As requested, here we have this little unknown (for some) gem, the second and final album from ’80s German rockers STRANGER, 1989’s “Pretty Angels“, in its only remastered version available.
The story of STRANGER is pretty curious – the group formed 1984 and their aim was to play heavy metal influenced by the NWOBHM sound. Via a small local label they released debut LP ‘The Bell’ in 1985, a highlight from German Heavy Metal in the ’80s. However the LP suffered poor distribution and German rock press ignored the band (whom was mainly interested in productions from the U.S.).
Then STRANGER founder / guitarist Wolfgang Rikki Rieger dissolved the band and decided to start from the scratch – selecting new musicians and changing the musical focus of STRANGER to the melodic hard rock / AOR so in vogue circa 1986 with Europe’s explosion.
The second STRANGER album “Pretty Angels” was released 1989 and sounded much more “commercial”. The Metal roots were still existing, but the band tried to feed the magazines with stuff they maybe would accept better. In two ways this was a big error. Older fans ignored “Pretty Angels” and the press wasn’t interested either because there was no big promotion which meant again no small (or bigger) “tip” for the reviewers.
This changed when STRANGER turned into a new image. New band members came and a new bandname was invented so finally CHROMING ROSE was born. Finally Rikki Rieger would found some success with CHROMING ROSE.
But while STRANGER never made it big and still is unknown for many, both albums are stupendous. The first is classic metal, and this “Pretty Angels” is a fantastic German / European AOR-meets-Melodic-Hard disc with great late 80s keyboard runs and dripping with melody.
Amazing stuff!!”
01 – Don’t Give It Up
02 – Heartbeat
03 – Pretty Angels
04 – Now You’ve Gone
05 – I Surrender
06 – Child Of Violence
07 – Fighting For Your Love
08 – Is This Love
09 – How Will I Know
Steve Hirschbeck – Lead Vocals
Wolfgang Rieger – Guitar
Claus Zeller – Guitar
Kai Liebert – Bass
André Kürzel – Drums