Official Helloween thread v. Pumpkins United

[IDontNotDoThings]

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.

I think they made the right call on that one. The transition from the big anthemic outro of Out For The Glory to the acoustic intro of Fear Of The Fallen is probably my favourite transition on the album.

[Mladen]

Robot king snuck up on me and I cannot stop replaying it for two days now. Why is this song so good?

Also, the fact that there is a song called Robot king just delights me. It's so Helloween to be cracked up by a song title. 

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Yea I love that about Helloween, it's like bandmeeting: "let's do a song about a robot....that is a king with the title Robot King!" Everyone: Hell yeah! 

[NotePad]

Robot King...any relation to Pleasure Drone?

[TAC]

So I was just watching another Kiske interview on youtube, and the guy asked him if there were plans to do another Unisonic album.

Kiske mentioned that before the Pumpkins United was happening, they were starting to put plans together to make a third album, but that Kai was constantly off doing other things like his Hansen & Friends and reissuing some Gamma Ray stuff.

So they approached Gus G, and he initially said he'd do it, and they even started exchanging ideas. He was playing with Ozzy at the time, but pulled out because he didn't want to be a replacement guitarist in another band. He would end up leaving Ozzy's band and he came back to the Unisonic guys, but by that time, the Helloween reunion was underway. A blown chance..

[wolfking]

Kiske and Gus G would have been an interesting collaboration.

[TAC]

Yeah definitely. Unisonic isn't Kai's band. He was a late addition to the lineup.

[NoseofNicko]

Finally figured out why the chorus melody of Best Time sounded so familiar to me, it's the same melody as one of the main melodies in DT's In the Name of God (10:24) except for the last 2 notes.

[TAC]

I can see that.

[NoseofNicko]

Out for the Glory is such a fantastic song! Wasn't a big fan at first because of the Eagle Fly Free chorus "reprise" but now I love it!

[TAC]

Out for the Glory is such a fantastic song! Wasn't a big fan at first because of the Eagle Fly Free chorus "reprise" but now I love it!

It took me a couple of listens to get that song down.

I love the part after the solos at 5:38 where where Kiske sings "I won't wake up". It like takes it to another level.

[NoseofNicko]

Yeah it's a great part and the solos right before it are awesome too.

[wolfking]

Probably time I give this album another shot.

[TAC]

 

[TAC]

With the new Helloween album, I've been listening to their entire discography.

I just made a Helloween-Deris Era playlist on my iPod and 's 56 songs and 5 1/2 hours long!

[wolfking]

With the new Helloween album, I've been listening to their entire discography.

I just made a Helloween-Deris Era playlist on my iPod and 's 56 songs and 5 1/2 hours long!

Too short.

[TAC]

 




So I forget which interview mentioned that Out Of The Glory was not brand new, but I just watched an interview with Dani, and he mentioned the first time he recorded drums for it were for Gambling With The Devil. Then they tried it again, (and he rerecorded his parts) a couple of albums later. He said Weiki added a bunch of stuff for this version and they finally made it work.

[wolfking]

So I forget which interview mentioned that Out Of The Glory was not brand new, but I just watched an interview with Dani, and he mentioned the first time he recorded drums for it were for Gambling With The Devil. Then they tried it again, (and he rerecorded his parts) a couple of albums later. He said Weiki added a bunch of stuff for this version and they finally made it work.

I thought right away that song felt very similar to The Saints from the Gambling album.

[wolfking]

Ran through the new album this morning in the car. (Well, I'm up to Skyfall) and I enjoyed it much more than when I first got it.  The production isn't as distracting as it was at first although it's still not great.  I actually like that the band have just continued on the style they have been doing in the Deris era.  While I don't think this album is up there with the BTR-Gambling run, it fits pretty well in the 7 Sinners/SOOF mould with a bit more consistency. 

Best Times still might possibly be my fav, but I may be alone here, but I actually think Down in the Dumps could be the best song here.  This song is hidden away at the back but basically sums up every era of Helloween.  The verses is pure melodic old school, the chorus is Deris era of all kinds and the instrumental section brings Rabbit earlier Deris era to mind.  I can hear parts of Gambling, Hell, BTR and even MOTR/TTOTO.  Pure perfect mix of what the band is about. 

I will say, Weiki has upped his game with the songwriting on this album.

[wolfking]

Alright, Skyfall is decent but it doesn't wow me.  Does feel a bit kind of thrown on the end to somewhat warrant Kai's involvement.

Now I mention Down in the Dumps but my fav actually might be Golden Times.  That's some brilliant classic sounding Helloween.  Best chorus on the album I think.  Fuck me why this is a bonus track. 

