Conference napalm::heavy_metal

    Well this topic will either take off with 1000's of replies being
    entered or it will stop at about 4.
    
    HELLOWEEN seem to a band you either love or hate, I'm in love
    section but Brynn (Harrison) is in the hate.
    
    
      Although both parts of `Keeper of the seven keys' are brilliant
    I think `Keeper.. I' just beats it's bother.
    
    
    Are there any other pumpkin heads out there?
    
    
    Stephen.

    Yeah I liked the part 1 best. I only briefly heard part 2 and was
    quite disappointed by the same over all feel to the album. I would
    have liked to see a departure to a more.......
    
    Well a more ......
    
    Anyway not just a rehash of the first album.
    
    Bonzo.
    
    ps Herman Monster have you introduced yourself in Note 3 as I can't
    remember seeing an entry.
    

    I think the next album will be quite different since Kai (Hansen)
    has left the band. He was the main guitarist and songwriter.

    
    	IMO the best album to date has to be Walls Of Jericho.  A much
    heavier, faster opus than the rather wimpy type Keeper efforts.
     Still, we might see someting better with a new lead git in the
    band.
    
    	Pumpkins don't grow old...just rot.
    
    	MoshDuck.

         
    Kai Hansen was the ballz of Helloween.  I met them all and him and
    the bass player were real nice guyz.  Its a shame that Micheal Kiske
    has Hepertiteous(spelt?) B.  I don't think he'll last long.
                     
    Kai is an absolute madman!!! He is crazy !  He runs around like
    no-one else I've ever seen on stage and he is one of the most underrated
    guitarists today.
    
    Helloween are in my top 5 fav bands - they kick ass and can keep
    up with the likes of Queensryche (also one of my favs) with ease.
                     
                     
    -Tony

    
    
    
    	So these guys sound like QR, eh??  A friend of mine
    	tells me that they're a pretty good band, but I haven't
    	heard anything from them.
    
    	Anyone give me an idea of what other bands they might
    	be like??
    
    	Tigger~~

    I haven't heard any of the albums (but would like to), but the few
    songs I've heard I've been impressed with.  That singer has an
    incredible voice.
    
    Which band member (what do they play) has hepatitis B?
    
    gh

    
    The vocalist.

    Re:.2
    
    The `Keeper...' project was originally intended to be a double
    album but the record company (Noise) didn't like the idea so they
    kept the second part back for 18 months. So it's no surprise that
    the two albums sound similar!

    
    Stephen.

    re.:6
    
    They sound like Maiden (live) and their best Album is 
    Helloween I (it's an EP)
    
    Their best songs are:
    
    Cry for Freedom
    Judas
    Future World
    Halloween
    Eagle fly free
    Keeper of the 7 Keys
    
    and
    
    Ride the Sky

                   
    re:.10
          
    Thats not right.  When I went down to see Chris of Noise International
    and I asked them if that was the case (thats what I thought originally)
    - he said it wasn't and that the majority of the songs had been penned 
    by Kai Hansen after the release of KOTSKpt1 becasue Kiske was/is so
    ill, and couldn't write.
            
    -Tony   

    I got my info from an interview (in the mighty K!, I think) with
    Kai, who said that `Keeper...' was originally a double album.

    
    Well, that explains it.  The "mighty" K. are the biggest bunch of
    pratts in the world.  They couldn't write an accurate article about 
    having a piss.
         
    As always, IMHO
    -Tony

    
        I heard "I Want Out" on the HBB 1 or 2 months ago so I went
        out and bought "Keeper ... II" on CD.
    
        The rest is OK, but nothing incredible.  I'll hafta listen
        to it again.
    
                                                       GTI
    

    
    re:.6
    
    Hi Kim, 
    
    No they don't sound much like Queesnryche, but they are in the same
    sort of style (ie twin guitars duelling, very good vocalists powerfull
    drumming).
         
    Anybody who hasn't heard much Helloween listen to "Dr. Stein"  on
    KOTSKpt2.  Its quite funny if you know the words to it.
         
