Straight Out Of Hell / Helloween (2013)

1. Nabatataea

2. World of War

3. Live Now!

4. Far From the Stars

5. Burning Sun

6. Waiting for the Thunder

7. Hold Me in Your Arms

8. Wanna Be God

9. Straight Out of Hell

10. Axxxe

11. Years

12. Make Fire Catch the Fly

13. Church Breaks Down

Most of advance reviews I saw have been very positive, so I was really looking for this album. Their last album, "7 Sinners", was very dark, heavy and sharp. The band members have been speaking that this album is typical Helloween style and carries their identity. When I heard the lead singles, tracks 5 (Japan) and 1 (worldwide), I could feel the positive energy of the band. The current line-up has been the longest in their history, and the team is tighter than ever. Especially, track 1 has good riffs and melody lines.

When I first listened to the album, all of the songs just ran through so quickly. I was really impressed by their great skills of arrangement and songwriting. Track 1 is the longest song out of all songs, yet the song progression is really clever. Overall, there were many fast songs such as tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, and 13. This album might be the fastest album they have ever made. Nevertheless, those are not just fast songs. They all have good hook in melodies, a lot of rhythm changes, and good chord progression. Tracks 3 is a Helloween style pop metal number. Track 6 is very dramatic. What surprised me the most was that the only ballad in this album, track 7, was written by Sascha. He might become another great ballad composer after Weiki and Andi. Andi said that track 8 was that Helloween version of "We Will Rock You". I don't mention too much of track 10 lol But, it is a catchy song.

Overall, this album is great. Perhaps, I would say that his album is the best one they have ever made since Andi joined the band. This album could not be made without this line-up. I really really hope that they would play many songs from this album. They have been playing only few songs from new albums in last several tour. I would not be upset even if they played the whole album. This album has such convincing quality and energy. In this long career, they released another masterpiece!! 

☆☆☆☆☆

7 Sinners / Helloween (2010)

1. Where the Sinners Go

2. Are You Metal?

3. Who Is Mr. Madman?

4. Raise the Noise

5. World of Fantasy

6. Long Live the King

7. The Smile of the Sun

8. You Stupid Mankind

9. If a Mountain Could Talk

10. The Sage, the Fool, the Sinner

11. My Sacrifice

12. Not Yet Today

13. Far in the Future

First, when I saw the Jacket of this album, it reminded me of "The Dark Ride". It has the same image of darkness. As I could easily imagine, their first single was very heavy and dark. (Sound-wise, they have been playing one down tuning since "Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy".) It was not catchy or comical which were their unique identities. The single really made me worried.

Well, let me tell you from my final thought. This album was not as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, I really like this album. The first couple of songs are kind of weak. However, from the third song, there are many good songs. I particularly like #3, 4, 5, 7, 10. #7 is a great minor-key ballad that I have been waiting for. Beautiful ballad songs are one of their great character, yet they have not written one in last several albums. This really made me happy.

Overall, as you can imagine from the jacket, the album is very dark, heavy, and fast. Yet, I was able to hear Helloween's character in the album. This album was very different from any other albums in the past. I don't know if they will keep going on the same direction or not, but I am looking for the next album.

☆☆☆☆

Gambling With the Devil / Helloween (2007)

1. Crack the Riddle

2. Kill It

3. The Saints

4. As Long As I Fall

5. Paint a New World

6. Final Fortune

7. The Bells of the 7 Hells

8. Fallen to Pieces

9. I.M.E.

10. Can Do It

11. Dreambound

12. Heaven Tells No Lies

After Andi joined the band, Helloween became a different band. Of course, they are the pioneer of Melodic Power Metal band. That status never changed. However, his pop essences and ability as a singer brought much influence in this band. I am not hear to talk about which singer was better than the other. As I mentioned before, they are completely different, and we cannot say one is better. All I want to say is that, this album could be sung only by Andi. He can do dirty scream, high tone, and sometimes even growling voice. He contributed 5 songs out of 12. As a result, this album became full of Andi taste. 

1. Crack the Riddle

Opening Narration

2. Kill It

A brutal tune. It reminds me of "Push" from "Better Than Raw". It is a great opening number. I realized that Andi has been one to write the most (Helloween style) brutal songs in recent albums. 

3. The Saints

A typical Weiki's song. It has a good flowing melody on chorus.

4. As Long As I Fall

A good Andi style pop metal song. This song was also released as a single.

5. Paint a new world

Another strong power metal number written by Sascha. This one was also released as a single. 

6. Final Fortune

From last album, I really like the songs that Markus. This song is my favorite song in this album.

7. The Bell of the 7 Hells

Starts with intense verses and goes to catchy chorus. You can see all attraction of Andi as a singer in this song.

8. Fallen to Pieces

First, you would think this song is a ballad. In some sense, you can say that, but the song has good progression during the middle of it. A dramatic tune.

9. I.M.E.

Andi's writings line up three in row. This is heavy but has good pop essence as well.

10. Can Do It

Weiki only contributed two songs, but they both ended up typical Helloween songs that fans expect. Track 3 was a power metal song, and this one shows the pop side of this band.

11. Dreambound
Another fast tune written by Sascha. Since the beginning of his joint, Sascha has been a good composer of this band (I am pretty sure other members help him with arrangement). He became another pillar of this band's creativity.

