From Worst To First: Helloween

Another discography completed here at FaTG, so it is once again time to summarize what we have learned during the journey. Well, we learned that while the Kiske/Hansen era of Helloween was important, it lasted for only a short time, and that the Weikath/Deris era has lasted far longer. We also got to know a band that has become heavier over the years, which is kind of the opposite direction most bands take, and also that they are not afraid to get a little silly, referring to themselves as hamsters, or calling you an asshole. Anyway, Helloween is still a fun and exciting band over 40 years later since their inception, and they have created a lot of quality power metal over those years. The question remains though, which of the 15 full length records is the best, and which are the rest. Time to rank them, and as always, this is my list, and my opinion, which means that I am not right or wrong. Let us get to the list now.

15. Chameleon

This placement was a no brainer, for several reasons. It is the album that ultimately ended Kiske's tenure with the band, and it did so by being as much 80's as possible, despite being released in 1993, while also having very little metal in it. "Chameleon" is an experimental effort made by a band that was as divided as one could be, which led to several weird choices, from progressive influences, to Bon Jovi rip offs. I am all for bands trying to be creative, trying something new, but this particular attempt was a failure from the get go, it never had a chance to be a cohesive, interesting record that would expand the minds of their fan base. Just do like the animal, and disappear in your surroundings, thank you very much.

14. Better Than Raw

I am not exactly sure if this album is what it says, but "Better Than Raw" is certainly not a tasty treat. This album is a full on stew with tons of ingredients that makes a disjointed soup, with very few songs sounding like they were made for Helloween, and more for other bands. We got hair metal, neo classical power metal, and more. I give it some credit that it has a pretty good start with both "Push" and "Falling Higher", but everything after is either bland, or confounding. It was obvious that the band tried some new things, throwing them all at a wall to see if anything stuck to it, but it ultimately ended up with a big mush of mediocre metal. At least the witch on the cover is hot (and technically the cauldron too I guess).

13. My God-Given Right

The band's latest entry is also their most forgettable one. While the previous two albums are worse, they at least had some personality to them that made them stand out (not in a good way, but still). This one however is as bland as you will ever see the band, and with a play time of 1 hour and 13 minutes, it becomes a big slog of a record. A couple of tracks are fairly decent, like the title track and the fun ride that is "Lost In America", but they cannot help "My God-Given Right" to any greater heights. Do not bother with this one, go off plunder some sky mall instead and wait for the band to finish off their "Pumpkins United" tour so they can get to the next record.

12. Pink Bubbles Go Ape

This is a bonkers album on so many levels, from the songs, to that mind boggling cover. Seriously, I still cannot get over the fact that this was made, that everyone involved in this cover looked at each other with straight faces and say "Yes, this is good". What about the music though? It was certainly better than I expected from the first album without Hansen, having a lot of fun really in several tracks. In the end though, it did not have enough staying power to it, and it certainly did not help that the band got away from the epic, medieval themes that made the "Keeper..." albums so successful. An interesting album for sure, but one that is overshadowed by a woman seducing a fish,

11. Gambling With The Devil

There is no other Helloween record that has made me so mad as "Gambling With The Devil" did. Not that it is a bad record, but more for it being an inconsistent record that had a ton of wasted potential. Several songs in here could have been great tracks that would have been fantastic additions to the band's legacy, but they screw it up with songs that are too similar to classics, have lame pay offs, or are just extremely hard to remember. It is still a decent record though, and you can get through it without any problem, but it would be far from the first choice if you had to chose a Helloween album to listen to. This gamble just did not pay off.


10. Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy

Is this album unnecessary? Absolutely, but it still manages to entertain quite a bunch, and some how bring back some of the magic from its predecessors. It is a bloated double record that certainly needed some cutting done, but it does pull you back in to it from time to time with excellent song writing, and even better performances. The band took on this effort as a challenge, to show people that they could still write compelling concept records. "Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy" has its flaws, and the run time keeps me from coming back to it, but it does deserve respect for not dragging the whole series down in the mud, while also delivering some cool moments along the way

9. Master of The Rings

The first Andi Deris record was a return to form for the band, going back to their bread and butter, and make some epic songs out of that. It is an inconsistent record, but maybe that was to be expected for a constellation that was new, that had not really settled down yet in their roles. There is a harmony to "Master of The Rings" that just feels nice, an aura going through this record that just makes you satisfied, and while its life span was not as long as I hoped, it still brings enough enjoyment to go around. With that said, I am still confused over "Take Me Home". Seriously, how can this song NOT be a Van Halen track, it just screams it in both the song structure and the guitar tone. Still a fun as hell track though.

8. Rabbit Don't Come Easy

Just like the rabbit refused to come out of the hat, this album was not easy to put in this list. In one hand, it has a great bunch of tracks that are some of the band's best, but on the other hand it has some real duds, keeping the album from being truly spectacular. I ultimately ended with this place just to be sure that the duo of "Listen To The Flies" and "Nothing To Say" does not influence me all too much. This album is still a great listen, pulling off a lot of cool metal magic tricks that is worthy of an applause. Bet even the rabbit enjoys this one.



