Official Helloween thread v. Pumpkins United

[TAC]

Coming around on this album, definitely their best in a while. It's not classic Helloween, obviously, but I like more than half of the songs here which is good. I respect Deris, but Kiske really makes this album shine for me. It's not even the high notes, it's just his voice works really well as a counterpoint to Andi's rougher voice.

I love him all throughout his range.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

That's the alternative vocals mix that was released with the Skyfall Edit single.

Ok, thanks. I thought it was diffrent but couldn't find info on it.

[gazinwales]

'Helloween' has debuted on the official German Charts at number 1.
First time ever the band has been at the top of their home country charts.

[TAC]

'Helloween' has debuted on the official German Charts at number 1.
First time ever the band has been at the top of their home country charts.

I watched an interview with Ken Mary last night and apparently the new F&J is at #9. Germany doing it right!

[TAC]

The part at :50 of Mass Pollution totally reminds me of Alex Harvey.

And :20 of Angels feels straight out of Heaven's Cove.

[gazinwales]

'Mass Pollution' reminds of 'Riding On The Wind', the riff and vocals in the first chorus, sounds somewhat similar to my ears 

[TAC]

'Mass Pollution' reminds of 'Riding On The Wind', the riff and vocals in the first chorus, sounds somewhat similar to my ears 

Hmm..I'm trying, brother.

Riding On The Wind is a Top 10 Priest tune for me.

[gazinwales]

https://youtu.be/BRlKD1-QALY

[TAC]

Coming around on this album, definitely their best in a while. It's not classic Helloween, obviously, but I like more than half of the songs here which is good. I respect Deris, but Kiske really makes this album shine for me. It's not even the high notes, it's just his voice works really well as a counterpoint to Andi's rougher voice.

I think my favorite line from Kiske on the entire album is in Skyfall where he goes: "The dark, the fear of the night
And the pain settles down deep within"

Followed by Andi's amazing "Coming home to a place still unknown And the hope as I dream is undying"

[TAC]

https://youtu.be/BRlKD1-QALY

Love the comments.

Popeye being strangled.

[gazinwales]

https://youtu.be/BRlKD1-QALY

Love the comments.

Popeye being strangled.

My sister asked me many years ago, why do they call it death metal?'
I answered, 'because the singer sounds like he is being strangled to death'.

[MirrorMask]

The album is coming together for me. I like how it doesn't pander to nostalgic people - here's another Eagle, here's another Dr. Stein.... it's "just" a modern Helloween album with the added benefit of Kiske's vocals, and a monumental epic by Kai Hansen. Solid stuff.

[TAC]

My CD was delivered today!!!

[gazinwales]

Got mine last week from CD Japan, waiting for the vinyl versions now.
More restrictions where I live so I can't travel to my 'local' metal shop in person.

[wolfking]

My CD was delivered today!!!

[Mladen]

To this day, that is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. I get choked up only looking at the GIF.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

This album grows on me every day. I really dig the old school feel to it while still sounding fresh. I love the section 4:00 in Out for the Glory with the riffs and bass lines and King Diamond:esque screams.

[Melphina]

Check out what arrived for me today with a couple of other purchases. Click to enlarge. This is the prettiest looking vinyl I've ever owned, hats off to the band for such awe inspiring artwork.

[TAC]

That looks amazing.

[ErHaO]

Check out what arrived for me today with a couple of other purchases. Click to enlarge. This is the prettiest looking vinyl I've ever owned, hats off to the band for such awe inspiring artwork.

Damn, is that the "regular" picture disc version? I usually don't buy picture discs but that looks ace.

I love that recently some bands have been returning to good artwork.

[Melphina]

It is this version. I wasn't expecting to get it so quickly. I ordered it exactly one week ago (Monday night) and it shipped Friday. https://shop.nuclearblast.com/en/products/sound/vinyl/2pic-lp/helloween-helloween-picture-vinyl-import-.html

I'm not even going to play it. This thing is staying in its package forever and will just be taken out to admire occasionally. That's the only reason I buy new vinyls; I only listen to 'older' vinyls on my record player.

