Metal Ballads - Vol 2 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Power chords and heartbreak collide: Metal Ballads Vol. 2 delivers lighters-up anthems for the leather-clad romantics

Buckle up, metalheads, because *Metal Ballads Vol. 2* is here to prove that even the hardest rockers have a soft spot (or maybe just a really good hair conditioner). Forget the mosh pits and pyrotechnics, this compilation is all about lighters-in-the-air anthems and tear-stained guitar solos. We're talking power ballads that'll make you want to hug your teddy bear (or maybe your leather-clad significant other). So grab a box of tissues and prepare to feel some feelings, because this album is about to hit you right in the feels.

Metal Ballads Vol. 2: The Hair Metal Hangover, or a Genuine Heart of Gold?
Album Description:

In 1989, the year "Metal Ballads Vol. 2" hit the shelves, the spandex was starting to sag a little, the hairspray was losing its hold. Grunge was lurking in the wings, ready to kick down the door and declare that feelings didn't have to be wrapped in a neon guitar solo and a fog machine. But before the flannel takeover, we got one last, lingering look at the heart of hair metal, exposed and raw on this compilation LP.

Now, let's get one thing straight. This ain't no groundbreaking artistic statement. It's a product, assembled by Modern Media GMBH, a company that probably saw dollar signs in the tear-streaked mascara of teenage girls. The cover art, courtesy of Michael Albers, is a study in contrasts - a cold, metallic cityscape juxtaposed with a lone rose, hinting at the vulnerability beneath the leather and chains. It's cheesy, sure, but it also captures the essence of what these ballads were trying to do - find a sliver of humanity in the bombast.

The tracklist reads like a who's who of late '80s hard rock. We've got Cinderella's power ballad anthem "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)," complete with Tom Keifer's raspy vocals and a chorus that'll stick in your head like bubblegum. House of Lords brings the melodrama with "Love Don't Lie," while Deep Purple throws in a classic with "Soldier of Fortune." Quiet Riot, Poison, Bonfire - they're all here, laying their hearts on their sleeves (or maybe their ripped denim vests).

Side two kicks off with the Scorpions' epic "Holiday," a song that manages to be both sweeping and intimate. Kingdom Come delivers a soaring vocal performance on "What Love Can Be," and Gary Moore shows off his bluesy chops on "Empty Rooms." We even get a curveball with Zed Yago's "The Pale Man," a dark, brooding track that hints at the heavier side of metal ballads.

Now, some folks might dismiss this album as a cynical cash grab, a collection of overwrought power ballads designed to tug at the heartstrings (and wallets) of impressionable fans. And sure, there's some truth to that. But if you listen closely, you can hear something else - a genuine yearning for connection, a desire to express emotions that often got buried beneath the swagger and bravado of the genre.

These ballads weren't just about lost love and heartbreak. They were about vulnerability, about facing your fears and insecurities, about finding strength in the face of adversity. They were a reminder that even the toughest rockers had a soft spot, that even the loudest music could speak to the quietest parts of our souls.

So, is "Metal Ballads Vol. 2" a masterpiece? Hell no. But it's a fascinating time capsule, a snapshot of a moment when hair metal was at its peak, teetering on the edge of self-parody but still capable of genuine emotion. It's a reminder that even the most commercialized music can have a heart, that even the most overblown ballads can touch a nerve. And hey, if you're feeling nostalgic for the days of big hair and even bigger choruses, you could do a lot worse than spinning this vinyl and letting the memories wash over you. Just don't forget the lighter.

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal

Album Production Information:

Produced by Modern Media GMBH

Album cover artwork by Michael Albers

Record Label & Catalognr:

RCA PL 74219

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Gramophone Record 

Year & Country:

1989 Made in Germany
Complete Track Listing of: Metal Ballads - Vol 2

The Song/tracks on "Metal Ballads Vol 2 " are:

 
    Side One:
  • Dont Know What You Got (Until it's Gone) - Cinderella
  • Love Dont Lie - House of Lords
  • Soldier of Fortune - Deep Purple
  • Dont Wanna Be Your Fool - Quiet Riot
  • Dont Give Up - Darxon
  • Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
  • You Make Me Feel - Bonfire
 
    Side Two:
  • Holiday - Scorpions
  • What Love Can Be - Kingdom Come
  • Empty Rooms - Gary Moore
  • The Pale Man - Zed Yago
  • You're All I Need - Motley Crue
  • Dream On - Nazareth

Photo of Front Cover 
Album cover for Metal Ballads Vol. 2 featuring a dramatic illustration of a shirtless man with long hair and a tattoo passionately embracing a woman in tight black leather pants. They are kneeling on a cliff with a surreal rocky landscape in the background under a star-filled night sky

This album cover is a quintessential example of 1980s and early 1990s heavy metal aesthetics, featuring dramatic, almost surreal artwork. The title ‘Metal Ballads Vol. 2’ is boldly displayed at the top with a metallic gradient font, underlining the power and romanticism associated with the genre.

The illustration depicts a passionate embrace between a muscular, shirtless man with flowing hair and a tattoo on his arm, and a woman wearing tight black leather pants, accentuating the fiery intensity of metal ballads. The two are kneeling on a cliff, surrounded by a surreal landscape of jagged, colorful rock formations that stretch into the horizon, with a star-filled night sky above, giving it an ethereal, almost cosmic vibe.

The artwork captures the themes of love, desire, and intensity that metal ballads often convey, juxtaposed with a fantastical and over-the-top aesthetic that was iconic for album art in this era. The dramatic pose of the figures and the vivid colors evoke a sense of raw emotion and escapism, aligning with the music’s tendency to transport listeners into larger-than-life scenarios.

Photo of Album's Back Cover  
High Resolution #2 Photo METAL BALLADS - VOL 2  
Close-up Photo of Record Label 
High Resolution #3 Photo METAL BALLADS - VOL 2  

 Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone ).

FEATURED VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal Ballads VINYL RECORDS

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal Ballads RCA Club Edition

Thumbnail of VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal Ballads RCA Club Edition 12" Vinyl LP Album album front cover

RCA 60 479 , 1988 , Made in Germany

By the late 80s, metal had exploded into the mainstream. But with that came a certain commercial pressure, a need to appeal to a wider audience. Ballads, with their emotional melodies and relatable lyrics, offered a way to bridge the gap between metalheads and the pop crowd. I

Metal Ballads RCA Club Edition 12" Vinyl LP

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal Ballads Vol 2 II

Thumbnail of VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal Ballads Vol 2 II 12" Vinyl LP Album album front cover

RCA PL 74219 , 1989 , Made in Germany

In 1989, the year "Metal Ballads Vol. 2" hit the shelves, the spandex was starting to sag a little, the hairspray was losing its hold. Grunge was lurking in the wings, ready to kick down the door and declare that feelings didn't have to be wrapped in a neon guitar solo and a fog machine.

Metal Ballads Vol 2 II 12" Vinyl LP

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal Ballads Vol 3 III 12" Vinyl LP

Thumbnail of VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal Ballads Vol 3 III  12" Vinyl LP Album album front cover

RCA PL74822 , 1990 , Made in Germany

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

Metal Ballads Vol 3 III 12" Vinyl LP