7. Walls of Jericho

"Walls of Jericho" is not only the album that kicked off the career of Helloween, it kicked off the power metal genre in general really. It has everything that we associate the genre with, an extremely fast pace, soaring vocals, epic melodies, and some parmesan cheese sprinkled on the top. There is still some more heavy metal elements to this album, so it showed that the sound was not fully completed yet, but as far as a debut get, it did leave an immediate impact that is almost as effective today as it was back then. With Kai Hansen on the vocal duties, it could also be seen as the original Gamma Ray record to, or at least an early look at what the future would hold. No matter how you look at "Walls of Jericho" it is still a nice metal record that delivers a lot of great punches (although I am not sure if those are strong enough to tear down a castle wall, like in the cover).

6. 7 Sinners

Everything is metal about "7 Sinners". The sound is metal, the band is metal, the cover is metal, even the god damn pumpkin in the logo is metal. It takes everything that the band had built up to during the 21st century, and just added another layer of metal coating to it, officially creating the closest to a thrash metal record that Helloween will ever reach. It is simply a solid record that makes sure that the band does not lose its edge after so many years on the scene, showing all of these young guns that they still have a challenge to get past these tough Germans. But despite all of this manly as hell metal that this album offers, it is a god damn flute that steals the show, and I still love it.

5. The Time of The Oath

While the "Keeper..." series is the most famous concept by the band, you should definitely not sleep on what they did with "The Time of The Oath", an album that tries to look into the future and see what it holds for mankind. The fun levels are through the roof here, with some really creative music being displayed throughout the record, and while the momentum does take a few hits here and there, it does not take long for the band to get back on track to amaze us again. If not for anything else, it is at the very least the best concept record about Nostradamus (sorry Judas Priest).



4. Straight Out of Hell

This might be more personal for me since this is the first Helloween album I truly dived into, but I think "Straight Out of Hell" still holds up more than well. This album is just filled with solid as hell songs that makes you scream your lungs out. "Nabataea", "Far From The Stars", "Burning Sun", the title track, "Make Fire Catch The Fly", and "Asshole" are just some of the goodies from this record, helping out to make it one of the most solid releases by the band. Sure, there are a couple of fillers here too, but there is enough quality in here to warrant its full run time, certainly not an album that was originally spawned from hell, more likely that it fell from the heavens.

3. The Dark Ride

Looking back at my review of this album, I might have exaggerated the whole darkness part of the record. Sure, the black on this record is deeper than on its predecessors, but it is still Helloween to the core, so there was not that massive of a difference. Still, "The Dark Ride" did kick off a whole new era of Helloween, an era that saw a heavier sound and less fantasy elements. This strategy ultimately paid off, ending with a record that gave a lot of new juice to a band that was in need of it. It is a rock solid effort with tons of devastating fire power, setting up the band for the new millennium in the best way possible.


2. Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 1

So to no one's surprise, the top two records are the original "Keeper of The Seven Keys" records, but how do you determine which is the better part? With a decision like this, you ultimately have to go with your gut feeling, and while I do believe that Part 1 have the top two songs ("Twilight of The Gods" and "Halloween"), it also has some of the weaker tracks as well. Still, this album is a thrilling experience that gave us the first taste of what Hansen's magnificent song  writing could be now that Kiske backed him up with his vocals. Man, this is pure power metal bliss, and it certainly feels wrong to put this only at the number two spot, until you realize who is number one...

1. Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 2

Yes, the younger brother wins this hard fought fight, basically because it has a better song average. It also wrapped up the story in such a marvelous way with the title track that you just cannot go away from it without a lot of satisfaction. This is metal history at its finest, an album that defined its genre and spawned a thousand bands to a path they might not have taken without its emergence. There is just a hell of a lot of things to appreciate over this album, from the high soaring screams on "Eagle Fly Free", the grandness of "March of Time", and of course that iconic guitar riff and chorus combination of "I Want Out". It is a brilliant record from start to finish, and it still stands as one of the strongest power metal records in existence, one that every other album in the genre has to measure up against.

And as always, I am also gonna list my 10 favourite tracks from the band, in alphabetical order

Eagle Fly Free
Cannot turn down this classic, just as epic as ever.

Halloween
13 brilliant minutes of haunting metal mastery.

I Want Out
Cannot turn down this classic ever, just as catchy as ever.

Listen To The Flies
Ha, and you thought I would fill this with only "Keeper..." songs. Nah man, the flies cannot be ignored.

Nabataea
One of the most versatile Helloween tracks, you do not know where it is going at first listen.

Nothing To Say
Putting the reggae element aside, that ending makes it a riser, for sure.

Ride The Sky
Early power metal at its finest, all speed, all confidence.

Shade In The Shadow
A legacy song that actually matches up with its predecessors.

The Departed
I would catch the bullet that was meant for this song every time.

Twilight of The Gods
The guitar wizardy here is real, pure Hansen magic.

So how would you rank this discography? Hit me up on the comment section or on twitter @ForsakenGates, and give your thoughts. Next up, we are taking a trip to France, to see if we can find a big lizard that has a habit of destroying both cities and other monsters.

Stay metal!
Sharkruisher

Helloween - 7 Sinners (2010)

The peak of the heavier Helloween era is the 2010 release "7 Sinners", an album that capped of 10 full years of Helloween embracing their tougher side, giving their fans something different to what they had been used to from the band's early career. Still, "7 Sinners" took the band's mind set, and kicked it into an even higher gear, ultimately giving us something that could have easily been a thrash metal record, if it was not for the classic power metal elements that Helloween always brings to the table. Question is though, is this album a sinner, or a winner?