12. Hell Tells No Lies
Another great song written by Markus. He and Weiki have been the carriers of the legacy of Helloween in recent albums. 

☆☆☆☆

Keeper Of The Seven Keys -The Legacy / Helloween (2005)

Disc 1

1. The King For A 1000 Years

2. The Invisible Man

3. Born On Judgment Day

4. Pleasure Drone

5. Mrs. God

6. Silent Rain

Disc 2

7. Occasion Avenue

8. Light The Universe (Feat. Candice Night)

9. Do You Know What You Are Fighting For

10. Come Alive

11. The Shade In The Shadows

12. Get It Up

13. My Life For One More Day

"Chameleon" was a controversial album due to less metal music style. "The Dark Ride" brought another controversy by heavy and modern sound production. However, the controversy that this album brought was completely different degree. This album was clowned with the name of "Keeper". I saw both positive and negative reviews. I listened to the records many many times. I am finally writing the review for this album.

Your valuation of this album largely depends on how you take the word "Keeper". I guess the band used this name because they had confidence in the line-up. In fact, this line-up still continues today and became the longest one they ever had in their career. I am pretty sure that the band knew this album would bring such controversy. Therefore, they emphasized that this is not Part 3. This is a new chapter. The name, "Keeper", means more in message that they are sending in this album than music style. They said that they divided this album in two discs because each disc has different meaning. They both start with progressive songs that are over 10 minutes. This album is really difficult to comprehend, and you must listen to the album many times. 

My conclusion of this album is that I really like it. It really shows that how this line-up is tight and strong. Their composition skill and arrangement skill are way above head of their followers. The first tracks in both discs are progressive and complicated yet very dramatic and attract listeners. They also have good fast power metal tunes such as tracks 3, 6, 11, and 13. Tracks 2, 5, 10, and 12 are good Helloween style pop metal tunes. Track 8 is a beautiful ballad featuring Candice Night from Blackmore's Night. Track 4 and 9 are very cool metal songs as well.

I think most of negative reviews come from comparing this album with "Keepers Part I and II". But, I have to say this album should be sung by Andi and cannot imagine Kiske singing, so this is not really comparable with those two albums. I am not saying this album is better than "Part I and II" but surely one of my favorite Helloween albums. 

☆☆☆☆

Rabbit Don't Come Easy / Helloween (2003)

1. Just A Little Sign

2. Open Your Life

3. The Tune

4. Never Be A Star

5. Liar

6. Sun 4 The World

7. Don't Stop Being Crazy

8. Do You Feel Good

9. Hell Was Made In Heaven

10. Back Against The Wall

11. Listen To Flies

12. Nothing To Say

"The Dark Ride" was a chaotic album musically and created a huge split in the band. After the tour, Roland and Uli were fired and formed "Masterplan". Many people were wondering what would await this band. When they returned, I was wondering what kind of music direction they would head to. Weiki emphasized about returning to their root and the music that fans were expecting of this band.

When I first heard the lead single, track 1, I thought it was fairly good. I felt the positive energy from the song. What surprised me was that the song was written by Andi. It has been Weiki's job (not intentionally, I think) to write  typical Helloween style power metal songs until the last album. It really shows that Andi is truly the member of this band and one who carries DNA of Helloween. Andi's name is credited in 7 songs in this album. It is really impressive how many ideas he has. 

Overall, I think the album is fairly good. The new guitarist Sascha already has shown his composition skill in this album. He become one of the important pillar of this band. This album was also that Markus started his talent as a songwriter. Track 9 was played on their later tour. Nevertheless, the album is not very exciting in their standard. If this album was released by a new band, it would be really impressive, but I want to expect more from Helloween since they are the pioneer of melodic power metal. 

☆☆☆☆

The Dark Ride / Helloween (2000)

1. Beyond The Portal

2. All Over The Nation

3. Mr. Torture

4. Escalation 666

5. Mirror Mirror

6. If I Could Fly

7. Salvation

8. The Departed (Sun Is Going Down)

9. I Live For Your Pain

10. We Damn The Night

11. Immortal

12. The Dark Ride

This album was a controversial one. There were several reasons. The sound of this album is very heavy and dark, so some people said this did not sound like Helloween. Michael Weikath especially did not like this album. He contributed only two songs despite the fact that he wrote more songs. I supposed that the band's situation was not good (In fact, Uli and Roland got fired after the tour of this album). However, this album was one of the records that I listened hundreds times during high school years and still liked it.

I admit that the band's sound became much darker and heavier, yet I do not think they completely lost Helloween essence. Pop essence that Andi brought was still present. In fact, he wrote 6 out of 11 songs. The album contains typical Helloween style power metal songs (Tracks 2 and 6 by Weikath, track 9 by Andi, and title track 11 by Roland) and ballads (Tracks 5 and 10 by Andi). I admit that other songs are not typical Helloween sound that we expect, but they still have good melodies and hook. In fact, track 3 written by Uli was played during Legacy tour. 

I think the impression of the album can be very different by which copy of this album you listen to. Tracks 2 and 3 might be switched depending on which country you bought. I have both issues and compared. The copy with "Mr. Torture" on track 2 gave me impression of the dark sound overall, but the other copy that track list is as written above was not so bad.

I am not here to say that this album is comparable with "Keeper Part I and II" or "The Time Of The Oath". However, I hope this album will get more credit by quality not by expectation of fans.

☆☆☆☆