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Helloween: Straight out of hell
22/02/13 || Cobal
Helloween might be the one and only power metal act form back in the eighties that has aged with dignity. After Kiske’s departure – the best thing that could ever happened to them, this German quintet have released some of the tightest works of the genre, always demonstrating strong bonds to the most traditional form of speed metal for delight of many. You can include me there.
“Straight out of hell” appears a bit more than two years after the release of one of the grooviest power metal albums ever – yes, I know it sounds like a contradiction, but that’s just the interference of the cliché fucking with you: “7 sinners”. After such a musical success, expectations of the fans were high, very fucken high, or pessimistic in many cases. I’m glad to announce these guys made it again.
This work displays a powerful balance of many of the elements that have made Helloween the legend they are: First, there’s their unmistakable pace and velocity. I mean it, as a listener I literally felt as though I could fly. Second, the switch from archetypal melodic momentums when twin guitars do their thing, to ethereal almost progressive passages that provide precious time to breath. Third, there’s exhilarating resemblance of the old speed metal sound that I’d missed so much even including some blast beating and heavy riffs that could tear down the walls of Jericho itself.
As for the vocals, Andi Deris is one badass motherfucker and that’s all there is to it. Happily, the moronic comparisons to former vocalists have been left behind, and after almost 20 years of singing for Helloween, it’s his voice the most distinguished one in their history. His work is consistent, heavy and melodic, and it’s quite clear to me that good ol’Andi works his ass off when it comes to writing his lines and lyrics.
The final overall sound, unfortunately, seems to have come straight out of the depths of some superfancy production software. Apparently, Helloween have also fallen in the group of over produced bands with cinematic sound, and despites the heaviness of their songs, I found that considerably off putting. Also, I can’t stand more than two ballads in a metal release personally, and by the time I reach the 10th track, I feel a bit tired if not more. It’s difficult to give your record enough variety when you play metal, and it’s easy for albums to be too long.
To sum up, I find “Straight out of hell” fun and ass-kicking, and even though it’s always difficult not to be overwhelmed by your past glories, this is another reason to be posted on what these guys do nowadays. By the way, including a homage for such an influential musician such as John Lord in a current metal album, and especially in a world where the public tends to forget the basics, is classy as hell.
Cheers.
- Information
- Released: 2013
- Label: Sony
- Website: www.helloween.org
- Band
- Andi Deris: vocals
- Michael Weikath: guitars
- Sascha Gerstner: guitars
- Markus Grosskopf: bass
- Dani Löble: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Nabataea
- 02. World of War
- 03. Live Now!
- 04. Far from the Stars
- 05. Burning Sun
- 06. Waiting for the Thunder
- 07. Hold Me in Your Arms
- 08. Wanna Be God
- 09. Straight Out of Hell
- 10. Asshole
- 11. Years
- 12. Make Fire Catch the Fly
- 13. Church Breaks Down
- 14. Another Shot of Life (bonus)
- 15. Burning Sun (Hammond version)