Top 3 for me are;

Golden Times
Down in the Dumps
Best Time

Controversial top 3 but I make no apologies.

[Polarbear]

Down in the Dumps is good, and I love the intro!

Golden Times is indeed excellent! I would have happily traded Cyanide or Angels for Golden Times on the regular album.

[wolfking]

Down in the Dumps is good, and I love the intro!

Golden Times is indeed excellent! I would have happily traded Cyanide or Angels for Golden Times on the regular album.

Yeah, it's baffling why it's not a regular album track.  Would love to hear how Andi would tackle it too.

[TAC]

I'll say this..when I have a 5 minute errand to run, and I can only listen to one song, it is always Down In The Dumps. There are so many melodic vocal lines and Michael and Andi sound amazing together. I love the subtle shifts in who's taking the lead in the vocal mix.

[wolfking]

I'll say this..when I have a 5 minute errand to run, and I can only listen to one song, it is always Down In The Dumps. There are so many melodic vocal lines and Michael and Andi sound amazing together. I love the subtle shifts in who's taking the lead in the vocal mix.

Those high notes Kiske reaches near the end are damn impressive too.

[ErHaO]

I am not a huge fan of the chorus in Down in the Dumps, but everything else is great, same for Golden Times (but I don't dislike the choruses either).

I actually prefer the alternate vocal mix of Skyfall, of which vocal duties are more equally divided amongst the three singers.




Also, I am not super familiar with Halloween music, so I went on to listen to some albums I never heard. I think I prefer the more modern albums with Andi. But that is partially because some (emphasis on some, and some includes Keeper pt 2 for example) of that late 80's/early 90's German speed/power metal sound that I am not overly fond of. It often sounds thin/demo-ish to me.

[wolfking]

I'll post this here;

New live video from upcoming Gamma Ray CD/DVD.

https://youtu.be/texJxGWwADg

Damn good.

[ErHaO]

I'll post this here;

New live video from upcoming Gamma Ray CD/DVD.

https://youtu.be/texJxGWwADg

Damn good.

That does sound really good.

I only really know Land of the Free as an album and a bunch of individual Gamma Ray songs. What is a good Gamma Ray album to check out aside from Land of the Free (which I find excellent)?

[Melphina]

Somewhere Out In Space would be my next stop, my two cents.

[NotePad]

Finally heard the new album and I'm super impressed. After MGGR, which sounded like leftover tracks thrown together, I was worried the reunion came a few albums too late. But no, they have really upped their game on this one. And this is from someone who was never a huge Kiske fan, but a HUGE Deris fan.
The songwriting and production goes for something more then just the basic super heavy sound theyve gone with the last ten years or so. Out For The Glory is the perfect intro song. The album sounds glorious. There is so much colour to the songs. If I had to compare it to any albums it would be Keepers Legacy,  but so much more.

[nick_z]

That does sound really good.

I only really know Land of the Free as an album and a bunch of individual Gamma Ray songs. What is a good Gamma Ray album to check out aside from Land of the Free (which I find excellent)?

I haven't been following Gamma Ray for a long time now, but I would definitely recommend the albums with Ralph Scheepers (i.e. the first 3 Gamma Ray albums) - especially the first (Heading for Tomorrow) and the third (Insanity and Genius)

[TAC]

I'll post this here;

New live video from upcoming Gamma Ray CD/DVD.

https://youtu.be/texJxGWwADg

Damn good.

Wait..who's the fucking dude singing?

[Melphina]

I'll post this here;

New live video from upcoming Gamma Ray CD/DVD.

https://youtu.be/texJxGWwADg

Damn good.

Wait..who's the fucking dude singing?

Frank Beck has been Gamma Ray's second lead singer since 2015. https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gamma-ray-hires-frank-beck-as-its-new-lead-singer/

[TAC]

Huh..I guess I missed that. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

[wolfking]

Huh..I guess I missed that. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

When it was all announced I was not pleased with it, Kai is Gamma Ray for me of course.  They obviously haven't released any studio material with him and I haven't followed any live stuff with him because I wasn't interested, but this performance, I quite surprised with.  Kai still sings most of the time and they sound great together.  Looking forward to this live album.

[wolfking]

I'll post this here;

New live video from upcoming Gamma Ray CD/DVD.

https://youtu.be/texJxGWwADg

Damn good.

That does sound really good.

I only really know Land of the Free as an album and a bunch of individual Gamma Ray songs. What is a good Gamma Ray album to check out aside from Land of the Free (which I find excellent)?

Most albums are quality, but Powerplant and Somewhere Out in Space.

A good introduction is Blast From the Past though, great re-recorded compilation.

Saying all that, No World Order is my personal fav.