Earlier this 12 months, the reunited expanded basic lineup of German energy metallers HELLOWEEN signed with Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM) for the discharge of their subsequent studio album. The band entered the studio this previous summer time to start work on the follow-up to 2021’s acclaimed self-titled effort, with plans to situation the LP in 2025.
Requested in a brand new interview with Tony Webster of The Metallic Command how the fabric for HELLOWEEN‘s subsequent album compares to that on “Helloween”, vocalist Andi Deris mentioned (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I would say it is far more simple listening, as a result of there’s much less constructed stuff on it. It is extra flowing with the wind, so to say. It’s totally, very optimistic, so I might reasonably say it is extra completely happy, completely happy HELLOWEEN than the opposite album. I believe it is a bit extra… yeah, the movement is, for my style, not as edgy because the final album, which was cool — I like edgy stuff — however we should always have roughly some counterpart to edgy, extra exhausting issues. The final album, for me, was nice to hear by way of — it was edgy, it was heavy, it was difficult right here and there — however after listening to it, then I wanted a pause. It was exhausting. After [listening to ‘Helloween’], I wanted some break, put it that manner. I beloved it, and I nonetheless like it, however it’s demanding. I believe the subsequent album might be far more simple listening, I believe far more pleasing to sing alongside [to]; there are many components in there. So I might reasonably describe it as a extra completely happy, completely happy HELLOWEEN album. That may be the very best description.”
Andi continued: “It is laborious to explain, as a result of there are many speedy and heavy issues on it. However after I hear by way of it, I really feel good. I imply, that is an excellent signal. Not that I felt unhealthy after I listened to the final album — that is not what I imply. It is enjoyable. I take heed to it, and it is enjoyable. Positively.”
Concerning what he and his HELLOWEEN bandmates realized from the making of “Helloween” that they improved upon this time round, Andi mentioned: “Yeah, I believe the principle key phrase could be confidence. The final album, we needed to get to know one another in that new setup, lineup, the best way to work with [each other], the best way to work right here and blah, blah, blah, and this time we simply realized, okay, truly everyone has such nice concepts; simply do not management one another. We needn’t truly stick in a studio for pre-production for 2 months as a result of everyone did it for himself. Let’s simply take heed to it and say, ‘Wow, cool.’ So this time we have been some lazy backs, truly, and simply mentioned, you recognize, pre-production we simply do ourselves again at house, everyone in his personal studio, and we simply take the approach we’re given. Web is nice, and you may have stay periods on-line, and that made life a lot simpler as a result of everyone is simply relieved that you just [are] nonetheless at house. You continue to work laborious, however you are at house. And as everyone knows, once you’re at house, work does not damage that a lot as being again within the studio once more someplace on this planet, however not with your loved ones. And these days you’ll be able to even have your loved ones life, you will have your eight, 9 hours per day within the studio, you your self determine once you make a break or once you go and have a meal together with your woman or go all the way down to the seashore, in my case. That makes life a lot simpler and far more pleasing than sitting in a fricking studio repeatedly and once more, every day for 2 months, only for a pre-production, which you possibly can simply do at house collectively. So this time, I’ve to say there’s confidence that we earned for one another that helped rather a lot to make issues much more easygoing. And I believe that is precisely what you hear, once you undergo the songs and also you take heed to them — you’re feeling that easiness: ‘Wow. Wow. Okay, cool.’ I like it. In order that’s the best way to go.”
He then clarified: “I do not wanna say that I need to be again at house after I’m on tour. So I hate the concept of laser reveals or one thing like that. So long as I can stroll, I need to be on stage. However production-wise, I’ve to say I really like the approach we have now these days.”
Concerning how HELLOWEEN has managed to drag off the seemingly not possible by conserving all seven members of the band completely happy — returning singer Michael Kiske and guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen together with Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf and drummer Daniel Löble — Andi mentioned: “I believe the one factor you could settle for [is] that you’re totally different individuals. I believe that is the principle downside we had again within the days as a result of everyone truly anticipated the opposite to be and react and lend a hand [as] your self. And if you end up realizing, okay, we’re all totally different individuals, so you need to settle for that everyone in all probability has a special viewpoint, no less than a millimeter to the left or millimeter to proper. And you need to sit down and truly discover a compromise. When you settle for that everyone is totally different, that is not a foul factor. You simply have to just accept that you just your self could fail right here and there, and perhaps the opposite one is true. And once you’re getting older, you will have a long time of comparisons, and also you understand, ‘Okay, right here I fucked up, there I fucked up, right here I wasn’t proper, right here I wasn’t proper.’ You want that have, and when you will have that, you’re a little bit extra humble, as a result of you recognize you probably did issues mistaken or you recognize you have not been proper again within the days right here and there and blah, blah, blah. So, if you happen to take that at a base, every thing works out high-quality. And also you simply sit down with that data and attempt to discover a answer, which is sweet sufficient for all right here within the room. And, yeah, that went down tremendous the previous couple of years, I imply, no downside in any respect. Even when any person was pissed off, fully pissed off for no matter motive, once more, that any person didn’t react like he did again within the days, like with aggression or one thing like that, however in regular phrases and mentioned, ‘Hey, I’ve a bit of downside right here. You mentioned this and that and blah, blah, blah. And the way did you imply that?’ After which right here comes the reason and also you go, like, ‘Oh, okay, all good. Thanks.'”
Upon its launch in June 2021, “Helloween” landed within the High 10 in additional than 10 nations, together with Germany, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. The duvet art work for the LP was painted by artist Eliran Kantor, who has beforehand labored with HATEBREED, SOULFLY, TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH and SODOM, amongst others.
Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, the final HELLOWEEN LP was recorded partly on the H.O.M.E. Studios in Hamburg (the place every thing began in 1984). The identical recording console used for such HELLOWEEN albums as “Grasp Of The Rings”, “Time Of The Oath” and “Higher Than Uncooked” was utilized to report the band’s new materials. The trouble was combined on the Valhalla Studios of Ronald Prent (IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, RAMMSTEIN).
“Helloween” noticed the legendary German energy metallers going “again to the roots,” with the band recording totally analog and Löble enjoying the drum package beforehand utilized by HELLOWEEN‘s authentic drummer, the late Ingo Schwichtenberg, on the legendary “Keeper Of The Seven Keys” recordings.
HELLOWEEN will launch a brand new stay album, “Stay At Budokan”, on December 13, 2024 through Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The colossal effort immortalizes HELLOWEEN‘s September 16, 2023 efficiency at Tokyo’s legendary Nippon Budokan.
“Stay At Budokan” might be obtainable in a plethora of codecs: 2CD-digipak and 3LP vinyl in trifold with the primary print run of each coming as “deluxe version” together with embossed cowl art work, in addition to Blu-ray, DVD and digital. Every model is meticulously crafted to go well with the steel neighborhood’s various tastes, guaranteeing each fan can relive the uncooked, unfiltered vitality of HELLOWEEN of their most well-liked medium.
This launch celebrates the grand finale of HELLOWEEN‘s epic world tour from 2022 to 2023. Spanning over 30 nations on three continents, the tour was nothing wanting a triumph, drawing huge crowds and showcasing the band’s timeless attraction, the sold-out live performance in Tokyo is the crowning glory of the cycle.
Photograph credit score: Martin Häusler