    -Tony

    
    
     I've only heard the Keepers pts.1 & 2 
    
    	I actually like pt.2 better than 1 I think that there both
    	 different sounding pt.2 is a squeeky clean album that has
    	alot of pop metal taste to it.
    
    	Pt1 is borderline speed with a dirtier sound but both albums
    	 kick. I give it a thumds up.
    
    	M
    	 B

    My son recently bought the "Kepper Of The Seven Keys - Part II"
    and, to be honest, I really hadn't heard much from the band.  And
    judging by the name I figured they'd be yet another speed metal
    band with machine gun vocals.  I was wrong !  This CD sounds a lot
    like a mix between Maiden (overall feel), Fates Warning (vocally),
    and Queensryche (tempo/mood changes and concept).  I listened to
    it about 4 times back to back when he got it. "I Want Out" is getting
    lots of MTV airplay on the Headgivers Ball, but I think it's one
    of the weaker cuts, even though it's probably the only one with
    any "commercial" value.
    
    
    				Scary

    I thought they were good to, but he's gotta take it easy on the
    spring water!  8-)
    
    CeeJ

    
    	Yeah CJ? Well then you wouldn't want the same seats for
    a Danzig show...Glenn spits on ya.
    
    	Helloween was phenomenal! I love that guy's voice, he
    does have great range, and you're right Pete, they kinda
    remind me of Iron Maiden. They also have a lot of fun on
    stage, and were very friendly with the audience.
    
    	I thought the water was pretty cool, not as good as when they
    take the firehoses to ya at an outdoor summer show though!
    
    /Motorbreath

    Yuck, spit?  Remind me never to see Danzig in the first couple
    of rows o.k.?
    
    Who is the singer for Helloween btw?  He is cool.
    
    CeeJ

	If you like Helloween and also Iron Maiden, then check out a band
	called ARTCH.  They play a mixture between both bands and at times
	sound as good as either.

		MoshChops.

    
    At the HHB show - how many guitarists did Helloween have ??
    
    The reason I ask is coz Kai Hansen (the 2nd axeman) has left
    the bad and I don't know if they've found a replacment.
                                       
    -Tony

    
    RE: 24
    
           Yeah....ARTCH. I got the "Return to the church Hill"
    album.I don't really know if they still have another album
    or what? Like you said they sounded pretty good as Helloween
    and Iron Maiden.
    
    Metalhead
   
    
    

    
    Hmm..
    
    Anybody out there know who the other one was ??
    
    One was Micheal WeiKahlt (spelt) the other *WAS* Kai Hansen but
    he left/got kicked out (fyi - Hansen used to sing for Helloween 
    too and he wrote the vast majority of their material).

    I don't know names, but I can tell you what they looked like.. one
    of the guitarists was really tall, dark brown scraggly hair, kind
    of ugly, and the other was normal height, short blondish brown hair,
    kind of skinny..???  (sorry)  8-)
    
    CJ

    
    The ugly one was definalty Weiky - he is the uglyist spud you will
    ever meet.
    
    Any ideas Buck ??

    If it's any help, he was playing a black charvel.. or maybe it was
    just a jackson.. but he was definately ugly, he was standing about
    four feet in front of me!
    
    CJ

    
    But Weiky is the (other) original guy - what about the other 
    dude ?

    
          Why is there no one talking about the fantastic "Live In The
    U.K." ?
    This is a great LP, I real love it,....pity Kai is leaving...pity
    too they don't play any old somg like RIDE THE SKY or JUDAS.....
    
    Anyway, they found a new guitar player (a friend of Weikath), but
    will he write songs as good as Kai ones ?
    
    To finish with, a small word for Ingo Swchichtenberg and Markus
    GroBkopf, they are really good drummer and bass player, and none
    of you talked about 'em
    
                           Fred "RM"
    

                                       
    Helloween are great musicians but they have a BAD attitude 
    problem.                           
                                       
    I've met them a couple of times and got invited to the party after
    the London gig and they were assholes.
                                       
    Marus was okay, he was a nice guy but the rest wouldn't give a fan
    the time of day.                   
                                       
    The Live..in the UK album is great.                   

