In a brand new interview with Hakos Pervanidis of the Metallic Hammer Greece TV program TV Struggle, HELLOWEEN singer Andi Deris and guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen spoke concerning the band’s upcoming album, “Giants & Monsters”, which is due on August 29 by way of Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). Requested if they might agree that “Giants & Monsters” sounds “extra targeted and direct” than 2021’s self-titled effort, Hansen stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Yeah, I might agree. I imply, we now have variety, however we have grown collectively as HELLOWEEN and the person members, so you would hear the variations between the songs and the songwriters nonetheless, however there is a straight purple line. And we’re extra related now.”
Deris chimed in: “Thus far I am blissful to say that there have been plenty of little issues being put into your music by the opposite guys, which was a lot simpler this time. Truthfully, we had a lot extra time, really, so everyone had tons of time to hear to every and everyone’s tracks and give you personal concepts. Kai, for instance, he added I might say an entire new music into my music. ‘Giants On The Run’, the entire center half is a brand new music which Kai put in, and it is simply excellent; it suits. That is one thing I like and I at all times wished to have, however, actually, again within the day, like [on] the [previous] album, everyone was minding his personal enterprise. You need to write tremendous songs for the brand new upcoming album and the expectations are so excessive as a result of Michael [Kiske, HELLOWEEN singer] and Kai are again. And so there was no mindset to really put your shit into the opposite songs and vice versa. And this time it simply performed out simply as a result of the strain was gone. I believe while you simply had such a profitable album, it takes away a lot strain as a result of you recognize you had been heading in the right direction. So play with it. Do not stress it. Simply play with it. And that was quite a lot of enjoyable.”
Concerning the “Giants & Monsters” album title, Deris stated: “The primary title says all of it. It is ‘Giants On The Run’, and it talks about us as mankind. We are literally giants. We’re gods inside. However then you would give you a conspiracy principle. Are we on goal, purposely put down that the god facet, that big factor that all of us have inside, shouldn’t be allowed to specific itself or to come back out? However on the finish of the day, everyone, each particular person I do know, they’re much larger inside with their desires, with their prospects they wish to have, than they’re really allowed to have or allowed to be in our society. And there you would give you that conspiracy principle. Are we held down on goal? I personally suppose once I take heed to my inside, I do know everyone from the band and all my associates I do know, they’re a lot larger inside. They’re nice, nice individuals. They usually have nice concepts, however in our world, you are not allowed to specific it.”
Kai added: “It takes all efforts. You need to struggle the monsters. That is the purpose. And I believe the title leaves quite a bit room a for interpretation. You could possibly say the giants is your nice concepts that you simply might need, your goals, your targets. However then right here come the monsters, the demons you must struggle and on a regular basis wrestle. Then you would go to the Anunnaki, the return of the gods from outer house, big individuals and so forth. There’s quite a lot of room for fantasy, I believe.”
Andi continued: “However I simply went again additionally to the Bible. I stated, ‘Okay, look, it is even written within the Bible.’ There have been giants strolling on earth, and who says that the giants will not be nonetheless right here in ourselves? I imply, we are nonetheless the giants, and as Kai stated, you consistently need to struggle the demons, the monsters in your life. And I assumed that is an excellent metaphor. And I believe everyone is aware of what I am speaking about as a result of generally while you’re with your self enthusiastic about your self, your personal life, you notice you’d be way more if solely you’re allowed to be.”
Requested if HELLOWEEN purposely approached songwriting this time round in a approach the place the vocals and the primary refrain are available very early in every music, Andi stated: “Sure and no. I imply, actually, if it might destroy the music, I might moderately not, me personally. I believe everyone within the band would agree, as a result of if the music yells for it and shouts for it — maintain it quick; in any other case it is getting boring — then I maintain it quick.
