Helloween - "Gambling With The Devil"

[Wyvern]

Already leaked and I listened to it. A lot of mixed emotions, for once sounds darker getting closer to TDR (who understand Weiki?), for seconds has a certain "modern" sound that gives me an itch down my spine, for thirds it's way heavier than its two predecessors.

So in a nutshell, I think I like it but it's not innovative anymore, on the other hand it's not Hammerfall or Freedom Call, it's not that happy.

If somebody can listen to it I will like to hear more opinions.

NP: Iced Earth - 'Something Wicked (part 1)'

 

[SickBoy]

Good stuff for now, I wasn't able to say that for the last 2 albums...

 

[tsorl]

Helloween's one of those bands whose albums I always buy regardless and never pre-listen but I stumbled across the opening track "Kill It" on YouTube and damn... this sounds like Better than Raw (my fav Helloween album)!

 

[Wyvern]

You really like it? I'm listening to it right now and it's the opener the one that start complicating my appreciation. It's not true Helloween but it's definitively very heavy metal.
I would have to spin this baby many times before a decision, I'm a fan of the band but RDCE and KOTSKTL didn't exactly made me jump for them after gems like TTOTA and TDR.

NP: Helloween -'The Saints'

 

[tsorl]

You really like it? I'm listening to it right now and it's the opener the one that start complicating my appreciation. It's not true Helloween but it's definitively very heavy metal.

Absolutely! As I said it reminds me of BtR tracks like Push, Revelation and Midnight Sun which, while being quite unorthodox Helloween, are some of my favorite stuff. I like the fact that they're not playing it safe this time like they did with Keeper Legacy IMO. That was an enjoyable album for me but aside from the two epics it was very much "by the book". You gotta shake things up a bit now and then!

 

[poundingmetal74]

Not a bad effort. Far from their best disc, but there are a few really good tracks. "Final Fortune" is a great tune.

 

[Wyvern]

I guess it's causing the same effect TDR did on me when it came out. The change of sound at first shocked me and then ended as one of my favorite albums (and I still think they should kept that direction). So maybe GWTD will do the same, it's a matter of time. At least there's no song so far that disgust me, which is good because I'm a first impression guy, and if the song doesn't click from the beginning I doubt it will later. This is not 1983 anymore for me.

NP: Seventh Wonder - 'Star of David'

 

[razoredge]

Interesting, so you guys are saying that "The Legacy" wss not that great and there are others that are better? Im only fimiliar with the three Keepers recordings and Walls of Jerico. Im not a big fan but I still like to pull out the old ones and listen from time to time. Thats why I bought The Legacy. Not all of us can buy every CD from every band, every time, so I have many missing links from many bands.

 

[Jean-Pierre]

Yeah, this song is simply awful.

 

[SickBoy]

Interesting, so you guys are saying that "The Legacy" wss not that great and there are others that are better? Im only fimiliar with the three Keepers recordings and Walls of Jerico. Im not a big fan but I still like to pull out the old ones and listen from time to time.

Well, if you have Walls and both Keepers then you must have noticed a giant quality drop on Keeper III.
Grab yourself "Master Of The Rings", "Time of the Oath" (my favorite along classics), "Better Than Raw" and "The Dark Ride".

Thats why I bought The Legacy. Not all of us can buy every CD from every band, every time, so I have many missing links from many bands.

Yeah, but you have an internet connection and can download mp3, right? There's really no need to buy a CD and hope it'll be okay these days, when you can get a preview...

 

[Wyvern]

"Time of the Oath" (my favorite along classics),

notworthy

There's really no need to buy a CD and hope it'll be okay these days, when you can get a preview...

I strongly disagree with that viewpoint. And you being in a band should be the first to oppose it. I don't mind downloading if:

1. You are going to check and they BUY the album (like I do)
2. You are going to pay for the songs you download (soulless but it looks like the trend today )

If you download for free and don't even buy the album then even that tiny part of money that the label send to the band will not go to them. Will you like to be composing, recording and playing for free? Certainly I won't.