I've got "Walls of Jericho" on CD and they put on it :

	- Their first mini-lp (5 tracks) 
	- the LP "Wall of Jericho itself"
	- a single called "Judas"

Total time is 71 minutes and it's really speed !

It's much heavier than Keeper part II for sure.

Didier

    I too have KeeperPt1.  It's a good album, but seems a little less
    developed, rougher around the edges, then Pt2.
    
    That guy definately has an awesome voice!
    
    I thought it was a nice touch that they noted who did each guitar solo. 
    Maybe it was an ego or pride thing with the players, but I liked it
    too.  Wish more multi-guitar bands would do that.
    
    Overall I thought that the leads they did on this one were much more
    lame then the ones on Keeper Pt2 (so you have some good stuff to look
    forward to, Pete).
    
    Gh                

                
                Let's see...
                
                If Helloween's  singer  is approximately equal to
                BruceD, and is way beyond Geoff Tate, then...
                
                BruceD is way beyond GeoffT?!?!?!?!?
                
                Nah, he couldn't  *POSSIBLY*  be  inferring  that
                ludicrous thought ...
                
                :')
                

    
    
    	Re Rob...
    
    		NO..it's not what you think..it's much much worse!!!
    
    BK
    
    _who was watching SPACEBALLS on cable before work_
    

    
    Kai left the band a while back.
    
    The guy who played at the HHB Tour is the new bloke.
    
    -Tony

                                   
    
    Kai was darn good, it would be hard for them to replace him (he
    also wrote 99% of Hellowens material and was the original singer
    for the band). He was also a real character, he put the FUN into
    Helloween (stuff like playing "Peter The Wolf" before "Future World"
    on the Live EP was Kai's idea).   
                                                                    
    I haven't seen the new guy play so I don't know what he's like.

    No, please...why don't you say that in a few more notes...I don't think
    I've quite got it yet! 

    Yeah, but for awhile every other HM act in the world was sighting
    Paganini as an influence, so ya should take it with a grain of salt.
    It seems that a lot of metal bands do this in order to legitimize
    their music/genre.  Just MHO,
    
    	joe.

    Good point Peter.  I was just stating that many do "claim" it as
    an influence just to be cool.  I'm glad that you are knowledgeable
    enough to know the difference -- many aren't.
    
    	joe.

    I have to agree with those who like Keeper I over II.  The first one
    was so intense!  I was really disappointed to hear the second one. 
    Jericho was almost like a different band.  
    
    The thing that I have to like most is the solo in Halloween, where the
    guitarists just jam completely sick!  There's that part thats like Wah
    and whammy bar and a bunch of things.  You know what I mean?  They are
    (or were) so cool.
    
    Steve

    
  >> The other guitarist (who's name escapes me) writes most of the material
  >> on Part II.
    
 
    Thats Michael Wiechait (sp?). (He's not the new guitarist however).

    I also like them very much for their Keeper .. part II. The first is
    also fine but I prefer from far part II. They really have Maiden's
    precision in playing.
    Sorin

     I gotta agree about KeeperII. I origionally bought it for "I Want Out"
    but after some quality P-T (playing time for those of you who've never
    heard Dick Vitale) I've decided that the whole album is great. Not as
    good as Maiden 'tho, IMO. 
    
    the devil dog

    
    Ex Guitarist Kai Hansen - he wrote most of the material for Keeper... -
    is currently locked away in a studio in Hanover, Germany mixing his
    debut solo album.  He will be producing it himself and has employed the
    talents of singer Ralph Scheepers and bass Uwe Wessel (who?!?! -Flip).
    At the moment the band is just called Hansen.  The LP will be released
    in late February and will be Kai's own version of Keeper...II.
    
    Flip 

    
    HElloween are in Hanover working on their new studio album.
    
    Kai Hanson releases his debut, "Heading for Tomorrow" on Feb 19.
    
    Flip

There a bunch of funny writing at the back of the "Walls of Jericho" CD.

