Helloween - Straight Out of Hell (2013)

There are few bands that has showed the same continuity as power metal pioneers Helloween. With a sense for catchy choruses and great riff work the band has become more or less legendary in the heavy metal universe. So when their 14th album entitled "Straight Out of Hell" was announced there was no doubt that it was a album that I would look forward to. But after a unusually aggressive assault in "7 Sinners", I was scratching my head to figure out which direction the Germans in Helloween would go in "Straight Out of Hell". Would they stay in a aggression that is admirable but only effective in mostly short periods of time or would they go back to their roots with pompous power metal, a style that the band masters all too well?

Anyhow, Helloween starts off where they left with the first track, and first single, "Nabataea". A song with an aggressive riff but also a very melodic and epic chorus. Another thing that makes "Nabataea" so special is the fact that it shifts tempo around 5 times or so which makes this song a little more interesting. But brace yourself, next is a sentence I thought I would never write. I find the edited single version sligthly better since the unedited version is a little too sprawling. It does not have a straight direction. Still a great song though that works as a great starting point.

And that is also the main problem with "Straight Out of Hell". It feels like the band does not know in which direction they want to follow. I mean, variation is always a good thing but nothing is worth overdoing. We get everything from ballads, pure power metal, modern metal, melodic rock and even battle hymns. Fortunately that problem is weighed up with a pack of spectacular songs and some great musicianship.

My absolute favourites from "Straight Out of Hell" are "Asshole" (Big attitude, memorable chorus and cool title. Plus heaviness), "Far From The Stars" (Gives you a "outer space" feeling and has a awesome chorus), "Burning Sun" (see previous description) and "Make Fire Catch The Fly" (awesome, modern power metal. A big stand out from the rest of the pack). But there are songs that could have broken in to that quartet. The ending song, "Church Beats Down" builds up magnificently but ends in a weird and weak chorus. The battle hymn "Wanna Be God" is actually good but it is way too short and the music does not lift. And last, but not least "Live Now!" could have made a big impact on be if it was not for the intro riff. That riff is very similar to the intro of "Forsaken" by Dream Theater. Normally I just shake it off and remember that it is a new song but this time the similarities on that intro was way too huge too be ignored. Except for that, "Live Now!" is a very enjoyable song.

This is a great album but I hate the fact that it could have been even better if the band just knew what they wanted with this album. The differences from song to song is bigger than it should be. But overall the quality of the songs are great and "Straight Out of Hell" is an improvement from "7 Sinners" (which I also enjoyed btw). Helloween keeps their position as one of the most stable and consistent bands in heavy metal and if they keep up in this tempo there will be no doubt that the next album could be a future classic.

Songs worthy of recognition: Burning Sun, Asshole, Far From The Stars, Nabataea, Make Fire Catch The Fly

Rating: 8,5/10 Years

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More reviews of Helloween
Walls of Jericho
Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 1
Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 2
Pink Bubbles Go Ape
Chameleon
Master of The Rings
The Time of The Oath
Better Than Raw
The Dark Ride
Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy
Gambling With The Devil
7 Sinners


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