Official Helloween thread v. Pumpkins United

[wolfking]

Man, I really need to listen to the Deris era albums again. Out of these six, I only remember how Push and The Dark Ride go.

Honestly if there's interest I may go next with the Top 25 thing or something similar.

Go for it.

[TAC]

News from the studio

[Polarbear]

Andi trying to give a studio update, but everyone else is just goofing around.

But they seem to be having fun, and the album is probably coming along nicely!

[MirrorMask]

It is, it's scheduled for release in August / September 2020 and then an european world tour will follow, dates announced today! 

[Polarbear]

I missed the first Pumpkins United tour, but i have to get ticks to the Helsinki date this time!

With all new material, and probably an entirely new setlist will make that show a must see!

[Samsara]

It is, it's scheduled for release in August / September 2020 and then an european world tour will follow, dates announced today! 

Hopefully that means U.S. dates in 2021. I also missed Pumpkins United, which has me still very bitter. 

[MirrorMask]

With all new material, and probably an entirely new setlist will make that show a must see!

I think the new setlist will have 3-4 new songs, some legit good songs that weren't played last time around (at least a "rarity" for each singer... say, Twilight of the Gods and Where the Rain Grows, and I need to hear Kai Hansen sing Victim of Fate, maybe with Andi Deris joining for the almost-spoken part) and the usual suspects.

I wonder if they'll still rely on playing both Halloween and Keeper of the Seven Keys in full, I wouldn't mind that especially if they'll keep the extra long format.

[Grappler]

With all new material, and probably an entirely new setlist will make that show a must see!

I think the new setlist will have 3-4 new songs, some legit good songs that weren't played last time around (at least a "rarity" for each singer... say, Twilight of the Gods and Where the Rain Grows, and I need to hear Kai Hansen sing Victim of Fate, maybe with Andi Deris joining for the almost-spoken part) and the usual suspects.

I wonder if they'll still rely on playing both Halloween and Keeper of the Seven Keys in full, I wouldn't mind that especially if they'll keep the extra long format.

Have you seen Kai Hansen's live show from Wacken?  He had Frank Beck sing Victim of Fate, and it is absolutely ripping.

One of the interviews with the band on the blu ray noted that they could do another tour with 70% different material.  If they hold true to that, then they may drastically change up the setlist and keep 5-7 songs the same. 

[TAC]

I'll take King Of 1000 Years, please.

[MirrorMask]

I'll take King Of 1000 Years, please.

That was the biggest omission from the previous tour! it's also a nice bathroom break for Kiske.

And yes Grappler, I've seen that live version of Victim of Fate and it kicks ass! 

[TAC]

Update from Kai.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRH1J7aH0kU



Love the chemistry in this band. There's a shot here of Kai and Andi. Wonderful.


Seems Charlie  is engineering and Dennis Ward is producing?

[gazinwales]

I ordered the Better Than Raw re-issue, finally got around to listening today and was very impressed.
Not that familiar with the album, but it had everything I love about Helloween.

[wolfking]

I ordered the Better Than Raw re-issue, finally got around to listening today and was very impressed.
Not that familiar with the album, but it had everything I love about Helloween.

Yep, cracker of an album.  The two bonus tracks tips the album into top tier territory and all the other extra material too is very cool.

[TAC]

European tour this fall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0E4r8v1K70

Apparently Dirkshneider is opening.

[TAC]

Ingo's family has started a YouTube channel in his memory for the 25th anniversary of his death.


Here is a drum cam video of Eagle Fly Free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbf7sxR1D8w



HOLY SHIT!!

[Samsara]

European tour this fall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0E4r8v1K70

Apparently Dirkshneider is opening.

Bring that stateside! 

[TAC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuUS_u21keA


I don't know what Andi was singing in the beginning of this video but it was sure as hell 

[wolfking]

I hope expectations for this aren't so high that no matter what they do, it will feel underwhelming.  I can't help but think that may be the case though.

Dunno if it's been mentioned by the band, but I hope Kai does a bit lead vocals also.

[TAC]

I hope expectations for this aren't so high that no matter what they do, it will feel underwhelming. 

Did you hear Andi at the beginning of this video? I am not the least bit worried about being underwhelmed. I also hope Kai has some lead vocals. I'd be surprised if he didn't honestly.

I thought Pumpkins United was a great song, so you could give me 10 of those and I'd be be quite happy.

[wolfking]

I hope expectations for this aren't so high that no matter what they do, it will feel underwhelming. 

Did you hear Andi at the beginning of this video? I am not the least bit worried about being underwhelmed. I also hope Kai has some lead vocals. I'd be surprised if he didn't honestly.

I thought Pumpkins United was a great song, so you could give me 10 of those and I'd be be quite happy.

Oh yeah it sounds excellent.  Just the hype is real and have to go in with a somewhat open mind.  With my love for the Andi era it shouldn't be a problem.

If they can replicate the quality of Pumpkins United, then we are in for a cracker.

