HELLOWEEN – Helloween

HELLOWEEN - Helloween
  • 10/10
    HELLOWEEN - Helloween - 10/10
10/10

Summary

Label: Nuclear Blast
Release date: June 18, 2021

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User Review
8.25/10 (2 votes)

A Dream Come True

If you looked up the definition of Power Metal, you’d most likely find Helloween at the top of the list of bands that defined the musical style. They set the genre’s benchmark back in 1987 with the release of Keeper of The Seven Keys, Pt. 1, and have been inspiring generations of musicians and fans ever since for the last 35 years. When Pumpkins United brought founding guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen and former singer Michael Kiske back into the fold for a live tour, it was only a matter of time before this great band decided to stay united and give us their 16th studio masterpiece simply titled Helloween. With Andi Deris, Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen sharing vocal duties, it’s a dream come true for fans new and old.

Helloween Delivers

It’s been a long wait for new music since 2015’s My God Given Right, but one listen to the new album and fans will it agree it was more than worth the wait. The amazing thing about the new record is the way vocals are shared throughout the album, with no regard for egos as each singer does what they do best, singing the parts that are best suited for their unique voices. From the opening notes of “Out For Glory” we feel like we were transported back in time as Michael Kiske sounds perfectly back home, as if he never left.

“Fear of The Fallen” is definitely Andi’s diamond, as he goes from soft ballad intro to rock and roll screams with the perfect amount of grit. The beautiful thing is the way he has Micheal Kiske taking the clean lead on the chorus, orchestrating the parts between singers perfectly. One of the catchiest tunes is “Best of Times”, which has that “I Want Out Feel” feel and tempo. Last to be mentioned, but far from least is the epic “Skyfall” written by Kai Hansen, and coming in at just over 12 minutes. It has that feel of the classic song “Halloween” with all of the time changes, variety of mood and dynamics, and the inter-weaving of all 3 singers.

Final Notes

In this reviewers opinion, very few albums can be a 10 out of 10. It takes fantastic performances, combined with awesome songwriting and the perfect artwork all to come into play, making a complete package which has something new to say. That said, Helloween is one of those perfect albums that not only redefines the band, but redefines the brand. Our Power Metal heroes have made a fantastic album that feels like a family affair, made with passion and no regard for egos. This album is a must own for all metal fans, so don’t hesitate to add Helloween to your collection.

Helloween band photo 2021
Photo: Martin Häusler

Lineup

Andi Deris – Vocals
Michael Kiske – Vocals
Kai Hansen – Guitar, Vocals
Michael Weikath – Guitar
Sascha Gerstner – Guitar
Markus Grosskopf – Bass
Daniel Loeble – Drums

Helloween – Tracklist

  1. Out For The Glory
  2. Fear Of The Fallen
  3. Best Time
  4. Mass Pollution
  5. Angels
  6. Rise Without Chains
  7. Indestructible
  8. Robot King
  9. Cyanide
  10. Down In The Dumps
  11. Orbit
  12. Skyfall

Bonustracks Digibook & Vinyl:

  1. Golden Times
  2. Save My Hide

Author

  • Bryce Van Patten

    Bryce is an audio engineer and a graphic designer here at Metal Express Radio. From the day he purchased his first album (Machine Head by Deep Purple), he has had a passion for heavy music, which has influenced his whole life. Bryce is from the great Pacific Northwest in USA, and has played in metal bands like Babylon, Holy Terror, The Wild Dogs, Warhead and Egypt through the 80s. He had his first interview for the Portland, Oregon publication The Rock Rag with guitarist Paul Gilbert in his Racer X days. Then he was honored to get to have drinks, and talk for an hour with the legendary Dan McCafferty of Nazareth for his second interview. In 2013, he spent an amazing hour talking to Andi Deris of Helloween, which was the high point of his heavy metal journalism.   In the year 2001, he formed Man in Black Music Publishing. They released recordings by several local bands, and in the spirit of the old Metal Massacre compilations, he created a 2-album series called The Defenders of Metal. The albums featured classic styled Metal bands from all around the world, with bands from Australia to England, and from Argentina to Russia. Currently, he is the producer/creator/vocalist of the Metal band The Black Tuesdays.

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