck with them instead.