Hansen added: “It is good to have that on the industrial tracks, all of the — how do you say it? — the hit singles. It’s extremely laborious. Personally, I do not thoughts if it takes longer to enter the refrain if it is smart for a music. So there isn’t any basic thought or rule while you method songwriting to say, ‘Oh, no, the refrain has to come back after one minute or so.'”
Deris continued: “If we discuss wanting what the industrial facet can be, and again within the days, I keep in mind you’ve got been pressured by the report firm to place it quick into most three-minute songs as a result of in any other case it could not be a single. Fuck it. I imply, actually, no. If I’ve to maintain it quick, then in all probability, as a result of I am a cussed asshole, I might do the other. However no one tells me what to do, so I simply personally write the way in which I really feel. However then once more, it is essential, when we now have guys within the band who say, ‘This can be a nice music, and I may hear it even higher once we not maintain it that quick.’ For instance, ‘Giants On The Run’. [Kai‘s] half is not less than three minutes and stretches the music to eight minutes one thing, which was once one thing like spherical 5 minutes, and it’s very value it. But when it is not value it, why would you? That was one other query: ‘Do you at all times have to write down these lengthy songs?’ And Kai stated, ‘No.’ It is simply what it’s. Whenever you’re within the strategy of songwriting and it yells for one more half and this is an thought, and yeah, I may do that lyrics, so I would like one other half, in any other case the story shouldn’t be spherical, and perhaps you find yourself with 10 or 12 minutes.”
Hansen added: “And it is enjoyable to do these lengthy songs. To me, it is enjoyable. It is a type of problem, however I do not do it on goal to say, ‘I would like an extended music.’ It is simply if the music provides it to you, you then do it.”
Deris defined: “And if the story is 2 sheets of paper. You possibly can’t presumably put all of the lyrics in a three-minute music; that is not attainable. So you then’ve obtained completely different emotions relying on the lyrics itself. Immediately there is a romantic part, for instance. Ah, yeah, undoubtedly you must go down and do one thing romantic round it arrangement-wise. You in all probability can not go all metally with that romantic factor. And so it cries, it, it yells, it shouts for one more half.”
On the subject of how they stability followers’ expectations with being artistic and making an attempt new issues with their music, Hansen stated: “It is a problem and it is at all times like a stroll on the sting. As a result of if you happen to take into account that you really want individuals to be happy with what you are doing, however alternatively, while you do your factor, you shouldn’t take into account that. You shouldn’t write with that goal in thoughts, as a result of, to start with, you must be a fan of what you are doing. To me, it is a very egoistic course of. I write for myself, and I need to be a fan of what I am doing. After which I am glad if different individuals suppose so too.”
Deris added: “Yeah, that is my approach too. I do not wanna say I do not give a fuck, however if you end up writing, there must be nothing behind your thoughts. It is simply you and your music. And as Kai stated, if you happen to goosebump goes up, it is nice for your self, to start with. After which while you end the music, on the second thought or second guess can be, ‘Would they prefer it on the market?’ However in the course of the songwriting course of, it is not vital. You’re vital as a result of you must really give your ideas, your emotions into no matter you do within the very second. And sure, generally it is not adequate that the individuals would say, ‘Yeah, I find it irresistible.’ However I at all times say that the chance that I’m fully proud of my music and my goosebump goes up, contemplating myself a super-normal man, so once I say I find it irresistible, my goosebumps go up, as a result of I take into account myself a mediocre man, I might say the conventional individual on the market would really feel the identical [as] I do. That is what I at all times hope.”
Hansen continued: “You develop a sense. I imply, while you write a music, and also you belief your self, if you happen to prefer it, then there will likely be quite a lot of others that would really like it too.”
Deris concurred, saying: “No assure, however that is the way in which to work.”
“Giants & Monsters” observe itemizing:
01. Giants On The Run
02. Savior Of The World
03. A Little Is A Little Too A lot
04. We Can Be Gods
05. Into The Solar
06. This Is Tokyo
07. Universe (Gravity For Hearts)
08. Hand Of God
09. Underneath The Moonlight
10. Majestic
“Helloween” was the primary HELLOWEEN album to function the band’s expanded lineup, consisting of returning singer Michael Kiske and Hansen together with Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf and drummer Daniel Löble.