The two opening tracks sets the stage instantly, with "Where The Sinners Go" kicking it off by out right stealing the main riff from Dream Theater's "A Rite of Passage", and a heavier tone to it, and then creates a kick ass song around it, with a cool solo and all. Then we have "Are You Metal?" (what a silly question, of course I am), which just goes full force at you with aggressive keyboards, a mad Andi Deris pushing his vocal chords, and an even sweeter guitar solo than the last one. It is a start you will not forget in the nearest future, putting quite a significant mark on the listener.

While the rest of the record never reaches those levels of face melting heaviness, there is still enough in here to keep the personality of "7 Sinners" solid. "Long Live The King" has a main melody ripped straight out of Testament's book of thrash metal, while "Far In The Future" goes more for a apocalyptic theme, to foreshadow the impending doom of the record (it is the last song). Do not expect though to see Helloween going full thrash metal though, because this is a power metal through and through, acting on most of the same strategies that Helloween have used over the years.

Even if the heavier tracks take over, there is still a lot of great quality in this just under an hour record. The energy is surging in a steady pace throughout the record, pumping your adrenaline in a constant flow, save from the slower "The Smile of The Sun". This album is simply packed with memorable and catchy tunes, such as "Who Is Mr. Madman?", "The Sage, The Fool, The Sinner", and "World of Fantasy". Then there is "Raise The Noise" that take it to a whole new level, not with the 80's styled chorus that is easy to scream out. No, this song is memorable simply because it has a flute solo. That's right, a god damn flute takes over and starts showing off, completely out staging the guitars, and I freaking love every second of it.

"7 Sinners" does have a couple of dips, like "You Stupid Mankind" and "My Sacrifice", but this album is all and all a really solid release by a band that took a swing, and while it would not have hurt if they had amped up the heavy bits even more, it still does the job. Most of the songs in here are still of good quality, making "7 Sinners" one of the more pleasant experiences in the Helloween catalog. This is certainly no fool, nor a sinner, it is a full fledged sage that puts a marvelous spell on its listener.

Songs worthy of recognition: "The Sage, The Fool, The Sinner", Are You Metal?, Raise The Noise, Long Live The King

Rating: 8/10 Worlds of Fantasy

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

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
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - Gambling With The Devil (2007)

After making such a massive concept record in "Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy", Helloween decided to go back to basic with their 12th offering, an album that did not have an over arching theme or story, just a CD with kick ass Helloween music. It is definitely a sensible approach, a way for the band to let off a bit of steam from their pressure cooker. It is a gamble though, because if they let out too much, then the album will suffer dearly, so the title does make a lot of sense in that regard.

Despite its title, "Gambling With The Devil" is pretty standard stuff from the Germans, at least from what they have been doing up to this point during the 21st century. It is heavier power metal that leans on being catchy and epic, and also has some humour to it hopefully. The band has created this solid formula that works for most times, and while I do not think it is broken here, it just does not have the same impact this time around. Could be that I have heard similar, but better, songs previously made by the band, but there is something off with this record.

One explanation could be that this is one of the lighter records in recent memory. Sure, we still get our dose of bone crushing metal, like the insanely aggressive "Kill It" and the chugging "Paint A New World", but there are more songs in here that either lowers the tempo, or has a softer touch to it, and it would be nothing wrong in doing such songs as long as they hold a reasonably good standard, which they unfortunately do not. The first single "As Long As I Fall" is not only ridiculous in its meaning (trust me guys, you will hit the ground eventually), but it is one of the lamest Helloween songs I have heard, not offering anything of substance. Then we have "Heaven Tells No Lies", which is just all out forgettable, which is not good normally, but it is even worse since this is the track that ends the album. A disappointing way to close things up. I do think though that "Fallen To Pieces" is proof that the band can do more light types of tracks, because this is one of the more epic ones of the record with its orchestral incorporation and a varied solo that takes some unexpected turns.

The biggest problem with the record though is that it just is not memorable. I have listened to it a whole bunch, but there are just a few songs that sticks with me. Not saying that the songs are not catchy, but you forget about them as soon as they are over, which just shows that they do not have that impact that you would want from a Helloween tune. "The Saints" is a pretty good example of this, it is a catchy song that has all the tools to become a great track, but it fails at punching it in, mostly thanks to that it is a carbon copy of what Helloween has previously done. This is also why more original songs like "I.M.E." and "Can Do It" stands out more, they do not remind us of any previously made song.

This is a surprisingly frustrating record, because there is quality in here for sure, but it is quality we already knew the band possessed, so it does not have that lasting impact. "Gambling With The Devil" is definitely a record you can take for a spin now and again, fully enjoying the experience every time, so it honestly does not do much wrong. It is however a more laid back version of Helloween we get, which keeps it from reaching those high levels. It seemed like a safe bet from the start, setting up for a sure fire jackpot, but I guess good old Beelzebub has tricked us once again, leaving us with a decent, but forgettable, record.

