Earlier this 12 months, the reunited expanded traditional 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 subject the LP in 2025.
Requested in a brand new interview with Tony Webster of The Steel Command how the fabric for HELLOWEEN‘s subsequent album compares to that on “Helloween”, vocalist Andi Deris stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I might say it is far more straightforward listening, as a result of there’s much less constructed stuff on it. It is extra flowing with the wind, so to say. It is very, very constructive, so I’d fairly say it is extra comfortable, comfortable HELLOWEEN than the opposite album. I feel it’s kind of extra… yeah, the stream is, for my style, not as edgy because the final album, which was cool — I like edgy stuff — however we must always have kind of some counterpart to edgy, extra exhausting issues. The final album, for me, was nice to hear by — 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 approach. I beloved it, and I nonetheless like it, however it’s demanding. I feel the following album will probably be far more straightforward listening, I feel far more pleasant to sing alongside [to]; there are many components in there. So I’d fairly describe it as a extra comfortable, comfortable HELLOWEEN album. That will be one of the 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 it, I really feel good. I imply, that is a superb 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 discovered from the making of “Helloween” that they improved upon this time round, Andi stated: “Yeah, I feel the principle key phrase could be confidence. The final album, we needed to get to know one another in that new setup, lineup, work with [each other], work right here and blah, blah, blah, and this time we simply realized, okay, truly all people has such nice concepts; simply do not management one another. We need not truly stick in a studio for pre-production for 2 months as a result of all people 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 stated, you recognize, pre-production we simply do ourselves again at dwelling, all people in his personal studio, and we simply take the approach we’re given. Web is nice, and you’ll have dwell periods on-line, and that made life a lot simpler as a result of all people is simply relieved that you simply [are] nonetheless at dwelling. You continue to work laborious, however you are at dwelling. And as everyone knows, if you’re at dwelling, work would 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 could have your eight, 9 hours per day within the studio, you your self resolve if you make a break or if you go and have a meal together with your girl or go right down to the seashore, in my case. That makes life a lot simpler and far more pleasant than sitting in a fricking studio time and again and once more, every day for 2 months, only for a pre-production, which you may simply do at dwelling collectively. So this time, I’ve to say there’s confidence that we earned for one another that helped lots to make issues much more easygoing. And I feel that is precisely what you hear, if you undergo the songs and also you take heed to them — you are 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 wish to be again at dwelling after I’m on tour. So I hate the thought of laser reveals or one thing like that. So long as I can stroll, I wish to be on stage. However production-wise, I’ve to say I like the approach we’ve got these days.”
Concerning how HELLOWEEN has managed to tug off the seemingly not possible by holding all seven members of the band comfortable — 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 stated: “I feel the one factor you should settle for [is] that you’re totally different folks. I feel that is the principle drawback we had again within the days as a result of all people truly anticipated the opposite to be and react and be in agreement [as] your self. And if you find yourself realizing, okay, we’re all totally different folks, so you must settle for that everyone in all probability has a unique viewpoint, not less than a millimeter to the left or millimeter to proper. And you must sit down and truly discover a compromise. For those who settle for that everyone is totally different, that is not a nasty factor. You simply have to simply accept that you simply your self could fail right here and there, and perhaps the opposite one is true. And if you’re getting older, you could have many years 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 could have that, you’re a little bit extra humble, as a result of you recognize you probably did issues flawed 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, all the things works out positive. And also you simply sit down with that data and attempt to discover a answer, which is nice sufficient for all right here within the room. And, yeah, that went down tremendous the previous couple of years, I imply, no drawback in any respect. Even when any person was pissed off, utterly pissed off for no matter purpose, 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 stated, ‘Hey, I’ve a bit of drawback right here. You stated 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 international locations, together with Germany, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. The quilt 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 partially on the H.O.M.E. Studios in Hamburg (the place all the things 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 file the band’s new materials. The trouble was blended 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 absolutely analog and Löble taking part in 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 dwell album, “Reside 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.
“Reside At Budokan” will probably be out there 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 swimsuit the steel neighborhood’s various tastes, making certain each fan can relive the uncooked, unfiltered vitality of HELLOWEEN of their most popular medium.
This launch celebrates the grand finale of HELLOWEEN‘s epic world tour from 2022 to 2023. Spanning over 30 international locations on three continents, the tour was nothing in need of a triumph, drawing large 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