Final December, Deris advised Spain’s MariskalRockTV concerning the musical route of the brand new HELLOWEEN materials: “I like two or three songs from Kai. [They’re] tremendous loopy, and I like ’em to loss of life. Weiki [guitarist Michael Weikath] has an amazing music as effectively. My songs are actually at all times good. [Laughs] [That’s a] joke, joke, joke. However I believe we now have plenty of nice songs, undoubtedly. Tremendous-nice hooks, plenty of constructive sing-alongs. So, yeah, I believe that is one thing that we in all probability may have within the occasions to come back. [Laughs] Very constructive, I’ve to say. So I might say 80 % of the album is tremendous constructive. Generally very quick and heavy, however constructive. Good, good temper. And we now have a ballad. Lastly, we now have a ballad.”
Earlier in December, Deris was requested by The Metallic Command how the fabric for HELLOWEEN‘s subsequent album compares to that on “Helloween”. He stated: “I might say it is way 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’s extremely, very constructive, so I might moderately say it is extra blissful, blissful HELLOWEEN than the opposite album. I believe 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 should always have roughly some counterpart to edgy, extra exhausting issues. The final album, for me, was nice to hear via — it was edgy, it was heavy, it was sophisticated 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 cherished it, and I nonetheless find it irresistible, but it surely’s demanding. I believe the subsequent album will likely be way more straightforward listening, I believe way more satisfying to sing alongside [to]; there are many components in there. So I might moderately describe it as a extra blissful, blissful HELLOWEEN album. That might 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 once I hear via it, I really feel good. I imply, that is a great signal. Not that I felt dangerous once 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 stated: “Yeah, I believe the primary key phrase can be confidence. The final album, we needed to get to know one another in that new setup, lineup, learn how to work with [each other], learn how to work right here and blah, blah, blah, and this time we simply realized, okay, really everyone has such nice concepts; simply do not management one another. We need not really 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, really, and simply stated, you recognize, pre-production we simply do ourselves again at dwelling, everyone in his personal studio, and we simply take the approach we’re given. Web is nice, and you may have reside classes on-line, and that made life a lot simpler as a result of everyone is simply relieved that you simply [are] nonetheless at dwelling. You continue to work laborious, however you are at dwelling. And as everyone knows, while you’re at dwelling, work does not damage that a lot as being again within the studio once more someplace on the planet, however not with your loved ones. And these days you possibly can even have your loved ones life, you will have your eight, 9 hours per day within the studio, you your self determine while you make a break or while you go and have a meal along with your girl or go right down to the seashore, in my case. That makes life a lot simpler and way more satisfying than sitting in a fricking studio many times and once more, each day for 2 months, only for a pre-production, which you would simply do at dwelling collectively. So this time, I’ve to say there’s confidence that we earned for one another that helped quite a bit to make issues much more easygoing. And I believe that is precisely what you hear, while you undergo the songs and also you take heed to them — you are feeling that easiness: ‘Wow. Wow. Okay, cool.’ I find it irresistible. In order that’s the way in which to go.”
Upon its launch in June 2021, “Helloween” landed within the Prime 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 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 unique drummer, the late Ingo Schwichtenberg, on the legendary “Keeper Of The Seven Keys” recordings.
HELLOWEEN launched a brand new reside album, “Reside At Budokan”, on December 13, 2024 by way of Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The colossal effort immortalized HELLOWEEN‘s September 16, 2023 efficiency at Tokyo’s legendary Nippon Budokan.
“Reside At Budokan” was made 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 group’s numerous tastes, guaranteeing each fan can relive the uncooked, unfiltered power of HELLOWEEN of their most well-liked medium.
This launch celebrated 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.