Nikki Puppet - Puppet On A String

*=Staff's pick	Puppet On A String Sirens Syncronized I Feel Unreal* Grumpy Face* Another World Ignorance Enjoy Stand Here This Way* Insignificant

Genre	Hard Rock	Nicky Gronewald	Vocals
Tracks	10	Christos Mamalitidis	Guitar
Runningtime	33 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Armageddon Music	Anke Sobek	Bass
Release	07 Nov. 2005	Michael Wolpers	Drums
Country	Germany	-	Keyboards
Similar artists	---

Upcoming German band Nikki Puppet is about to release their debut called Puppet On A String through the German label Armageddon Music. Fronted by the vocalist Nicky Gronewald the band take us along on the journey through their world where metal meets rock in a way that's best is described as a musical meltdown produced by Herman Frank at the Arena 20 studio.

Nikki Puppet feels like an americanised version of Sahara Hotnights. Sometimes very much like the so-called rock you so often hear nowadays on several music television channels. This is one side of the two faced creation that this Hanover based band offers to the listener. The other side is more complex to describe, there seems to be various influences that have left their marks and scars. Heavy guitars working in the background seems to be the common link. Always working in a catchy way. For example I really enjoy the I Feel Unreal, with its crushing refrain. This song is also the most solid one as I hear it. Not too many musical elements that is going on at the same time. Unfortunately there are a bit too many songs that aren't working in the same way as the mentioned one. Perhaps it's just myself, but I have serious problems to enjoy the music when there are too many differences.

Here we find everything from parts that could have been done by The Donnas to some elements that could have been signed by Rage Against The Machine or Red Hot Chilli Peppers as well. Sometimes a lack of variety is a problem but not for Nikki Puppet. One positive thing is certain and that is that this band has a quite good vocalist in Nicky Gronewald. A very strong voice that she know how and when to use, just listen to the acoustic Grumpy Face. Not much traces of metal in that one but as a serious and soft song it works really well.

I would gladly hear more of this band if they could gather their wills and concentrate on doing their stuff in the same direction, as can be heard on the Stand Here This Way. A strong song that has potential and has quite a lot of the hard rock elements that they should use more and often. As for know there are a bit too many paths for the listener to follow. This doesn't make Nikki Puppet a crappy band, but with a stronger line in the music this would be a lot more interesting to listen to.

Production	Vocals	Compositions
6	7	5

Summary
5 chalices of 10 - Tim