Helloween Albums (20)
'Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006'
Release Date 2/20/2007
Tracks 16
Label SPV
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
It's no secret that there is an enormous heavy metal following in Brazil, as numerous veteran acts are traveling to the southern country with greater frequency, to play in front of stadiums filled with crazed fans. Case in point, Helloween. Although only two original members remain in attendance circa 2007 (guitarist Michael Weikath and bassist Markus Grosskopf), Helloween still maintain a large following with global headbangers, as evidenced by the release of -- deep breath now -- Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 Live in Sao Paulo. The double-disc set contains most of the expected fan favorites -- which are all in a style quite comparable to Iron Maiden (singer Andi Deris sounds an awful lot like Bruce Dickinson, while Weikath's galloping rhythms and leads bring to mind Adrian Smith and Dave Murray). Standouts include the set-closing epic "Halloween," as well as a nearly just as long reading of "Future World" (due to an extended "singalong" break in the middle), as well as the rapid-fire riff rocker "I Want Out." With '80s Maiden-esque metal suddenly back en vogue circa the early 21st century, bands like Helloween are already benefiting from the resurgence, as evidenced by Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 Live in Sao Paulo. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
'Gambling with the Devil'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 12
Label Steamhammer
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The unprecedented worldwide success of multinational British-based power metallers DragonForce has cast an unexpected light upon German speed metal trailblazers Helloween. Perhaps the first band to convincingly combine thrash metal intensity with the melody and majestic imagery of the NWOBHM, and by extension the blueprint upon which DragonForce based their "extreme power metal" style, Helloween were a heavy metal institution, but one that had very much fallen by the wayside upon the departure of classic-era singer Michael Kiske and founder/guitarist Kai Hansen in the mid-'90s. Singer Andi Deris has been a permanent fixture ever since, but the band has found stable lineups difficult to come by, and the quality of material has been equally inconsistent. Following 2005's Keeper of The Seven Keys: The Legacy, on which the band attempted to revive the style of their mid-'80s classics, Gambling with the Devil is a little more calculated. The appearance of Saxon mainstay Biff Byford on the intro track "Crack the Riddle" is all too foreboding, however: for all its enthusiasm, Gambling with the Devil is unbending, inelastic, and indulgent heavy metal. Far from offering something new to the genre, Gambling with the Devil's progressive elements act as a smoke screen for a genuine lack of ideas, typified in no small measure by the dull extended interlude wedged in the middle of otherwise wonderful ballad "Fallen to Pieces." Gambling with the Devil may satisfy the diehards, but new entrants would be well advised to stick to the earlier material. ~ Dave Donnelly, All Music Guide
'Rabbit Don't Come Easy'
Release Date 5/12/2003
Tracks 12
Label Nuclear Blast
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
After well over a dozen albums, Helloween still has an impressive knack for grafting memorably anthemic choruses over full-throttle power metal. What's more, their quieter, more melodic moments never dissolve into schmaltzy sentimentality (a mistake made too often by the band's many followers); the ballad "Don't Stop Being Crazy" has a certain pathos without being corny. The group's chops are in top form on Rabbit Don't Come Easy (aided by moonlighting Motörhead skinsman Mikkey Dee), but the quality of the songs is what leaves the strongest impression. ~ Andy Hinds, All Music Guide
'The Dark Ride'
Release Date 11/20/2000
Tracks 12
Label Nuclear Blast
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
After a surprising resurgence following 1996's The Time of the Oath, Helloween continued to expand and enrich their patented power metal, and while 2000's The Dark Ride might lack some of the youthful exuberance of the group's seminal '80s recordings, there are still many fine songs and fiery performances to be appreciated on this late-career gem from the influential German group. While the extreme guitar solos and overall precision of The Dark Ride will surely capture the ears of first-time listeners, it's the massive production and songwriting cohesiveness that will hook metal fans of discerning taste. As usual with this kind of release, there are some tedious and overwrought lyrics, but these things have to be accepted if one is to try and appreciate any power metal offering. Standouts include the detuned "I Live for Your Pain" with its inventive riffing and the epic closers "Immortal (Stars)" and "The Dark Side." Throughout The Dark Ride, and on the last two cuts especially, Helloween proves their historic value by delivering a critical combination that metal bands generally fail to even approximate: that is, high melodicism and sonic excess combined to form a kind of power through isolation. Difficult to explain perhaps, but metal fans know it when they hear it, and they hear it often when listening to Helloween. While not the best this band has to offer, The Dark Ride is still better than nine out of ten metal discs in any subgenre, from any era. ~ Vincent Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Seminal power metal gods Helloween appear to have gotten rather bored after their amazing last album, Better Than Raw, and hence laid down an album full of recordings by other musicians. They crank out Scorpions, Jethro Tull, Beatles, Faith No More, and Cream songs, among others. First the surprises and successes. ABBA's "Lay All Your Love on Me," as strange as that sounds, comes across as a power metal radio ballad that carries a certain appeal with it, while they pour forth "White Room" by Cream with amazing, psychedelic sounding success. When they cover prog rock favorite Focus, and their endearing instrumental hit, "Hocus Pocus," with utter craziness and convincing success (complete with yodeling), one can't help but wonder if they are partaking in too many '70s extracurricular activities. When David Bowie, oops, I mean Andi Deris, sings "Space Oddity," you get a creepy feeling, because Deris appears possessed by the spirit of the man from Mars himself. Most of the songs work; those failing are the Beatles' "All My Loving," "Faith Healer" by Alex Harvey Band, and a few others. This album is fun, but like Blind Guardian's Forgotten Tales, it is not essential to the average listener. So if you are a diehard or just a sucker for cover albums then pop your money in the Metal Jukebox, kick back with a beer, and enjoy the party. ~ Jason Hundey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Never quite in the spotlight yet never quite forgotten, Helloween continued to record over a decade and a half after their debut album. And to some success, actually. Granted, that success was largely limited to Europe and Japan, but it was enough to sustain the group. And, weirdly enough, through sheer existence -- continual touring and recording -- Helloween accomplished something very rare indeed for metal bands in their second decade: they actually began to improve. They never quite managed to hit the peaks of Keeper of the Seven Keys, and the youthful energy of their first albums had long disappeared, but the band continued to refine its sound and push itself into new progressive territory. Better Than Raw is proof of that and arguably their best album of the '90s. There still are silly moments -- if you're not a hardcore fan, the "metal will never die" platitudes of "Falling Higher" will rub you the wrong way -- but the music is layered and unpredictable, ranging from metal anthems to metal ballads to neo-classical metal to neo-black metal. It's an ambitious set, and it's all the more impressive coming from veterans, not a bunch of newcomers. [Better Than Raw was reissued in 2006 in an expanded edition that included four bonus tracks.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
If Helloween's albums have been major disappointments since Keeper of the Seven Keys, then High Live is a positive surprise. Unlike other heavy metal groups, Helloween have collected great versions of their best songs on this live album, and therefore it is a must-buy for both old and new fans. It is great to see that this over-15-years-old band can still perform extremely energized gigs; this might be because of singer Andi Deris, who takes his audience with style. Also Helloween's retirement from heavy metal to hard rock gives a twist to their older songs. The complete sound of High Live is very powerful, and this confident, experienced band doesn't make a single mistake even on stage. High Live is a thoughtful and thick package of Helloween's music during their Deris-era. ~ Antti J. Ravelin, All Music Guide