Songs worthy of recognition: Fallen To Pieces, Kill It, Paint A New World

Rating: 6,5/10 Saints

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

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
7 Sinners
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005)

Going through this discography so far, it is fair to say that Helloween is more than just what the "Keeper..." series has eluded to. The band has created a lot of great music over the years, which has certainly helped them stay relevant during the course, but it is those two legendary albums that fans keeps coming back to, that completely over shadows every other achievement the band has done, which is a crying shame. So from that perspective, it is easy to see why the band took another shot at the series, to see if they could strike lightning in a bottle again with an expansive concept set in this world they have created themselves, to see if they could add anything to its legacy. Gotta admire the confidence of the guys, because it is basically a suicide mission from the start.

The first question that comes up is how you can recreate a legendary (or in this case, two) album with a completely different line-up. The answer, you can't. Let us be clear here, "Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy" certainly has moments that is reminiscent of its predecessors where the band is soaring on those eagle wings again, but as a whole it has more in common with more recent efforts like "The Dark Ride" and "Rabbit Don't Come Easy", having a heavier and darker edge to the music. It is a nice blend of styles, and it is necessary since it is hard to recreate that classic sound. For instance, Andi Deris cannot carry those high soaring vocal parts as Michael Kiske can, thereby the music does not get as much of an impact, making some of the more nostalgic bits in here not as good.

Then it is fair to wonder how many asked for a continuation of this series, 17 years after the last album. Well, whether the fans wanted it or not, they got a mouthful to say the least, 1 hour and 17 minutes of music split into two discs to be exact. It is an incredibly meaty record that takes its time to get through, and it shows. Out of the 13 songs in here, I would say that there are about 5 fillers in here, and each of the opening tracks are over 10 minutes long (which is the opposite tactic from the first two albums that both ended with a 10+ minute song). This is definitely way too excessive, and also an obvious sign that the band was feeling themselves, going for broke as much as they could.

Despite their length though, both of the mastodons "The King For A 1000 Years" and "Occasion Avenue" are two fine highlights of this record, showing once again that the group are excellent at writing long tunes. "The King..." opens up nicely to tie together the past and present Helloween in a dark opener that sets the mood spot on. "Occasion Avenue" is more of the modern era though, having this apocalyptic choir that haunts the listener, bone heavy riffs to make a bigger impact, and a great, epic chorus to seal the deal. They say "Occasion Avenue" a couple times too many though, making sure that the listener does not forget what the song was called again.

As far as comparing the two discs, I would say the first disc is the better one, with a consistency that is impressive, from the nostalgic "The Invisible Man", the adrenaline fueled "Silent Rain", and the incredibly fun and catchy "Mrs. God". Only real downer on that disc is "Pleasure Drone", otherwise the first disc is a great album by itself. The second disc absolutely has its moments, like "Shade In The Shadow", "My Life For One More Day", and the previously mentioned "Occasion Avenue", but it is in here we find most of the boring fillers, which makes the entire endgame a much longer journey than it had to be. Songs like "Come Alive" and "Do You Know What You're Fighting For" should have been left out, because they do not add anything besides some story context.

It ultimately stands clear though that "Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy" might not reach the same heights as its older brothers, but then again, who the hell expected that? This is a record that is way too long for comfort, but there is still enough good quality in here to go around for everyone. With an eye looking in the past, and another looking towards the future, Helloween has created a record that fits the legacy of the band nicely, displaying some mighty fine songwriting from a group that is as confident as ever. Only time will tell if this is truly the last we will hear from the keeper and his seven keys, but I think I speak for most of us that we do not need another sequel, just let the legacy be.

Songs worthy of recognition: Shade In The Shadow, The Invisible Man, Mrs. God, Occasion Avenue

Rating: 7,5/10 Pleasure Drones

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

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
Gambling With The Devil
7 Sinners
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003)

After a trip through "The Dark Ride", Helloween went back to their happy place with a more uplifting effort for their 10th full length effort, one that definitely rivaled "Pink Bubbles Go Ape" in how wtf the album cover was. The phrase "Rabbit Don't Come Easy" is actually a play of the classic saying "pulling a rabbit out of the hat", referring to the line up changes that happened prior to the album, including Roland Grapow being replaced by Sascha Gerstner, and Mark Cross playing two of the tracks before falling ill, forcing Mikkey Dee of Motörhead fame to quickly step in. It is a fun title, but why did it have to be accompanied by that CGI abomination of an image? It is like watching the original "Toy Story" again, it has not aged well.

Fortunately for us, the music have not aged that much, building on that high octane power that we saw from "The Dark Ride", excluding the dark bits. It certainly has that Helloween feeling of pure power metal epicness that has made a lot of people falling in love with the band, and a lot of this comes from the massive amounts of fun this band seems to have playing this record, even slipping in some naughty lines in the lyrics like "Something's growing in my pants as I look into her eyes". It is silly, but what did you expect from a bunch of pumpkin heads.

The ideas has been flowing as well, with twelve songs coming together for just over an hour of run time. It is a meaty album for sure, but it goes by quite quickly with all the cool songs making you forget all about time. We have a bunch of really catchy songs in here that might make you scream, like the opening duo "Just A Little Sign" and "Open Your Life", the mid tempo groove item "Never Be A Star", and the heavenly "Hell Was Made In Heaven". There is definitely a chance your vocal chords will scream and beg for you to stop, so make sure you do not get too carried away while listening to this record.