There is a chapter on people to be turned "Into pumpkins"

>Paul ... (Kerang) - best wishes to retirement
>Franck ...- for giving us less than promised
>Berlin Cops - you know why
>...
>all trouble makers on concerts,
>Neil... (sounds) - if we sound like discharges : discharge yourself !
>...
>and everyone who is still spelling Helloween with an "A"

There is a dedication of :

>"Judas" to all politicians who talk human and act like monsters!

finally it terminates with :

>WARNING! Everybody who will be writing Helloween with an "A" or tries to 
>distribute pamphlets with an "A"  will be turned into a pumpkin!!!


They seems to have a lot of humour. Also they are concerned about their name
being mispelled. Halloween is another band isn'it ?


Beside this I recommend this CD (it's 72minutes long) to any speed metal fan. 
There is some killer tunes on it (murderer, victim of fate, ride the sky, 
Guardians, Phantoms of death, Gorgar, Judas)
The CD is worth the $$ coz it contains 

	- a Mini LP (5 titles) dated 85
	- The walls of Jericho LP also dated 85
	- A extra tune called "Judas" which is good, recorded in 86


Enjoy,

Didier 

    
    Any news on these guys? What's the deal?
    
    /prc

    They've got a new single out (name escapes me), the only thing I
    remember is there is a piccy of a Kid, with fried eggs as eyes.
    
    Surreal.... as for album, tour etc, I'm keeping myself posted...
    
    
    				Andy.

    The new album title is something like "Pink Bubbles on acid" ..
    
    something like that anywayz.... The new single is quite good, and
    according to the latest interview on Euro eMpTy V.... there is still
    a bit of humour in this album!
    
    Bonzo

    I need a favor. I need the addresses of the following record companies
    in Germany. Can anyone in Germany and/or Europe help?
    
    Atom H records/Major International
    Shark records/US metal records
    SPV gmbh				
    No Remorse records
    
    thanks in advance!

    I was just listening to "... 7 keys" yesterday.
    
    Good stuff ...
    
    Scary

    emmm...they have a song on the new album called,get this.......
    
    
                        "Heavy Metal Hamster"
    I nearly laughed my arse off when I read this.How the hell can you
    write a song like this????
    
      suppose I'll need to buy the new album and find out.
    
                                                        Staynz

    Well, if Annihilator can write a tune based on Kraft macaronni and
    cheese, then I guess a tune about a rodent slam dancer wouldn't be that
    far fetched !   8^)
    
    Scary

    
    The new album is released on March 11th.
    
    Flip

    
    the album is called Pink Bubbles go Ape and will be on the EMI label.
    
    Flip

    
    YES! Helloween rooooooolz(tm)!!

    
    No they don't, they only got a KKK review...pretty sh*t if your ask me!
    
    Flip

    
    I'll have to wait and hear it. I'm a die hard Helloween fan, I like 'em
    almost more or the same as I like Maiden. I'm definitely going to pick
    it up.

    caught their new single last night on Raw Power and it kicks!!!!The
    guitar solo was split 30/70.30 went to the new guy but he fills Kai
    Hansens boots admirably(sp).Singer has an excellant voice and uses it
    to the max but the chorus is a bit lame.....dunno 'pose I'll get used
    to it.The video is full of "images",but interesting to watch.A thumbs
    up from this happy camper.
    
                                               Staynz

    
    Has anyone seen the new release here in the states yet?
    
    /prc

Critics are not very good about this new LP. 

They claim it's missing some creativity (Ka� apparently).

I think I still need to find out by myself :-)

Didier

    
    Anyone seen the new release in the states yet?

    I got the Kids of the century 10 inch single at the weekend,on the b
    side there is an interview and also a completely mental version of
    Blue Suede(sp) Shoes,very funny to hear but also very good.
    
    
    
                                           Staynz

    
    As far as I know, the new release is not out yet in the States...
    
    /prc

    
    Are you sure?  Tell ya what, we could strike a deal here...send me
    mail.
    
