Helloween
Straight Out of Hell
Sony
2013
After the rather hastily done and rather unspectacular mess that “7 Sinners” was, with its dimwitted, lead off “Are You Metal ?” single? (that I found amongst) the fluffiest and most toe curling, efforts that Helloween, have ever released, with hardly any worthy tracks to mention, Helloween seem to have done some homework, going back to the drawing board, shaping up, pulling up the sleeves, getting a magicians hat an pulling up a rabbit, even if they don’t come easy ?! Ugh (messy pun intended! 100 %)
The album starts with a more extended, version of the second single “Nabataea” that’s around 7 minutes long, versus the 5 minute video clip, edited version, including, a couple more extended in between verse interludes, that don’t ruin it, really. It’s a really “Great song”! One of those mini “Hellowen Epics” it checks all the things a great tune should have, great, eastern flavored riff, Andi Deris, hitting, some notes, he hasn’t hit so well, in a while, clearly! A nice, theme about the ancient kingdom of Nabataea, that more or less used to be where, modern Jordan, is these days, and was later, annexed to the Roman empire. These folk were mostly traders and good ones at that but were pretty forward thinkers for the time, being quite you know “democratic” and smart, actually getting quite evolved at the time and considering the geographical position. Ehm, what else, multiple time and, mood changes, solos, lots of beautiful ones and a pretty nice chorus! So it’s a clear winner and an ideal, opener for the album!
“Worlds of War” kicks off with some whirlwind of guitars and drums, and then it becomes suddenly very grim and heavy, before it changes to symphonic optimistic power, to fall into, it’s prior mood, once again, just seconds later only to just change back in the next verse and so on and so forth… enter a blazing solo, some percussion, another solo and exit in a similar way. It’s actually, you know, quite the “Dark Ride” with hints of light. Speaking of which, both the tracks, so far, would have finely fit on that album, but would have been you know, sitting perfectly well next to “Mr. Torture”, they’re really, good!
“Live Now!” is a bit more simplistic, a sing-along, feelgood, track, but the guitar, is rather “dark”, heck, someone, might not like me for using that word, one time too many, but, you know, it’s not exactly, you know, the brightest Helloween album? Could be the tuning? They have become considerably heavier too? That has made them, inherently darker! (here we go again!)
I suppose in an attempt to lighten things up “Far From the Stars” is a lot more cheery musically, with a fast rhythm and all but it’s theme and keyboard/guitar flourishes and some of Andy’s vocals during the chorus make it a bit bittersweet and slightly melancholic. It sounds like a bit of a cross like you know “Future World” with tiny traces of “Space Oddity” thrown in (for melancholy) it works nicely... at least I kind of perceived it that way.
“Burning Sun” was the lead of single that came out as a separate maxi sort of CD, and it’s your typical, symphonic bombastic, Deris era, Helloween track. At first, I didn’t like it much. I still find “Nabataea” more impressive, but this is more appropriate for those that like “power metal” more than “traditional metal, if you get the distinction. It has some pretty impressive guitar work, and other than that it’s pretty relentless, and at least heavier than anything than half that half of the entire so called “power metal” scene has ever done, so it’s quite good actually, it just has this sort of bridge/chorus combo that’s so intertwined, that it’s sort of gone, before you know it’s there. But as it repeats, you can still appreciate it, throughout, the first, time I was like, ok, that was the chorus, right!
“Waiting for the Thunder” begins with some piano and then bursts with some pretty heavy guitars and some really “low” but then suddenly “erupting” vocal performances from Andy that are simply amazing! One of the better songs of the album for sure! It’s not a ballad, It’s not a strong song, it’s a definite hybrid song between the two. You could not even call it a power ballad. It’s actually, like a very weirdly instrumented and performed, proper “powerful song”. Interesting and well done!
“Hold Me in Your Arms”… is death metal(!)... not, it’s a ballad silly, obviously, a power ballad, with strings and it’s guaranteed to have iphones, ipads, itoasters, iBBQs, iToilets and other such trendy accessories, all lit and moving in perfect synchronicity in a sea of light below the band in future live shows, oh such bliss, I’m sure, the stock holders at Pear computers, will be counting their money and listening to Beyonce and Nicki Minaj right now, getting high. \m/ ! Seriously, though, it’s a beautiful ballad.