The most impressive thing about this album though is the diversity of it, having the strength to show off a complete set of different moods, tempos, and styles. "Don't Stop Being Crazy" for example is a 90's Metallica style ballad that works as an excellent change of pace in the middle of the record, or how about "Liar" which is the exact opposite, a heavy, hard hitting steam roller of galloping riffs and pure anger. "Back Against The Wall" is heavy as well, but in a more fluent way where the drums commands the show more than the guitars. And to add a little nostalgic touch as well, we have "The Tune" that will surely make the old school fans happy.

The two most interesting songs in this record though can be found at the very end, starting with "Listen To The Flies" that has a great structure to it, building up to this neck hair rising chorus where the falsettos are on point, striking high on the epic scale. Still, it has some slower and melodic moments, making it an interesting case of metal goodness. Then we have "Nothing To Say", one of the strangest Helloween songs I have ever heard, just for the fact that it mixes so many different genres. We got this classic rock vibe that is very reminiscent of Def Leppard in the verse, which then goes into straight up reggae in the bridge, only to become slightly more modern rock in the chorus. It is strange, but it flows actually quite well, making it incredibly intriguing. The thing though that takes this song from being good to awesome is the ending, where the band goes full on "Stargazer" with its headbanging drive and epic feel. I am not kidding on this one, they even say "I see a rainbow rising", making it obvious that this is a full on tribute to the Rainbow classic. What a way to end a record.

So if you have not caught up to what I have said yet, "Rabbit Don't Come Easy" is a fun record, and while it is a tad bit long and have a couple of fillers, it is still a hell of a Helloween record, overflowing with neat ideas and memorable moments. It might be the most innovative Helloween record up to this point in their careers, which is impressive knowing what kind of struggles they had leading up to it. Well, they obviously had fun making "Rabbit Don't Come Easy", and it is just as fun listening to it.

Songs worthy of recognition: Listen To The Flies, Just A Little Sign, Open Your Life, Nothing To Say

Rating: 8/10 Liars

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

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
Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy
Gambling With The Devil
7 Sinners
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - The Dark Ride (2000)

In our little stroll through the theme park that is Helloween's discography, we have now come to "The Dark Ride", the first attraction that was instated during the 21st Century. Just as the name suggest, it is closer to a haunted mansion than a horse carousel, being a little darker and a little rougher than the previous rides that we have gone through. But do not be afraid, it only looks tough, it still has that childish joy that this whole park is well known for. Let's ride.

The album opens up in classic Helloween fashion, with high flying power metal. Both "Mr. Torture" and "All Over The Nation" are pretty much standard procedure, with the double bass going red hot, the higher register of Andi Deris' repertoire being used frequently, and the guitars are going wild as well. It is a fun start, but knowing what the rest of the record is offering, it does trick the listener quite good into thinking that this is gonna be another happy Helloween effort.

Well, the third song "Escalation 666" changes the mood quickly with its dark atmosphere and tough as nails riffs. It is strange at first, but thanks to some nice structuring and the ominous, yet catchy, whispering of the title, it managed to persuade me, and also prepare me for the rest of the album. "Mirror, Mirror" continues on the same track, with Andi using some haunting aggression to accentuate this heavy tone. It definitely has influences from classic horror movies in its sound, which certainly gives the song a nice touch.

And so it goes back and forth throughout the record, mixing the brightness and darkness in a very dynamic way that makes the experience really fun, but it is the pure quality of the tracks that makes me come back to this record. There are several tracks in here that are just catchy bangers, from the adrenaline fueling title track and the high soaring "If I Could Fly", to the brilliantly groovy choir piece "The Departed". Helloween is just firing on all cylinders here, pulling off all of their tricks that they have garnered over the years.

There is one thing though that I think is the greatest achievement of "The Dark Ride" though, and that is that it laid the foundation of what the band would become in the future. With some of their 90's records, they have still held tight to their 80's identity, but "The Dark Ride" unleashes the band into the new millennium in the best way possible. The sound in this record set the standard for the upcoming ones with crisp production and versatile song writing, and it is a style the band still uses to this day, a nice and healthy mix of power and darkness that speaks to their old fans, while bringing in some new ones as well. I might as well get my ass to the back of the line again, because I am going for another ride.

Songs worthy of recognition: The Departed, Mr. Torture, Escalation 666, The Dark Ride

Rating: 8,5/10 Immortals

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

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
Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy
Gambling With The Devil
7 Sinners
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - Better Than Raw (1998)

After gaining back most of the respect they had in their early career, Helloween probably felt confidence in moving onto other territories again, going beyond the fantasy themes that have served the band so well. But to not make the same mistake as last time, the Germans dialed up the heavy dial, adding another layer of metal coating to their sound so that they would not scare away their fans once again. Also, it probably helped that the album cover for "Better Than Raw" also included a nice witch pinup cooking little Helloween men (probably the members) in a big bowl while wearing a skimpy bikini that is more suited for a sex dungeon than a castle kitchen. Men are so easily fooled...

Anyway, the band presents us with something pretty similar to their previous two outings, but it is clear from the start that the band is not relying themselves on safe methods. After the theatrical intro "Deliberately Limited Preliminary Prelude Period In Z" (What kind of a name is that?), the band blasts through with "Push", a straight up banger that also sees Andi Deris trying his best "Painkiller" voice, and does a good job doing so. It is an energetic start that keeps on rolling in "Falling Higher", so far so good for the power metal lovers.

