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Rating:
"Oh, listen here, I told you Helloween would mess up! If you listen to their latest album 'Chameleon' it's a mishmash of hard rock stuff mixed with other nonsense, without that phenomenon Kiske, they're good as done, take it from me..."
In the early '90s, these were likely the discussions among Helloween fans about how the German band had softened, first with the release of "Pink Bubbles Go Ape" (1991), and then with the already mentioned "Chameleon" (1993), two albums that had literally split the group's following in two, in addition to being heavily criticized due to their choice of aiming for more pop, light, and commercial songs.
Even though today these two albums have been decisively re-evaluated and even in some cases elevated as the best releases from the Hamburg Pumpkins, between '91 and '94 it wasn't quite like that.
Two flops one after the other, and as if that wasn't enough, the departure of singer Michael Kiske further contributed to the band's rapid disintegration, which suddenly found itself without its shining star, that voice that had made listeners dream so much in the two "Keeper Of The Seven Keys" albums, was now gone.
Replacing Kiske was almost impossible, but Helloween did not give up, and chose Andi Deris, former Pink Cream 69 and Nameless, as their new singer, with a vocal range completely different from his predecessor's, softer, yet not incapable of reaching (almost) the vocal heights of Kiske in songs like "Eagle Fly Free" or "Future World," which Deris would excellently reinterpret in future tours.
In 1994, "Master Of The Rings" was released, the sixth album from the Pumpkins, and from the first listen it absolutely does not make you miss Michael Kiske on the microphone. The so-called "Happy Metal" seems to have returned to Helloween's home, just listen to the first notes of "Secret Alibi" or the catchy chorus of "Perfect Gentleman." Even the heavier side of the band does not seem to have been set aside, and indeed the fast and massive "Sole Survivor" is positioned as the opening track.
"Why?" showcases the more melodic side of Helloween, with Deris in amazing form, and even the most complex song, "Mr. Ego (Take Me Down)" of almost 8 minutes, does not experience any drop in quality, managing to keep the listener's attention. If one had to find flaws by force, "Where The Rain Grows" doesn't fully convince, becoming too anonymous in the chorus, while "The Game Is On," although enjoyable enough, is exactly identical in style to "Perfect Gentleman," while "In The Middle Of A Heartbeat" proves to be too, too predictable as a ballad.
As mentioned, Deris does an excellent job on "Master Of The Rings", and despite some dips in parts, this work will be the first of a long series of excellent albums that will be released in rapid succession. Helloween is still criticized today for never radically changing their sound, for never trying to renew their attitude, but when you listen to an album like this, it instinctively prompts you to say "And why should they?"
3.5
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Sole Survivor (04:33)
I got that fever
Burning my head
So many memories
No tear to shed
Burns like a fire
Who stole my aims?
My comrade fighters
Been sent astray
How could I know
What others had in mind for me?
How would they know
What measures I take?
Sole survivor
Of a kill without alert
Sing your feelings out
Your song remains unheard
Sole survivor
We shared like brothers
A light in the black
Totally blended
Bold and erect
But we've grown intriguers
Till it's too late
Time has brought fire
Fear, greed and hate
Now I'm cryin'
Shattered on the ground
All I find
Has died anyway
Sole survivor
Of a kill without alert
Sing your feelings out
Your song remains unheard
Sole survivor
Got a voice without a sound
Mean mistreaters
Took away your ground
Sole survivor
Sole Survivor....
03 Where the Rain Grows (04:46)
Where The Rain Grows
I never looked higher
Than I could see
Never gave less
Than I have given me
The more you have taken
You turned into fakes
I finally know now
Why, for heavens' sake?