I made all the stupid comments above only to introduce “I Wanna Be God”, a song that’s musically very odd, as it sounds as if it’s live, as it has such an ambiance. Basically, it’s only percussion, lots of it and Andy with lots of effects and with obviously harmonized, describing, people that just do, EVERYTHING FOR MONEY. Well, one can’t help but to recognize that there are a shit load of such scum today, as millions, STARVE, many to death, oh, the HUMANITY. Half, of us, little corporations, set out, to “put” out of business the other ones, to “cheat”, “steal”, “lend” “beg” and “borrow” take the words any way you want with literal or, not so literal meanings. (The song is dedicated to Freddie Mercury for some reason)
“Straight Out of Hell” is a more melodic song, with some pretty excellent melodies and some nice percussion as well, you know one of the “other” songs that keeps the flow of the album, going, it’s really, such songs that make quite the difference. If a “filler” was in its place, it would possibly, break the flow, it would really mess up things…
“Asshole” (not dedicated to Gene Simmons, as far as I tell, boo hoo, hahahaha) is an odd one, as it’s an odd, to the sphincter-like ones! The ones you love to have, people who make your life a living hell. It’s a two-finger salute! It’s a nice song to dedicate to people you don’t like, oh, and I can actually think of a list as long as both my arms really! Musically, it’s quite interesting as well as it’s pretty much queen influenced one might say... in a way, but in a metal, way of course...
“Years” is this very happy and full of strings and positivity overall, tune that is so overloaded, that sort of made my had ache, just trying to keep up with what was going on, so I suppose a bit less orchestration might have been, ok too, but still it’s enjoyable as it ! Whoever mixed it! Congrats man, you did a hell-o-ween, of a job!
The bizarrely titled (for lack of a better word) “Make Fire, Catch the Fly” well, gets back into the “darker mood” and Deris assumes a more Dio-esque delivery too. Heavier, darker, but still, there’s a helluva, melodic solo in there, I assume courtesy, of Weiki?! I dunno how on earthy, that lazy b#@$#@$d does it, but I’m glad he does! (Just joking about the b@#$@$@#$#@ OK?)! Another high-LIGHT! (My Chameleon 812, oh, that’s one title, from an unsuccessful album with a previous singer you’re trying to kiss n’ tell and another album from another band, my bad!)
The rather courageously titled “Church Breaks Down” is a rather nice musically song, that also bravely but also genuinely and without exactly prejudice tries to blame church, but not religion entirely, but church, for misinterpreting, religion and trying to profit from it, trying to manipulate people to gain power.
“Another Shot of Life” is a “bonus track” exclusive to the “limited digipack edition” and it’s a powerful and muscular mid-paced rocker, with a backed, chorus. It’s quite, not dark, but definitely way more modern sounding, than anything on the album and it sounds more like a solo Andi Deris song, rather than a proper Helloween tune, even if it's credited to GrossKopf! Go figure! Hahaha!
Finally, as a second “bonus track” exclusive to the “limited digipack edition” one can find a “hammond version” of “Burning Sun” dedicated to the late Jon Lord, which is quite a touching move. It doesn’t sound quite right, obviously, but nor, does, the original, as its way, too heavy! This is way, too light, I’m inclined to think, that maybe if it was mixed just a tad, softer, the song, would have sounded, a lot better, just a tad “to sound ” brighter, since, in the album, version the vocals, get “drowned a bit”...
At any rate, after a rather shitty, album, no let me rephrase that, actually, 2 pretty bad albums after their last very good if not great one, (The third keeper that is, which was good, whether you want to admit it or not, even if Kiske wasn’t singing on it!) and a rather weird and possibly, un-necessary, but interesting re-recorded acoustic best of, (unarmed) Helloween, reclaim their power metal throne, from the Likes of Edguy and Avantasia and all those... pretenders. Well, they have put a very strong claim to it, with this record. Let’s see, what the shortie, has been cooking, for March, and decide if it’s gonna be pump-king, or pumpkin-pie!