Then the band drags us back to the 80's in the first of two singles of the record, "Hey Lord!". The sound is something straight out of Ratt, and the added robot voice only enhances the flavour of this cheese to gorgonzola levels. It is certainly one of the more dated songs in this record, even at time of release. The second single "I Can" (which is found a little later in the album) is certainly more catchy and is enjoyable in its own right thanks to its groovy momentum, but it is a little too laid back in its approach, making it seem lazy. Also, both of these tracks does not really represent the album that well, so bummer there.

The middle of the record is nothing to showboat about either. "Don't Spit On My Mind" feels like a softer Pantera track, trying to be in your face with a pillow and an ice hockey choir. Then we have "Revelation", who despite having some speedy sections, is a pretty dull track that goes on for far too long, with an ultimate play time of 8:21. Speaking of dull, "Time", the previously mentioned "I Can", and "A Handful of Pain" continues the "meh" streak, making me thirsty for some excitement.

Finally we get some speed again in "Laudate Dominum", but it seems like we have a substitution at our hands. Helloween has apparently switched with Rhapsody of Fire, singing in Latin and having these neo-classical elements. It is another strange song in what is forming out to be a divided record with tons of ideas, but no real direction. We also got two pretty decent bonus tracks in "Back On The Ground" and "Midnight Sun", but they do not help "Better Than Raw" as a whole because they are just bonuses. Yeah, this is a mixed stew of tracks that has some enjoyable moments, and I like that the band went a little heavier, but there is very little substance here to hold it all together. The recipe for "Better Than Raw" is pretty iffy, I would like to go with something more rare next time I make an order.

Songs worthy of recognition: Push, Falling Higher

Rating: 5,5/10 Revelations

www.helloween.org/
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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
The Dark Ride
Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy
Gambling With The Devil
7 Sinners
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - The Time of The Oath (1996)

What is it with metal bands and their urge to make concept records of Nostradamus? Sure, the Frenchman was quite the character, spewing mysterious predictions left and right like he was the 16th century version of Oprah Winfrey, but is his life and work really interesting enough for not only Judas Priest to make a concept record about him, but also Helloween. It would maybe make some sense is any of the two bands has shown some previous interest in history and also has some kind of origin in France, but nope, none of that, just a random choice for a random concept. Fortunately for the power metal lovers, Helloween did not make a slog of a record.

So to get more into the concept, "The Time of The Oath" talks about what Nostradamus predicted for the years 1994-2000, and the choices humans might make after these happenings. While none of these predictions did come true, like a third world war, it does encourage some inspiration for the song writing that is interesting to look into. It is also nice to see the band branch out, not staying on the same type of brain patterns for the song writing process, showing some good development.

Even if it is a new direction for the band lyrically, musically it is still that epic style that they created in the predecessor "Master of The Rings", flying far on those golden rings towards eternity. The lads perfect this sound further here with clearer production, and song writing that is euphoric when it is at its best. It still has a little 80's touch to it, so it does sound a little outdated, but who cares when you crank out tunes like the blazing trio "We Burn", "Kings Will Be Kings" and "Before The War", the galloping "Steel Tormentor", and the incredibly fun and catchy "Anything My Mama Don't Like". A good amount of fun and diverse tracks for all of you to devour.

This would make a brilliant 40 minute record, if it was not for the fact that there is an additional three tracks that tacks on 20 more minutes of clearly competent, but highly unnecessary music. The trio of "Mission Motherland", "If I Knew", and the title track brings "The Time of The Oath" to a screeching halt, and keeps the stick firmly stuck at 2nd gear until the end. As individual songs, they are fine, especially the title track is a neat little semi-progressive gem, but putting them all together is not a good idea, it creates a black void of slow motion that takes forever. In other words, this album is too long.

Despite that ending, "The Time of The Oath" is still a very enjoyable effort that sees the band continuing to re-build the respect they got with the "Keeper..." albums, and lost with what came after those. The Germans manage to excel with their team work, helping each other out in all aspects in the making of this record, creating a diverse and fun experience that may overstay its welcome a little, but there is enough goodies in here to go around. We are truly witnessing the masters of the rings, and none of them are on the cover.

Songs worthy of recognition: Steel Tormentor, We Burn, Anything My Mama Don't Like, Kings Will Be Kings

Rating: 8/10 Motherlands

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

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
Better Than Raw
The Dark Ride
Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy
Gambling With The Devil
7 Sinners
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - Master of The Rings (1994)

After two very strange records and a shuffling of the line-up, Helloween emerged in 1994 as a reborn band, seemingly with a goal to completely erase both "Pink Bubbles Go Ape" and "Chameleon" from existence by going back to the band's roots. The title "Master of The Rings" sure has a nice ring to it (pun intended), taking us back to the fantasy realm where close to anything can happen, but who is the master? Maybe it is the video game part of my brain talking, but it cannot be anyone else than that blue blur known as Sonic The Hedgehog. Let us see if he makes an appearance, telling the band "You're too slow, come on, step it up".

It is funny that I talk about Sonic, because we do get a song dedicated to video games called "The Game Is On", talking that it could be a good way to escape reality and have some fun, as long as you do it responsibly. The lyrical themes are otherwise going in all sorts of directions, like doubts in faith inn "Why?", making sweet love in "Secret Alibi", and even giving former singer Michael Kiske a brutal slamming in "Mr. Ego (Take Me Down)". Ouch, that has to hurt.

