Definitive Helloween Collection

I own nearly all Helloween albums so the majority of these songs I own multiple times over, but I just had to get this too. This is the ultimate collection of Helloween classics! Of course there are some songs I would have added, but it's already two discs so we can't get too overboard here. Anyway, it has such classics as "Ride The Sky", "Eagle Fly Free" and "I Want Out" which all Helloween fans know are the songs that began the Helloween legacy. Also included are the current day classics including the most kick[en] vocalist on the planet, Andi Deris such as "I Can", "Immortal" and "Midnight Sun!" The sounds quality is superb and I'm so happy to hear some of these remixes because it makes the songs sound new. If you are already a die hard Helloween fan like myself, I suggest you purchase this album just because it's one of the coolest Helloween releases you could possible have in your collection. Also, if your a Metalhead considering diving into the wonderful world of happy, happy Helloween...this is the album to get your kick start with. HAPPY, HAPPY HELLOWEEN!;D

Mostly well chosen songs

Helloween's 2002 anthology, 'Treasure Chest,' features 29 of Helloween's best tunes (28 actually-there is one track that is absolute crap.) It covers the entire era of Helloween from their self-titled debut EP (1985) to 'The Dark Ride' (2000.) It features:



From 'Helloween' EP:

"Murderer," "Starlight" (with vocals redone by Michael Kiske.)

"Murderer" is extremely fast with a punk influence in both the riffing and the vocals. "Starlight" was good originally, but with Kiske on vocals, it just plain RIPS!



From 'Walls of Jericho':

"Metal Invaders," "How Many Tears," "Walls of Jericho/Ride the Sky"

"Metal Invaders" is absolute brutality, it has a very Metallica feel to it (mainly in their 'Ride The Lightning' era.) "How Many Tears" is a fast paced epic. And while "Walls of Jericho" is not a great intro, "Ride The Sky" is so heavy, so fast, it HURTS!



From 'Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1':

"Future World," "Halloween," "A Little Time," "A Tale That Wasn't Right."

"Future World" was the emphasis track from this album, and it totally shreds. The riffing, the little bass solo in the middle, it rocks. "Halloween" is one of the best power metal epics ever written. "A Little Time" is a great quick tune. And "A Tale That Wasn't Right" is a customary example of how power metal bands should do ballads.



From 'Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2':

"Eagle Fly Free," "I Want Out," "Keeper of the Seven Keys," "Dr. Stein."

"Eagle Fly Free" is truly one of the most majestic power metal songs, and the trio of choruses build up from a simple thrash to a gothic choir to a battle trumpet. "I Want Out" is THE greatest Helloween song ever, I even learned to play it on bass. "Keeper of the Seven Keys" is not the best Helloween song, but it is the best Helloween epic. And "Dr. Stein" totally rips, it has a haunting riff and series of guitar and organ solos, verrrry cool.



From 'Pink Bubbles Go Ape':

"The Chance."

This song comes from one of my personal least favorite Helloween albums, it's not dreadful, just a bit disappointing. This song, however, is a masterpiece, the riffing and bassline are top-notch, and Kiske's vocals are aboslutely bone-chilling.



From 'Chameleon':

"Windmill."

One word describes this song: CRAP! But to put it into many words...this song is dull, slow, and utterly lame, it has no distorted guitar patterns, just a poppy bass line and a boring keyboard lead.



From 'Master of the Rings':

"Where the Rain Grows," "Sole Survivor," "Perfect Gentleman," "In the Middle of a Heartbeat," "Mr. Ego."

I definetely enjoy "Where The Rain Grows" and "Sole Survivor," they are fast and heavy with top notch bass lines to match. "Perfect Gentleman" has a tempo somewhat reminiscent of "A Little Time," even the riffing has somewhat of a resemblance...but it's still a great song. "In the Middle of a Heartbeat" is not excellent, I don't find it as enjoyable a ballad as "A Tale That Wasn't Right," the acoustic guitar just doesn't quite fit. "Mr. Ego" tends to drag on a bit, but is overall a solid 7-minute rocker.



From 'Time of the Oath':

"Power," "Kings Will Be Kings" "Time of the Oath," "Forever and One."

This album is plagued by so-so production, but "Power" is a quick, solid, near-4 minute speedfest, very good. "Kings Will Be Kings" are good too, and they are also slightly lengthier, which is a plus. But, like "In The Middle of a Heartbeat," "Forever and One" is a somewhat weak ballad.



From 'Better Than Raw':

"I Can," "Midnight Sun."

"I Can" is the emphasis track from this album, and it totally shreds. In spite of a simple guitar riff, it's still great. "Midnight Sun" has much more of a classic metal feel to it, it's long and epic.



From 'The Dark Ride':

"Mr. Torture," "Immortal," "Mirror Mirror."

What was Helloween's newest album at the time of this compilation's release features 3 of the heaviest songs Helloween ever recorded. But of the three, "Mr. Torture" is the major highlight. It's fast, punishingly heavy, and has lyrics that paint a violently realistic picture in your head.



I just feel it was missing a few songs: "Heavy Metal (Is The Law)," "Judas," "I'm Alive," "Save Us," "Why," "Hey Lord," "A Game we Shouldn't Play," and "If I Could Fly."



"Metal is forever, in every way and matter"-Primal Fear

Simply - the BEST Helloween collection up to now...

To those unfamiliar with Helloween's history - they are a German band responsible for the birth of European power metal, as it is known today. The bands carrier officially started back in 1986 with their debut album "Walls of Jericho" that made the band easily known to the public. Combining thrash-speed metal with classical and melodic elements the band achieved a very good beginning. The bands career reached it's highest point in 1987-1989 with the relishes of the "Keeper Of The seven Keys Part I&II" albums and the addition of the charismatic and nowadays most copied metal vocalist Michael Kiske! The band disappeared for a few years, due to record-label problems, released a couple of unsuccessful but nevertheless good records (91-93) and resurfaced in 1994 with a new line up (+new vocalist) releasing some overall great records.

This double Best Of CD is a wonderful collection of the greatest songs ever relished by Helloween. The songs included are the best known and most epic material of the bands 15 year career (old songs-remastered).

The best songs included here are the classic-powerful-heavy metal tunes: "I Want Out", "Future World" and "Dr.Stein", the fast-paced trade mark Helloween style ones: "Eagle Fly Free", "Ride The Sky", "How Many Tears", "Starlight" and "When The Rain Grows". Along with the over 10 minute epics: "Halloween" and "Keeper Of The Seven Keys", were the talent of the band members in both technicality and songwriting skills shines, as they achieve to deliver 2 masterpieces filled with earth shattering vocals, outstanding melodic twin guitar reefs and solos and fast double base drumming!
Considering the songs mentioned along with the wonderful and emotional ballad "A Tale That Wasn't Right", these alone are worth the price of the album, not even mentioning the rest...
If you can't spend money on buying each album separately this is the best deal you get to buy the best songs relished by this outstanding band, which will surely amaze you even if you are not a metal fan.

This CD covers all Helloween 11 albums, thus including more thrasy, or melodic or operatic or heavy moments, which are all characterized by both outstanding high pitched and hard vocals, fantasy and sociologically based lyrics, perfect guitar orchestration and mainly fast drumming.

Don't think about it, just buy it!!

Will appeal to all Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Stratovarius, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Queensryche, Rainbow and many more hard rock and metal fans.