But – seriously if you ever liked Helloween and power, trad metal, do yourself a favor and get this! You won’t regret it and I’m happy to say this after quite a while! It’s actually great!
The album starts with a more extended, version of the second single “Nabataea” that’s around 7 minutes long, versus the 5 minute video clip, edited version, including, a couple more extended in between verse interludes, that don’t ruin it, really. It’s a really “Great song”! One of those mini “Hellowen Epics” it checks all the things a great tune should have, great, eastern flavored riff, Andi Deris, hitting, some notes, he hasn’t hit so well, in a while, clearly! A nice, theme about the ancient kingdom of Nabataea, that more or less used to be where, modern Jordan, is these days, and was later, annexed to the Roman empire. These folk were mostly traders and good ones at that but were pretty forward thinkers for the time, being quite you know “democratic” and smart, actually getting quite evolved at the time and considering the geographical position. Ehm, what else, multiple time and, mood changes, solos, lots of beautiful ones and a pretty nice chorus! So it’s a clear winner and an ideal, opener for the album!
“Worlds of War” kicks off with some whirlwind of guitars and drums, and then it becomes suddenly very grim and heavy, before it changes to symphonic optimistic power, to fall into, it’s prior mood, once again, just seconds later only to just change back in the next verse and so on and so forth… enter a blazing solo, some percussion, another solo and exit in a similar way. It’s actually, you know, quite the “Dark Ride” with hints of light. Speaking of which, both the tracks, so far, would have finely fit on that album, but would have been you know, sitting perfectly well next to “Mr. Torture”, they’re really, good!
“Live Now!” is a bit more simplistic, a sing-along, feelgood, track, but the guitar, is rather “dark”, heck, someone, might not like me for using that word, one time too many, but, you know, it’s not exactly, you know, the brightest Helloween album? Could be the tuning? They have become considerably heavier too? That has made them, inherently darker! (here we go again!)
I suppose in an attempt to lighten things up “Far From the Stars” is a lot more cheery musically, with a fast rhythm and all but it’s theme and keyboard/guitar flourishes and some of Andy’s vocals during the chorus make it a bit bittersweet and slightly melancholic. It sounds like a bit of a cross like you know “Future World” with tiny traces of “Space Oddity” thrown in (for melancholy) it works nicely... at least I kind of perceived it that way.
“Burning Sun” was the lead of single that came out as a separate maxi sort of CD, and it’s your typical, symphonic bombastic, Deris era, Helloween track. At first, I didn’t like it much. I still find “Nabataea” more impressive, but this is more appropriate for those that like “power metal” more than “traditional metal, if you get the distinction. It has some pretty impressive guitar work, and other than that it’s pretty relentless, and at least heavier than anything than half that half of the entire so called “power metal” scene has ever done, so it’s quite good actually, it just has this sort of bridge/chorus combo that’s so intertwined, that it’s sort of gone, before you know it’s there. But as it repeats, you can still appreciate it, throughout, the first, time I was like, ok, that was the chorus, right!
“Waiting for the Thunder” begins with some piano and then bursts with some pretty heavy guitars and some really “low” but then suddenly “erupting” vocal performances from Andy that are simply amazing! One of the better songs of the album for sure! It’s not a ballad, It’s not a strong song, it’s a definite hybrid song between the two. You could not even call it a power ballad. It’s actually, like a very weirdly instrumented and performed, proper “powerful song”. Interesting and well done!
“Hold Me in Your Arms”… is death metal(!)... not, it’s a ballad silly, obviously, a power ballad, with strings and it’s guaranteed to have iphones, ipads, itoasters, iBBQs, iToilets and other such trendy accessories, all lit and moving in perfect synchronicity in a sea of light below the band in future live shows, oh such bliss, I’m sure, the stock holders at Pear computers, will be counting their money and listening to Beyonce and Nicki Minaj right now, getting high. \m/ ! Seriously, though, it’s a beautiful ballad.
