Helloween | website | facebook | twitter |
Released on June 1, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records
Released by Nuclear Blast Records on 29 May 2015 My God-Given Right by Helloween marks the first time the band has released five studio albums with the same line-up. It is their seventh consecutive album produced by Charlie Bauerfeind. It’s also their first album released under the label Nuclear Blast since 2003’s Rabbit Don’t Come Easy.
According to singer Andi Deris, the band insists on a simple motto: “Back to the roots — but with new songs.” He continues: “More than ever, our fans want to sing and rock out along with us. This simply works best with the use of distinctive choruses and ’80s hooklines.”
Guitarist Michael Weikath clarifies: “It is not our mission to just relive the ’80s at all cost — to our own surprise, the whole dynamic of this working concept took on a life of its own.”
Helloween have always maintained an air of self-depreciating humour. They don’t take themselves too seriously; think about the completely mad Pink Bubbles Go Ape effort. It’s this outlook that has helped to endear them to their fans for so long. Along with playing songs at breakneck speed with lots of melody and sing along choruses.
After 15 albums and 30 years you’d think that Helloween would begin to run out of steam. At times in their career they’ve become darker (The Dark Ride). They’ve also become more grandiose and classical (Keeper Of The Seven Keys: The Legacy). But on My God-Given Right, it’s just basic, straightforward playing. Instead of phoning in an album full of sub-standard songs My God-Given Right shows Helloween can still cut it. There’s murderously fast guitar leads and pummelling double bass attacks aplenty.
But don’t expect pure power metal. These 13 songs are hard rock with a sprinkling of “power metal”. Helloween probably went for this sound as it would appeal more to their target market of German metal aficionados.
The album kicks off with a few strong tunes. ‘Heroes’ is rather melodic with a hard-hitting chorus. ‘Battle’s Won’ is a traditional over the top power metal anthem replete with the obligatory catchy chorus. The album’s title track showcases the human air raid siren which is Andi Deris. The strong songs continue: ‘Stay Crazy’ with its preposterous lyrics is pure 1980s cheese. ‘A Swing Of A Fallen World’ and ‘You, Still Of War’, hark back to their symphonic past. Tracks such as ‘Claws’ are filler material and don’t stand up to the quality of the other songs.
So in summary this album proves Helloween are still relevant and have lots to offer. The good far outweighs bad and if you like your metal to sound like it did in the late 80s, you’ll love this. Flip your brain into neutral first and you’ll enjoy this stress free metal listening experience. But if this is the first time you’ve heard of Helloween then start with the albums Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 1 and Part 2 instead. They’re stone-cold classics of the genre.