While we are in the topics of singers, let us discuss Kiske's replacement, Mr. Andi Deris, who was picked up from Pink Cream 69. In terms of pure talent and range, Andi is definitely a down grade for Helloween, he just cannot match what Kiske could do, but he still has a unique tone to him that does fit the heavier side of the band. He is definitely not some average Joe that you are gonna forget, he gives his all, and does so in his way, which is probably why he is still with the band over 20 years later.

Andi does get a good amount of opportunities to shine in this record, because "Master of The Rings" has a bunch of really enjoyable tunes. "Sole Survivor" and "Where The Rain Grows" opens up the record with classic old school power metal, it is powerful, epic, and catchy as all hell. "Perfect Gentleman" shows off a more groovy and less serious side of the band that just feels fun, and "Still We Go" closes the album in an full on HammerFall-like offense. It is a dynamic record that may not have the same fire power as the "Keeper..." albums, but it is still a fun record to listen to.

However, even if the album is dynamic, it has sort of the same problem that "Chameleon" had, and that is that it feels sort of like a collaboration album, with songs that could have been made by other bands. "Mr. Ego (Take Me Down)" could have been a Queensrÿche song, and "In The Middle of A Heartbeat" could have been written by Bon Jovi. Then we have the most bonkers song in the entire record, "Take Me Home". I had to triple check to see if this was not a cover, because this track sounds so much like Van Halen that it just could not be an original track. It has everything that makes Van Halen what they are, the fast paced groove, the confident swagger, and the deciding factor, the guitars. Michael Weikath and Roland Grapow brings out their inner Eddie Van Halen and goes ballistic with insane riffs and solos that Eddie himself would be either proud over, or mad because they they straight out copied his style. I bet both Michael and Roland did a ton of practice on "Eruption" in their youth, and they nailed this one, creating a fun as hell song that is a clear stand out.

Overall, "Master of The Rings" is a clear return to form for Helloween, at least in the eyes of those who enjoyed their first three records, but not the two after those. For me, this is for sure a fun record that displays a band that has once again found harmony, a group that felt with ease in where they were at. It still has its fair share of bumps on the road, so the ride does not come out limousine quality of smoothness, but it is still a fun ride nonetheless. It is not like you are flying on a giant, golden ring in space, more like a four wheeler in the woods.

Songs worthy of recognition: Where The Rain Grows, Take Me Home, Still We Go

Rating: 7,5/10 Perfect Gentlemen

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

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
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
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - Chameleon (1993)

So the previous Helloween album "Pink Bubbles Go Ape" might be weird, but I would argue that the band's 5th studio record entitled "Chameleon" is even weirder. Sure, the album cover does not have anything that matches a fish loving pinup girl, but what does this one say to you? It certainly does not scream power metal at least, and that is because this album is pretty far off from the high flying sound the band is known for. Instead, we get to hear a band that feels a little stuck in the 80's, despite this album being released in 1993. Oh lord have mercy on these pumpkins.

A possible reason to why "Chameleon" was so adventurous in its approach was the tensions within the band, which was so bad that both singer Michael Kiske and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg got kicked out after the promotional tour. All of the songs were written by either Kiske, or one of the guitarists Michael Weikath and Roland Grapow, with no track having more than one writer. This leads to an album that is definitely diverse in its sound, but also extremely disjointed, going close to everywhere in the musical spectre, except for metal. We got rock, pop, prog, and even some country, but there is no sight of the sound that made the band so great in the first place.

So if you have not guessed it already, "Chameleon" is probably the most accesible Helloween album out there, feeling more like a collaboration between Bon Jovi and Guns N' Roses. So I did the only sensible thing, trying to get my mind straight, and judge this record from a blank slate, not thinking that it is Helloween who made it. Guess what, it does not work, it still sounds wrong, like no one band could make this on their own.

Still, I do think there is some good material in here, even if it is strange that it is Helloween performing these songs. "Revolution Now" and "Music" are two nice little pieces of progressive rock that the band handles surprisingly well, like a Queensrÿche light. Then we have the best of the 4 singles from this record, "Step Out of Hell", a steady and catchy rock tune that is easy to enjoy. The big favourite of mine though is "Crazy Cat", just because it is a fun and groovy song that show the funny side of the band, something I would have wished more from in this particular record. The saxophone in that track is a nice bonus as well. It is just a shame that these fine tracks are just a small part of this 1 hour and 11 minute record, which is obviously way too much to take in all at once. Some fat trimming would have done wonders here.

"Chameleon" is definitely deserving of its name, it shifts color here and there after the surrounding, but unlike the animal, this album just does not fit in. No matter how you see it, from whatever angle you may find, "Chameleon" is still kind of a mess, an album made by a group that is divided to their seams. It has its moments, but those are sparse, and it still does not really seem right. Not saying that Helloween cannot make an album that is not primarily power metal, but this particular effort is a no go in so many ways. It is a sad and strange ending to the Kiske era.

Songs worthy of recognition: Crazy Cat, Revolution Now, Step Out of Hell

Rating: 4,5/10 Giants

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

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
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
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991)

What in the ever loving hell is going on here? Seriously, what is this album cover? What is this madness? We are in what looks like a hotel hallway, with a pin-up woman in the foreground, seducing a fish (who looks horrified btw)? Add an awful placement to both band name and album title, and you got "Pink Bubbles Go Ape"... EVEN THE TITLE IS BONKERS!!! Damn these speedy Germans and their peculiar ways.