[gazinwales]

Picture Disc vinyl are great to look at, but quality is poor and I never play mine.

[wolfking]

That's a magnificent looking picture disc indeed.

[Mladen]

The best thing about it is Cyanide leading into Orbit and Skyfall. Damn, I wish Down in the dumps was among the bonus tracks on the CD issue as well. 

[wolfking]

The best thing about it is Cyanide leading into Orbit and Skyfall. Damn, I wish Down in the dumps was among the bonus tracks on the CD issue as well. 

That's interesting with that tracklisting.

[Melphina]

Down in the Dumps is one of my favorites. It's such a fierce song and Andi's screams are the cherry on the top.

[TAC]

The best thing about it is Cyanide leading into Orbit and Skyfall. Damn, I wish Down in the dumps was among the bonus tracks on the CD issue as well. 

That's interesting with that tracklisting.

I love Down In The Dumps. The vocals on that are ridiculous and the vocal harmonies and melodies are great. If I could make one switch, I'd swap out Cyanide for Golden Times.

[TAC]

This album is a clinic in vocal harmonies. In an interview with Kiske, he said that Dennis Ward was basically in charge of the vocals. Instead of the guys hammering out which parts they'd sing, Ward created a roadmap of who'd sing what. They said that 60% of the vocals were as planned by Ward, but that the other 40% were decided in studio after hearing each singer sing.

Kiske also said the Kai expected to sing Skyfall, and was pretty adamant about it.

[ErHaO]

I really liked Skyfall when I first heard it, but as I like it more with each listening, I now really love the song. Same applies to the entire album to some extent.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

I really liked Skyfall when I first heard it, but as I like it more with each listening, I now really love the song. Same applies to the entire album to some extent.

Yea it's been a real grower the whole album for me.

Right now favourites are:

Out for the Glory (2:30  )
Fear of the Fallen (4:30 layered vocal section)
Robot King (Love the straight to the point chorus with the high vocals)
Golden Times
Skyfall

This album is a clinic in vocal harmonies. In an interview with Kiske, he said that Dennis Ward was basically in charge of the vocals. Instead of the guys hammering out which parts they'd sing, Ward created a roadmap of who'd sing what. They said that 60% of the vocals were as planned by Ward, but that the other 40% were decided in studio after hearing each singer sing.

Kiske also said the Kai expected to sing Skyfall, and was pretty adamant about it.

Yea there's so many great vocal layers in the mix. Who is actually singing the really high pitched parts?

[TAC]

Who is actually singing the really high pitched parts?

Most likely it's Kiske, but I think Deris can get up there too.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Also, Dani recorded this album on Ingo's drums.

Oh interesting, the drums sounds so huge especially the toms. I wonder what kind of afterwork that's been done from the acoustic stage.

Found a video of Daniel playing on the Keepers kit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXZH50QM6GQ&ab_channel=Helloween

Also stumbled upon some footage of Ingo in action. As a drummer sometimes i'm blown away how ahead of it's time some were, I mean hearing someone blasting away on doublepedals in 1989 wasn't exactly as common as it is today. Altough I was 7 at that time so how would I know I guess.

Helloween - Eagle Fly Free (Ingo Schwichtenberg) 1989 Live in Japan

[TAC]

Also stumbled upon some footage of Ingo in action. As a drummer sometimes i'm blown away how ahead of it's time some were, I mean hearing someone blasting away on doublepedals in 1989 wasn't exactly as common as it is today. Altough I was 7 at that time so how would I know I guess.

Helloween - Eagle Fly Free (Ingo Schwichtenberg) 1989 Live in Japan

I've seen that before and yes, it is ridiculous.

[nick_z]

This popped up on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZX3kwkAaNs

Full concert from the Master of the Rings tour. Could be fun...

[TAC]

This popped up on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZX3kwkAaNs

Full concert from the Master of the Rings tour. Could be fun...

I was watching part of that the other day. Very cool.




Was just watching an interview with Andi. He mentioned that the band's original running order had Fear Of The Fallen as the first track, but the record company wanted Out For The Glory.


Down In The Dumps continues to grow on me. Such great melodic vocal lines throughout the entire song.