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Helloween: Gambling With The Devil
Power/Heavy Metal
Rating: 5.0/5.0

www.helloween.org
www.spv.de
www.myspace.com/helloween

About twenty years ago, when I was working at the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey, I had an interesting conversation with a young girl about current music. She was into the latest new music. She insisted that the best music was being done by the new groups. I begged to differ. A quick scan of the Billboard charts showed that the albums and singles that were charting the highest were by veterans of the music business. This hardly makes their music the best. However, it does demonstrate that experience and refined skills produce both consistent creativity and inevitable longevity. I say all this to say this about the new Helloween album: some of the best, creative and consistent music in this genre is being done by the veterans. Helloween is a prime example.

Helloween has a great new album out, 'Gambling With The Devil.' These power metal veterans have released a work of near impeccable quality. I kid you not! Coming off the heels of the very impressive and successful project 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy' and a worldwide tour, the Weenies have been reenergized and the result is the phenomenal 'Gambling With The Devil.'

Everything you expect in a quintessential Helloween album is here: a powerful and thunderous rhythm section, a blistering twin guitar assault, thoughtful and often mysterious lyrics, and consistent intense vocals. Now wrap this up in great songs with great arrangements, and you have some tremendous music. After the intro, you are hit hard and fast with two songs that marry melody with power, 'Kill It' and 'The Saints.' Yet this is only the beginning of the great sounds to come. Not everything is a rush of thunder and power. The excellent pieces 'As Long As I Fall' and 'Fallen To Pieces,' show Helloween at their most stylish and melodic best. 'Can Do It' is signature Helloween combining power and melody with polish and a positive message. The album wraps up with two great power metal songs 'Dreambound' and 'Heaven Tells No Lies.' On both songs I'm reminded again of the strength of Andi Deris' vocals and the brilliance of Helloween's arrangements. The later song has a sweeping, nearly symphonic quality, with some sterling guitar work.

Yes, Helloween has done it again. 'Gambling With The Devil' draws upon their formidable past works and injects new enthusiasm. This work makes me believe that the power metal genre is alive and well. Hail Helloween! You have raised the bar once again. Highly recommended: buy immediately!
  - Craig Hartranft


In Short

Yes, Helloween has done it again. 'Gambling With The Devil' draws upon their formidable past works and injects new enthusiasm. This work makes me believe that the power metal genre is alive and well. You have raised the bar once again.

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