PINK CREAM 69

What on earth is happening on the German scene — first they survived the invasion of computer-generated dragons, and now they've gone all thunder-crazy. Old man Udo graces us with the blazing "Thunderball," and now PINK CREAM 69 bring us their new, already ninth album, titled without much deliberation — "Thunderdome." I suspect I'm not the only one whose mind immediately flashes to those orange raver robes — at one point, a good half of our school dressed up in the acid-colored regalia of the identically named techno-trance act. However, you won't find any techno or trance on this "Thunderdome." With the stubbornness of a silent drill sergeant, the band offers us the same melodic heavy-speed metal they were playing fifteen years ago. Biting pentatonic runs slither along the established rhythmic path, David Readman (who recently departed from ADAGIO) confidently delivers verse after verse. To quote a classic russian comedy: "Splendid!!!" But even despite the presence of some genuinely scorching ragers — such as "Gods Come Together" and "Carnaby Road" — and notwithstanding the scattering of wonderful lyrical moments ("That Was Yesterday"), for me PINK CREAM 69 will forever remain, first and foremost, the band that gave HELLOWEEN their current vocalist Andi Deris. An average score.