Released by the always reliable record label Lions Pride Music, “Cold Drop” is the eponymous debut album from hard rockers COLD DROP. This band from Denmark include into the line up one of early PRETTY MAIDS member, guitarist Rick Hanson, while all the remaining guys are also experienced musicians from the Scandinavian scene; Allan Grønbæk Pedersen (Krackerjack) on vocals,
Thomas Møller Hansen on guitars, John A. Bertz (Witness, Hunters) on bass, and finally Henrik Rohde Jensen (L.A., Acacia Avenue) on drums.
So what to expect here? Qulaity songwriting, playing, and Classic Eighties-style melodic hard rock with a strong American flavor – guitar driven and rich in melody, all very well recorded & produced.
Things get off to a great start with the hard hitting, stomping “Sweet Lucille” that oozes grittiness thanks in the main to the first of many fine vocal performances from Pedersen and equally salacious full band back up.
The slightly funky edged “All Night Baby” comes complete with a Warrant like chorus that wouldn’t have been out of place on that band’s debut album, such is its infectious quality. The mid-tempo “Don’t Wake Me Up” features fine vocal harmonizing before the outstanding ballad “Broke My Heart” contains yet another evocative vocal and yet more superb rhythm section work from John A. Bertz on bass and ex-Acacia Avenue drummer Henrik Rhode Jensen.
The upbeat and firmly melodic “Looking For Love” closes the first half of the album in consummate style.
“My Precious Metal Heart” is probably the toughest sounding track on here, with sterling twin guitar work from Thomas Mueller and ex-Pretty Maids man Rik Hanson that continues throughout the pseudo Whitesnake styled “World Go Around”, alongside the bland “Hold On” which mined a similar style but did contain yet another excellent Pedersen performance.
Things get back to the ballsy delivery with the jauntily rocking “Don’t Count Me Out” and concludes with the excellent hard driving “Freedom”, complete with another memorable chorus.
The production is clear and the band members are – as already stated – practically flawless throughout and there’s some outstanding vocal harmonizing that only compliments the overall prowess of singer Pedersen over the course of the whole album.
I wasn’t know to expect when I pressed play, and Cold Drop are certainly not reinventing the wheel here; but the years of honing their craft has obviously paid off as this is – on the whole – a very solid set of melodic songs that may well sneak its way onto your regular playlist. Fans of late Eighties Whitesnake, Warrant, Mr. Big, Pretty Maids, etc – this is for you.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Sweet Lucille
02 – All Night Baby
03 – Don’t Wake Me Up
04 – Broke My Heart
05 – Looking for Love
06 – My Precious Metal Heart
07 – That’s What Makes the World Go ‘Round
08 – Hold On
09 – Don’t Count Me Out
10 – Freedom
Rick Hanson (Pretty Maids, Shotz) – Guitars, Vocals
Allan Groenbaek Pedersen (Krackerjack) – Leas Vocals
Thomas Moeller Hansen – Guitars, Vocals
Henrik Rohde Jensen (L.A., Acacia Avenue) – Drums
John A. Bertz (Witness, Hunters) – Bass, Vocals
1. Sweet Lucille
2. All Night Baby
3. Don't Wake Me Up
4. Broke My Heart
5. Looking For Love
6. My Precious Metal Heart
7. That's What Makes The World Go 'Round
8. Hold On
9. Don't Count Me Out
10. Freedom
Allan Groenbæk Pedersen – lead vocalist
Rick Hanson(Pretty Maids, Shotz) – guitar
Thomas Moeller Hansen – guitar
John A. Bertz – bass
Henrik Rohde Jensen – drums
Cold Drop – Cold Drop 2023
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