This was a release that I was so amped up for, especially having heard a taste of what was coming from the internet. I was so amped, that when I finally got to Utopia to buy it, and they had sold out – except for the Collectors Box that had it for the price of $79.95, I bought that.
Was it worth it? Oh yes. Even WITHOUT the Zippo Helloween lighter it came with! :)
Finally, six albums after the legendary Keeper albums, Helloween had climbed the pinnacle once again. This is a return to the things that made Helloween great – heavy, melodic, great vocals, blistering drumming and guitaring.
Certainly, it was a turn towards the 'dark side'. The songs took on a darker edge than had been the case in recent efforts, and were overall heavier as well. It was an exciting time.
To listen to songs such as Mr Torture, Escalation 666, If I Could Fly, The Departed (Sun Is Going Down), I Live For Your Pain and The Dark Ride is to have your dreams answered. Sure, the last few albums had been good following the breakdown with Pink Bubbles Go Ape and Chameleon, but this was it, the reason why we had kept the faith in Helloween. For this album. Its strength and pure metalness.
Perhaps, on listening today, it is beginning to date a little. I guess it will always be stuck in this period of metal the way it is recorded, but this doesn't detract from its greatness.
What one can't understand is why Uli Kusch and Roland Grapow – two of the major contributors to the album – were sacked following this tour, allegedly because they were writing material that was too heavy for the band's direction. They went on to form the magnificent Masterplan, and Helloween recorded Rabbit Don't Come Easy. Two other tales to be told...
Rating : No collection is complete without this album. 5/5.
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