I wished the strange things ended with the cover, but I am afraid to tell you all that there is more. First up we have a line up change, and it is a major one, none other than Kai Hansen himself left the band stating that the band was now too big for him to have full control over. This led to a shift in the band's sound, going away from the fantasy themes and the extremely epic arrangements, to a more grounded style, both musically and lyrically. Kai was obviously a huge part of the band, so it did not surprise anyone that the band changed a lot after he left (and that his new band Gamma Ray would become an old school Helloween clone). His replacement Roland Grapow (who would later form Masterplan) is not bad at all, but it is just not the same without Kai.

So since Helloween stopped singing about fantasy, wizards, and dragons, what are their lyrical themes now? Well, they are now both more serious, and more humorous in their approach. In one track, they could be speaking up about what kind of future we leave for future generations, or about loneliness and depression. Then there are tracks like "Heavy Metal Hamsters", which is a comedic take on the band's experience with a previous record company. It is so god damn strange that I love it, do not really care that it is far from the fastest or most epic song on the album, hamsters are awesome, and so is this band.

Even if "Pink Bubbles Go Ape" is a clear departure from the "Keeper of The Seven Keys" albums, we still have some of that epic power metal that made us fall in love with the band in the first place. In the middle of the record we find the dynamic duo "Someone's Crying" and "Mankind", two songs that are equally epic, with one being quick and the other being more melodic. Both "Kids of The Century" and "The Chance" has some nice power too, but other than that, "Pink Bubbles Go Ape" is kind of a mess in its sound, opening up with a strange acoustic intro, and having several songs that is more of fast classic rock than power metal ("Back On The Streets", "Goin' Home", "I'm Doing Fine, Crazy Man"). The band is all over the place in this one.

From start to finish, "Pink Bubbles Go Ape" is a strange album that is a huge departure from what Helloween had built up towards this point in their career. It is definitely not a bad record, but it is one that leaves you mostly confused, wondering what happened to the band that wrote such majestic tunes just a couple of years ago. Kai's departure is a big factor of this change, but there is still enough quality in here to make every subsequent listen joyful. Say what you want, but these German hamsters has a knack to make people smile, and it works well, even on such an uneven record.

Songs worthy of recognition: Someone's Crying, Heavy Metal Hamsters, Mankind

Rating: 6,5/10 Crazy Men

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

More reviews of Helloween
Walls of Jericho
Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 1
Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 2
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
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right

Helloween - Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 2 (1988)

The second part of the epic "Keeper of The Seven Keys" series was released just over a year after the first part, and with the success that the first amassed, this sequel could relish in the attention that the band has suddenly got. This album became popular quickly, gathering new fans all across the globe, and cementing its legacy as the most successful Helloween record, being so still to this date. But why did it become so popular? Is it really better than its bigger brother? And where are the other 6 keys at?

First question first, one main reason to why the second part is slightly higher regarded is that it contains the two most famous Helloween songs ever made. The opener "Eagle Fly Free" may have never been officially released as a single, but it quickly became a humongous fan favourite thanks to its rapid speed and its epicly catchy chorus. Hell, the entire song is epic, mostly thanks to Kiske and his amazing vocals. Then we have "I Want Out", a more traditional heavy metal song with a memorable main riff, a simple but effective chorus, and a Gary Moore like feeling that will make every metal head bang. It is a classic for all the right reasons, but it is kind of a shame that the more casual fans only know this song from the band, and no other.

While those two tracks might steal the show, there are still a lot of other goodies on "Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 2". This album is incredibly solid through and through, never dipping down into some sort of abysmal abyss of mediocrity, keeping the quality levels high. Just like with the first part, there are some real 80's moments in here that may not be some of my favourites moments in this record, taking away from some of the more creative bits of the record, but they are still really enjoyable songs that contribute nicely to the album.

One track in here that definitely does not get enough credit is "March of Time", probably because it gets outshined by "Eagle Fly Free". This track is also a epic force of nature where Kiske pushes his voice to the limit, and the results are glorious beyond belief. In any other Helloween record, this would have been the stand out track. One song that do stand out is the title track that ends this album just like "Helloween" did in the first part, by being a 13 and a half minute epic monster. This is a different kind of monster though, not as heavy hitting, but more delicate in its delivery. It is a fine ending to the story with its fantasy like aura, and while I definitely prefer "Halloween", "Keeper of The Seven Keys" ties it all up nicely.

So the differences between the two "Keeper..." records are pretty much minimal, with some more star potential in the second part, but does that make it a better record? Not necessarily, but it is instead the higher floor that is the difference maker for me. "Keeper... Part 2" is a much more even record, with no filler tracks, no annoying sound effects, and it also helps that it contains three of the best Helloween songs ever made. It is a hell of a double header Helloween has created, one of the absolute best metal has ever seen, and while none of the two albums are perfect, they are still incredibly important, both for Helloween and power metal in general. A classic for sure, one that has not lost its shine.

Songs worthy of recognition: Eagle Fly Free, March of Time, I Want Out, Keeper of The Seven Keys

Rating: 9,5/10 Dr. Steins

www.helloween.org/
twitter.com/helloweenorg

More reviews of Helloween
Walls of Jericho
Keeper of The Seven Keys: Part 1
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
Straight Out of Hell
My God-Given Right