JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEW W/C 22/10/07

 

HELLOWEEN / GAMBLING WITH THE DEVIL

 

I have been a fan of Helloween since the first Keepers album and even I have to admit they have had their ups and downs, their last couple of albums have been a bit lacklustre due to the massive personnel changes and misfortunes that have befallen them over the last few years but I am pleased to say that they are now back on tack.

 

This album is more like the mid 90’s period Helloween with lots of Neo Classical influences interspersed with the Power Metal riffs that come fast and furious but they still have their commercial side to them as “As Long As I Fall” aptly demonstrates, with a catchy sing a long chorus and melody a plenty.  If you’re looking for something a litter harder edged, how about “The Bells Of The Seven Hells”, or “Dreamland” both of which are classic Helloween.  Other tracks to listen out for are the excellent riff fest that is “Paint A New World” or the positive, up tempo, pop Metal “You Can Do It”.

 

Over all this is a fine return to style for this fine German band that deserve better luck than they have had of late and you can be sure I will play tracks from this on my HFM show and just in time for Halloween.

 

WEBSTIE      http://www.helloween.org/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 58 mins + 12 TRACKS

 

MOONSPELL / UNDER SATANAE

 

A new label for this Portuguese band in the form of SPV and this is the Blackest album they have done for ages, there is a lot more Black Metal in here than ever before and I for one welcome it.

 

Thus is certainly the darkest album they have done and it gives the band a new focus as well as a different emphasis that has obviously given the band a new lease of life.  The Black Metal is interspersed with Dark Symphonic pieces that really do make this such a dynamic CD to listen to, one minute its Classical in feeling with “Chorai Lusitania” and the next its really dark Black Metal like “Goat On Fire” not too dissimilar to what Greek band Rotting Christ are doing and you know how much I like Rotting Christ.  The eerily stirring “Wolves from The Fog” is a total master piece and should be compulsory listening for all Metal fans.

 

I have to say this is a total and welcome surprise from Moonspell, if you buy the Century Media compilation that has just been put out and then play this, it sounds so different and well deserving album of the week on my radio show, this album is as deadly as a Portuguese Man O War.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.moonspell.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 50 mins + 10 TRACKS