08/04/02

HELLOWEEN / TREASURE CHEST

After the Scorpions, Helloween are one of the most influential German bands and have been responsible for and an inspiration too many a European and some American bands and this 2xCD compilation charts their 27 years career.

All the greats are here, some remixed but most left just as they were, from the aggressive Power Metal of "Sole Survivor" and "Metal Invaders" to the Melodic Power of "Perfect Gentleman" and "Mr Torture", to the beautiful Power Ballads of "In The Middle Of A Heartbeat" and the unforgettable "Forever And One", notice the key word is POWER.

This is a very good compilation and if you are not too familiar with the band this is an excellent introduction and if you are a fan it’s nice to have all the greats on one compilation and this is a fantastic testament to a fine band, representing everything from "The Walls Of Jericho" to "The Dark Ride", the other thing is the CD booklet, time and attention has been put in to it with great pictures and liner notes.

This does come with an optional 3rd disc containing b sides of singles, 11 in all but is not an indispensable item as it could have been, as fans of Helloween will already have them and there are at least 6 tracks that have never seen the light of day outside of Japan, had these have been included this would have been an absolute must, so unless you are a total Helloween fanatic just go for the 2 CD. Come on Sanctuary get those lost tracks out NOW, please, other than this minor gripe it’s a great compilation.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = Disc 1 = 79 mins + 15 Tracks / Disc 2 – 77 mins + 14 Tracks