    Flip

    I read some critics which were not very good about Helloween's last.
    Apparently the departure of Kai Hansen has influenced.
    Gama Ray may become a strong competitor to Helloween.
    
    Sorin

From: [email protected] (Cochrane NJ)
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll.metal
Subject: Re: Helloween info, anyone?
 
[email protected] (Ross Allan Roberts) writes:
 
>Does anyone have information on what Helloween is up to? Do they have a
>new album? And who is the new guitarist they have?
 
 Helloween are still about but due to contractual problems switching
labels from Noise to EMI (Noise didn't want to let them go) they have
not been able to release their fab new album, wierdly titled 'Pink
Bubbles go ape', in quite a few places. They had to come to the U.K.
to record it and make the videos for it, and it was out over here at
the start of april, I think.
 Their new guitarist to replace Kai Hansen is called Roland Grapow who
wrote a lot of the songs on the album and his guitar style is pretty
much the same as Kai's.
 I also remember reading in Metal Hammer a while back that they were
going to tour europe , double-headlining with W.A.S.P. in may, But as
its June and there's  no sign of W.A.S.P.'s album,'The Crimson Idol',
I think i can safely assume that its been (at least) postponed.
 
Neil Cochrane.
Stoneham bar - la,la,la!!!!!!

    The album is out here,and it`s basically crap. A few good songs,but
    nothing compared to "Walls of Jericho",or Keeper of the 7 keys" pt 1.
    
    Joe Strummer.
    

    So has anyone heard if this album is going to be released in america. I
    also can't find that Hanon band album either, was that released here?? 
    I need something new from these guys!!!!
    
    
    Chris.
    

Re. Chris

I haven't heard Helloween's last but it received quite bad critics in Europe.
It seems that it is far from what they've done before.
Kai Hansen's Gamma Ray had a fine album last year ("Heading for tomorrow").
Gamma Ray plays melodic heavy metal have a singer as good as Helloween's and
Kai Hansen does plenty of fine guitar work on the album. It's like Helloween
minus the Helloween thrash influence (but it's fast on many songs).

Sorin

    
    Pink Bubbles Go Ape
    
    Really good album IMHO. Not as good as KO7K I or II, but it's still
    great...
    
    Number One and Heavy metal hamsters are my favorites.
    
    Chris

    They are missing something without Herr Hansen,
    
    
    
    
      Staynz
    
    IMO.......the song pink bubbles is well cool!

    
    Number One, is by far the best on the album IMHO
    
    HMH is so funny, cracks me up everytime, weird thing is the music is
    great... 
    
    the song PBGA is way cool, also IMHO
    
    Chris

Beavis and Butthead played a one of their vids last night.  I thought it was
extremely bad Iron Maiden at first, but then they said it was Helloween.

Pew

    
    	I think you might be impressed if you heard "Keeper of the Seven
    	Keys Part II".
    
    	The video they showed was "Helloween" from "Keeper ... I".
    
    
    							GTI
    

    Why would he be more impressed with Keeper II, GTI-dude?  I don't hear
    a significant change in sound between the two (ie, they both sound like
    Iron Maiden with someone who can sing a little better).
    
    gh

    
    	I don't know what it is, but "Helloween" the song doesn't do
    	anything for me, and I like the "Keeper II" album.
    
    	"I Want Out" and "Rise and Fall" spring to mind as a couple
    	great songs.
    
    							GTI
    

I only ever heard part 1.... and I think it was definately ok!

Bonzo (Tar Pits!)

    I saw 'em on the Keaper part2 tour and they were superb.Tons of energy/
    talent and good fun!
    
    
    						ian

      This band is Kool !  Pnly have one tape from them...Love it ! 
    Although they sound like Maiden...but aren't   8^)
    
    Sax_

    Of course they sound better then Maiden...despite the fact that they're
    wallowing in the tar pits, they have someone in the band who can
    actually sing and someone who can actually play the guitar!
    
    gh

    I had no problem with maidens guitar playing but the
    vocal.......Helloween had a better singer by far! 8)
    
    
    
    					ian