Wicked
Sensation is a German hard rock group. The music these Germans made can
be compared to Whitesnake. Formed in 2000 and has a turbulent history.
Releasing in 2001 their debut album called "Reflected". Working on the
follow up the band separated from singer Robert Soeterboek.
In 2003
Fernando Garcia (ex-Victory) took over the post on the mic and
"Exceptional” was released via MTM Music record label. Thanks to the
Japanese label Nippon Crown Wicked Sensation saw their two albums also
published in Japan.
The band played together with famous bands like
Nazareth, Axxis, VandenPlas, Saxon, Whitesnake, Saga, Jaded Heart, and
among others before their break-up with singer Fernando Garcia. Shortly
after the split from Fernando Garcia the band found a suitable
replacement with French Boban Milojevic, however nothing of these
sessions made it to an album.

Finally in 2009 guitarist Michael
Klein and Robert Soeterbeek got together again and after several talks
they decided to bring Wicked Sensation back to life. Now strengthened by
bassist and producer Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69) and drummer Dirk
Bruinenberg (ex-Elegy) as well as Bernd Spitzner the third album was
taken up which carries the title "Crystallized” and also includes a
guest appearance by Andi Deris (Helloween) on "My Turn To Fly"… a song
that doesn’t really fits the album. I can be short for the remaining
stuff. If you like the Whitesnake classic hard rock then Wicked
Sensation is really made for you. On songs like "Lost In A World" (one
on one copy of a Coverdale composition ala "Love Ain’t No Stranger),
"Love To Play", the ballad "The Love I Used To know" and "Running
Through Your Veins" you hear the Whitesnake sound the best.
But if I
only talk about how four or five songs sound like Mr. Coverdale and his
band it wouldn’t be right. On "Crystallized" Wicked Sensation made some
great melodic hard rocking tracks like opener "Better World" (double
bass drum there!!!), "Give It Up" (with a horn section), "Gimme The
Night" (acoustic intro and with it’s 3:24 the shortest track) and
"Lonely Is The Night" (great guitar solo in this one!).

With
"Crystallized" Wicked Sensation can finally be added in the list of
great German bands like Pink Cream 69, Helloween, Axxis and Jaded Heart
(after the Bormann period). If you like these names the remaining of the
album is filled with tracks these bands could have made. Great hooks
and riffs… an album really worthy to check it out.