Seems like the wrong time to update the 25 with the new live album approaching, but I doubt I'll be able to get my hands on that for a bit so fuck it;
20. I Live For Your Pain (The Dark Ride)
Another one that probably most wouldn't regard as top 25 material, but this one always jumped out to me when I first got into Helloween and this album. It's so damn catchy and easy to get into. The thing that interests me the most is the low Soilwork style B open tuning. I haven't studied every Helloween song, but I'm not sure how many are in this tuning if any, but damn I love the heaviness of it. It's weird as it's in E minor and gives the sound of an E minor type classic metal tune but with the low heaviness, very cool. Love the bass and just love everyhting about it. It has an 80's Lizzy Borden type of feel to it, and a bit different from the band. A shame it never got any recognition from the band. It would be a great live tune.
19. Listen to the Flies (Rabbit Don't Come Easy)
Probably the one track on the album most would lean towards in the favourites department. The killer hook is Andi in the chorus, so simple but so damn good. Great speed and I love Mark Cross' drumming here, really solid. I really like the harmonic minor tones scattered around the song too, and another noticeable part is Sascha's simple Malmsteen style 3 note appregios over the 3 strings. It's really quite simple but nicely executed. I like the first part of the solo section better than the freestyle shred of the second half. Killer tune.
18. Make Fire Catch the Fly (Straight Out of Hell)
I put these two together because it's hard to split them, and since I think they are pretty much go together, I ranked them together. I think this one has edged Listen to Flies just a bit. I think the chorus is a bit stronger. The 'til I die' line from Andi in the chorus is amazing. Really enjoy the guitar melodies in the solo too. Great key changes during the solos too and builds tension back into the chorus making it sound stronger again IMO. A real underrated Helloween gem hidden away towards the end of the album.
17. The Departed (Sun is Going Down) (The Dark Ride)
Uli Kusch is an incredible drummer and just as good a songwriter. This is again different for teh band with an almost industrial feel. Such a simple single note riff an octave apart really drives the song. Andi sounds great as usual but really suits this darker style and the tone and timbre in his voice here really feels comfortable for him. I like the lyrics and with the lyrics and music gives great atmosphere and imagery. I LOVE the very short solo, fuck that's awesome, probably my fav part. I always thought it was Roland but it has more Weiki's tone I think. How it repeats at the end of the song is just glorious. Andi's vocals melodies at the end too are brilliant. Another song that doesn't get much attention from the band but probably because it's an Uli song.
16. Hell Was Made in Heaven (Rabbit Don't Come Easy)
This is the bands go to song from this album and it's pretty clear why. Although Markus' getting an album trackthat is the lead song performed by the band seems rare, especially when Markus seems to be the go to b-side man. Anyway, that's irrelevant. It's impossible to dislike this song right? I like the contrast between the verse and prechous and then again exploding into the amazing chorus. Helloween 101 in this chorus and as good as anything they've ever done. The pre solo riff is generic as fuck but the extended solo section is most welcome, especially with all the wonderful harmonies in there which reminds me of old school Keeper style. The lryics are lovely also.
Album number 5....
5. 7 Sinners
I enjoy the direction the band took on this one. It does surprise me that Weiki inparticular made the point when the album was coming out how they went heavier and detuned their guitars etc. etc. We all know Weiki fired Uli and Roland as he felt they were taking the band in a heavier direction and that decision always felt weird with this album and of course with other songs even on Rabbit and Gambling that were quite on the heavy side. Nevertheless, I've always liked this one, but the thing that let's it down is the production. It sounds muddy and weak. The finished product would have been so much better with some clearer production. Even if it had the production of Rabbit it would have sounded so much more powerful. Song wise, there's not much to complain about here, the band are on point here. Again, it's number 5 as the other albums are better but with good production it probably would be higher.