[Polarbear]

Pumpkins United song was great teaser for the future, and proof that this lineup could exist beyond the "Pumpkins united tour".

This could be my most anticipated album release of this year. This is a wet dream lineup of Helloween, that nobody thought could be possible just a few years ago. There are a bunch of great songwriters in the band. The return of Kai has surely energized them in the songwriting front, which was showing signs of fatigue in the last two albums. There is also a lot they could do with the Hansen/Gerstner/Weikath triple guitars in terms of songwriting.

Then there is the elephant in the room of the double lead vocals of Kiske and Deris. It's hard to think of another band that has this kind of horsepower in front of the mic. If they just use what they have wisely, and craft some amazing tunes we are in for a treat for sure. I hope that this could sound like a "Mini Avantasia" with Kiske and Deris, with the occasional vocals by Hansen and maybe even Sascha!

In any case, the hype is real!

[MirrorMask]

Pumpkins United song was great teaser for the future, and proof that this lineup could exist beyond the "Pumpkins united tour".

This could be my most anticipated album release of this year. This is a wet dream lineup of Helloween, that nobody thought could be possible just a few years ago. There are a bunch of great songwriters in the band. The return of Kai has surely energized them in the songwriting front, which was showing signs of fatigue in the last two albums. There is also a lot they could do with the Hansen/Gerstner/Weikath triple guitars in terms of songwriting.

Then there is the elephant in the room of the double lead vocals of Kiske and Deris. It's hard to think of another band that has this kind of horsepower in front of the mic. If they just use what they have wisely, and craft some amazing tunes we are in for a treat for sure. I hope that this could sound like a "Mini Avantasia" with Kiske and Deris, with the occasional vocals by Hansen and maybe even Sascha!

In any case, the hype is real!

I agree with everything about this!

Also, weird idea, but this video is once again proof of how Andi Deris is the only singer whose speaking voice I cannot reconcile with the singing voice. It feels like two totally different persons. Hell, even when he's actually speaking on stage, introducing the songs, he sounds different than when he normally speaks in interviews. Maybe he modules his voice when speaking on stage as well, to make it smoother as possible without straining while he's talking, dunno.

[TAC]

Maybe I'm late to the party, but I've never heard this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB-u2sEmBBs

[TAC]

Andi has the biggest fucking nads in metal.

[wolfking]

Andi has the biggest fucking nads in metal.

I haven't been fortunate enough to see them.

[The Silent Cody]

Waiting fot this as hell. I was not satisfied (lightly speaking...) with My God Given Right, so I'm hoping for some classic Helloween stuff, and of course hope to hear three voices in there

[wolfking]

Waiting fot this as hell. I was not satisfied (lightly speaking...) with My God Given Right, so I'm hoping for some classic Helloween stuff, and of course hope to hear three voices in there

I think a survivor is in order afterthe albums release. 

[jjrock88]

Waiting fot this as hell. I was not satisfied (lightly speaking...) with My God Given Right, so I'm hoping for some classic Helloween stuff, and of course hope to hear three voices in there

I think a survivor is in order afterthe albums release. 

Cody is the master of the survivors!

[The Silent Cody]

Waiting fot this as hell. I was not satisfied (lightly speaking...) with My God Given Right, so I'm hoping for some classic Helloween stuff, and of course hope to hear three voices in there

I think a survivor is in order afterthe albums release. 

Cody is the master of the survivors!

We'll thunk about that when the album will be released I'm pretty sure that it will happen, I had to take a break after doing Deep Purple survivor which was very very long and very very strange

[MoraWintersoul]

Andi has the biggest fucking nads in metal.

Idk what the context of this is but I agree.

[NotePad]

The production on the last few has been very hit and miss. If only it was just Ward producing the new one. I wish they'd stay away from the overly produced and overly heavy sound of the last record. If Maiden can have a production sound similar to their old stuff these days, maybe Helloween can come up with a sound similar to the production of the keeper albums; something not so super crunchy and crisp. (Although i like be love the recent era, not so much MGGR )

[TAC]

Andi has the biggest fucking nads in metal.

Idk what the context of this is but I agree.

I just mean he's fearless vocally. I had just posted a cover of Catch The Rainbow.


He has never shied away from the Kiske material, and stood toe to toe with the man on stage. I have huge respect for him.

[wolfking]

Great to see you come around on Andi Tim.  Guy is a legend.

[TAC]

Even though I literally owned every album, I never really clicked with them. But I tell you, after the Pumpkins United shows, and especially seeing him live and how fucking cool of a guy he comes off as, I can't help but root for him. Then of course my deep dive last year, I had a totally different mindset going in.

[wolfking]

Even though I literally owned every album, I never really clicked with them. But I tell you, after the Pumpkins United shows, and especially seeing him live and how fucking cool of a guy he comes off as, I can't help but root for him. Then of course my deep dive last year, I had a totally different mindset going in.

I really liked his last solo album.  The Banker one, that had some great heavy tunes and lots of great melodies and choruses throughout.