Not all of us can buy every CD from every band, every time, so I have many missing links from many bands.

Certainly it's an expensive vice (the ONE and ONLY!), but if you take in account what Sickboy said and my words, you can still review albums and then decide which of them worth to invest the money. But PLEASE do it when you can, help the band keep composing the music you like. If we are not there for them, they're not going to be anymore there for us.

NP: Helloween - 'Final Fortune'

 

[razoredge]

So true, but that is how I sample music and many have been deleted and others purchased. Its going to be tuff being a musician anymore. Especially metal, with metal no longer being large concert venues and internet downloading. I liked the old world better but then I have found music through the net I never knew existed and probably would not have. During the mid-late nineties I actually thought all the metal bands had folded because of what "the industry" was shoving down our throats on FM & MTV.

 

[SickBoy]

I strongly disagree with that viewpoint. And you being in a band should be the first to oppose it. I don't mind downloading if:

1. You are going to check and they BUY the album (like I do)
2. You are going to pay for the songs you download (soulless but it looks like the trend today )

If you download for free and don't even buy the album then even that tiny part of money that the label send to the band will not go to them. Will you like to be composing, recording and playing for free? Certainly I won't.

Where in the world did I say that it's okay to download and NOT to buy?! The key word is PREVIEW, I didn't suggest downloading for keepers... I buy as much CDs as my budget permits me and I'm still waaaay behind the downloaded stuff, but I've got nothing to be ashamed about here: I'm the first to buy the CD if I have enough money for it. But since I'm not Bill Gates I can't have EVERYTHING I want, right?

 

[Wyvern]

But since I'm not Bill Gates I can't have EVERYTHING I want, right?

You don't have to be Bill Gates, be me. Having a narrow taste saves money too

NP: Andre Matos - 'Looking Back'

 

[SavaRon]

I am not going to get into the other debate, but I like the song and direction myself. Hopefully the rest of the CD is good as well.

 

[tsorl]

This cd is fuckin' excellent! Time of the Oath and Better than Raw are my Deris-era favorites and this is right up there quality-wise. Deris sounds great, the songs are heavy, catchy, melodic etc... it's just a really solid piece of art.

Every track is very good. Now how often can you say that nowadays?
I expected it to be good (it's Helloween after all) but not this good to be honest. Legacy had moments of greatness but was a bit of a mishmash overall (the two-disc setup didn't help). This one is much more focused.

Very cool packaging too though the artwork still sucks.

 

[Wyvern]

You feel it so? I felt many weak songs upon check-up. My copy is on its way, maybe after a few proper spins it will feel different. But I doubt it beat TTOTO.

NP: Yngwie Malmsteen - 'Baroque & Roll'

 

[Narcosynthesys68]

This cd is fuckin' excellent! Time of the Oath and Better than Raw are my Deris-era favorites and this is right up there quality-wise. Deris sounds great, the songs are heavy, catchy, melodic etc... it's just a really solid piece of art.

Every track is very good. Now how often can you say that nowadays?
I expected it to be good (it's Helloween after all) but not this good to be honest.

Guys I have to agree that this is one kick ass disc. I keep going back to it and that doesn't happen much anymore with "new" music.

I just sampled Gamma Ray's new one and I got thru two songs... not good at all...

 

[Wyvern]

I just received my copy and I must say that the album passed without glory. But of course Helloween always does it to me since they kicked Roland and Uli, they put out a weak album with at least one kick ass song that make you forgive them for all the fillers.

The 2CD edition comes with two bonus tracks and two videos, and by Jove that 'Find My Freedom' is one hell of a song! So even if the album as a whole is weak for me that song is what I expect and demand from Helloween and they delivered. Strangely the booklet don't mention anything on the bonus tracks. And what's with the scratch-on card and the 777, are they becoming the new Stryper?

NP: Helloween - 'See The Night'