1990. The year *Metal Ballads Vol. 3* arrived, fashionably late to a party that was already winding down. Grunge had kicked in the door, Nirvana was sneering at the Sunset Strip, and hairspray was starting to feel as outdated as a rotary phone. But hey, even in the twilight of an era, there's always room for one last slow dance, one final power ballad to squeeze out those last few tears before the flannel shirts took over.
Produced by BMG Ariola Hamburg (the suits were still chasing those ballad bucks), this compilation is a curious mix of the familiar and the fading. Side one kicks off with the Scorpions' "Always Somewhere," a classic tale of a rockstar on the road, missing his girl back home. It's a tried-and-true formula, but Klaus Meine's vocals still pack a punch. Great White's "Save Your Love" follows, a plea for reconciliation wrapped in a soaring chorus. Motley Crue's "Without You" is surprisingly tender, considering the band's reputation for debauchery. Kix and Warrant round out the side, offering up their own brand of lighter-waving anthems.
Flip the record over, and things get a little heavier. Accept's "Mistreated" is a dark, brooding ballad about feeling trapped and alone. Skid Row's "I Remember You" is a bittersweet farewell to a lost love. Alice Cooper, the godfather of shock rock, shows his softer side with "Only My Heart Talking." Giant and Deep Purple offer up their own contributions to the power ballad canon, while Axel Rudi Pell and Whitesnake bring things to a close with their respective odes to heartbreak.
So, what are we to make of this final installment in the Metal Ballads trilogy? Is it a worthy send-off to a much-maligned genre, or just another cynical cash grab? Well, a bit of both, to be honest. There's no denying the commercial intent behind this compilation. These ballads were designed to tug at the heartstrings (and wallets) of fans who were still clinging to the fading glory of hair metal. But amidst the formulaic songwriting and overwrought vocals, there are moments of genuine emotion, glimpses of the vulnerability that often got buried beneath the leather and eyeliner.
These songs may not be groundbreaking, but they capture a specific moment in time, a moment when rock music was transitioning from the bombast of the '80s to the angst of the '90s. They're a reminder that even the most excessive genres can have a heart, that even the most commercialized music can connect with listeners on a deeper level.
So, if you're feeling nostalgic for the days of big hair and even bigger choruses, give *Metal Ballads Vol. 3* a spin. Just don't expect any surprises. This is the sound of a genre on its last legs, clinging to the past even as the future rushes in. It's a bittersweet farewell, a final curtain call before the lights go down and the amps are unplugged. But hey, even in the fading glow of the spotlight, there's still a certain beauty to be found.