I made all the stupid comments above only to introduce “I Wanna Be God”, a song that’s musically very odd, as it sounds as if it’s live, as it has such an ambiance. Basically, it’s only percussion, lots of it and Andy with lots of effects and with obviously harmonized, describing, people that just do, EVERYTHING FOR MONEY. Well, one can’t help but to recognize that there are a shit load of such scum today, as millions, STARVE, many to death, oh, the HUMANITY. Half, of us, little corporations, set out, to “put” out of business the other ones, to “cheat”, “steal”, “lend” “beg” and “borrow” take the words any way you want with literal or, not so literal meanings. (The song is dedicated to Freddie Mercury for some reason)
“Straight Out of Hell” is a more melodic song, with some pretty excellent melodies and some nice percussion as well, you know one of the “other” songs that keeps the flow of the album, going, it’s really, such songs that make quite the difference. If a “filler” was in its place, it would possibly, break the flow, it would really mess up things…
“Asshole” (not dedicated to Gene Simmons, as far as I tell, boo hoo, hahahaha) is an odd one, as it’s an odd, to the sphincter-like ones! The ones you love to have, people who make your life a living hell. It’s a two-finger salute! It’s a nice song to dedicate to people you don’t like, oh, and I can actually think of a list as long as both my arms really! Musically, it’s quite interesting as well as it’s pretty much queen influenced one might say... in a way, but in a metal, way of course...
“Years” is this very happy and full of strings and positivity overall, tune that is so overloaded, that sort of made my had ache, just trying to keep up with what was going on, so I suppose a bit less orchestration might have been, ok too, but still it’s enjoyable as it ! Whoever mixed it! Congrats man, you did a hell-o-ween, of a job!
The bizarrely titled (for lack of a better word) “Make Fire, Catch the Fly” well, gets back into the “darker mood” and Deris assumes a more Dio-esque delivery too. Heavier, darker, but still, there’s a helluva, melodic solo in there, I assume courtesy, of Weiki?! I dunno how on earthy, that lazy b#@$#@$d does it, but I’m glad he does! (Just joking about the b@#$@$@#$#@ OK?)! Another high-LIGHT! (My Chameleon 812, oh, that’s one title, from an unsuccessful album with a previous singer you’re trying to kiss n’ tell and another album from another band, my bad!)
The rather courageously titled “Church Breaks Down” is a rather nice musically song, that also bravely but also genuinely and without exactly prejudice tries to blame church, but not religion entirely, but church, for misinterpreting, religion and trying to profit from it, trying to manipulate people to gain power.
“Another Shot of Life” is a “bonus track” exclusive to the “limited digipack edition” and it’s a powerful and muscular mid-paced rocker, with a backed, chorus. It’s quite, not dark, but definitely way more modern sounding, than anything on the album and it sounds more like a solo Andi Deris song, rather than a proper Helloween tune, even if it's credited to GrossKopf! Go figure! Hahaha!
Finally, as a second “bonus track” exclusive to the “limited digipack edition” one can find a “hammond version” of “Burning Sun” dedicated to the late Jon Lord, which is quite a touching move. It doesn’t sound quite right, obviously, but nor, does, the original, as its way, too heavy! This is way, too light, I’m inclined to think, that maybe if it was mixed just a tad, softer, the song, would have sounded, a lot better, just a tad “to sound ” brighter, since, in the album, version the vocals, get “drowned a bit”...
At any rate, after a rather shitty, album, no let me rephrase that, actually, 2 pretty bad albums after their last very good if not great one, (The third keeper that is, which was good, whether you want to admit it or not, even if Kiske wasn’t singing on it!) and a rather weird and possibly, un-necessary, but interesting re-recorded acoustic best of, (unarmed) Helloween, reclaim their power metal throne, from the Likes of Edguy and Avantasia and all those... pretenders. Well, they have put a very strong claim to it, with this record. Let’s see, what the shortie, has been cooking, for March, and decide if it’s gonna be pump-king, or pumpkin-pie!
But – seriously if you ever liked Helloween and power, trad metal, do yourself a favor and get this! You won’t regret it and I’m happy to say this after quite a while! It’s actually great!