Don't tell me you did not see
that I cried
Don't act so deaf and blind
Don't think that if someone's
made dumb to the core
He would stay like before
So I take my life
Back from where the rain grows
Die to survive
Back from where the rain grows
Now you call me liar
'cause you are just the
"Always-have-right-fools-
majority"
I think that if someone
starved at your side
You'd all turn your back
Won't give any dime
Don't tell me you did not see
that I cried
Don't act so deaf and blind
Don't think that if someone's
made sad to the core
He would stay like before
So I take my life
Back from where the rain grows
Die to survive
Back from where the rain grows
So I take my life
Back from where the rain grows
Die to survive
Back from where the rain grows
I know where the rain grows
I'm Back from where the rain grows
04 Why? (04:11)
Father, it's time
Have a heart for your
child who cries in pain
Not a new sign
But a strike that'll
blow those fools away
Open your eyes
If you've got any you
just look for too long
a time
They spit on your name
Doin' everything
darnned as highest
crime
They believe they could
walk on the water
Playin `Godsleep with
the devils' daughter
Killed your son and
might kill mine
But you don't mind
Why, Lord, why
Tell me why
In these lonely days
I'd need your answer
There's a reason why
How could you fail?
Still it's time, turn
the black into the light
Why do you wait?
Do you look down and
laugh at what you find?
Can't you see they are
mistreating their
daughters
They believe they could
walk on the waters
They killed your son
and might kill mine
But you don't mind
Why, Lord, why
Tell me why
In these lonely days
I'd need your answer
There's a reason why
Why, Lord, why
Tell me why
Your the only light
forever lasting
Tell me father, why
Why, Lord, why
Tell me why
In these lonely days
I'd need your answer
There's a reason why
Why, Lord, why
Tell me why
Your the only light
forever lasting
Tell me father, why
Father it's time
Father it's time ...
06 Perfect Gentleman (03:53)
There is no doubt about it
I'm one of a kind, baby
I am le d'Artagnan de coeur
As you may see, candy
And I'm talkin with my eyes
And I walk in different styles
I'm the genuine man!
Yes I am
I am a perfect gentleman
Yes I am
I am a perfect gentleman
Kneel down, inhale my odor
Come, kiss my hand, angel
Dare to explore my higher
grounds
Strive to deserve me,
ma cherie
And my winds
surpass perfume
I'm charismatic at full bloom
I'm the genuine man!
Yes I am
I am a perfect gentleman
Yes I am
I am a perfect gentleman
Yes I am, I am, yes I am
(perfect)
SOLO
Oh Lord, what can I do
I can't resist my own
reflection
How would possibly anyone?
Cause I am (perfect)
Yes I am (perfect)
Oh Lord I am (perfect)
Yes I am
I am a perfect gentleman
Yes I am
I am a perfect gentleman
08 Secret Alibi (05:49)
Piece by piece you're tearin' me apart
Give to me and try another start
Brick by brick you really love this game
Things from which I can't refrain
So many stories have been told
I give a damn, they're much too old
How often will we face the end of our dreams?
When will I see it all come true?
A splendid time for me and you
Can we expect it bein' nice as it seems?
Will you be my secret alibi
Angel of my nights
Can we do it right?
Let's just try each others love so sweet
Till we can't deny my secret alibi
Ding by ding can you dig my dong
It may come short but it might come long
Limb by limb you're climbing on my tree
Making things more fun for me
So many stories I've been told
I give a damn, they're much too old
How often will we face the end of our dreams?
When will I see it all come true?
A splendid time for me and you
Can we expect it being nice as it seems?
Will you be my secret alibi
Angel of my nights
Can we do it right?
Let's just try each others love so sweet
Till we can't deny my secret alibi
[SOLO]
Will you be my secret alibi
Angel of my nights
Can we do it right?
Let's just try each others love so sweet
Till we can't deny my secret alibi
10 In the Middle of a Heartbeat (04:30)
Tell me pretty girl, do
you know how I am?
Have you ever seen me
as your friend?
Anything we have is
those hungry nights
But there's so much
left unsatisfied
All those little things
you told me
Ain't good enough to
show me,
That we're gonna make
it through the time
I found out
In the middle of a
heartbeat
And I know that I'm
doin' right
Together we are still
so far apart
I found out
In the middle of a
heartbeat
and the more I try to
be your light
I can't get any closer
to your heart
Now that I'm afraid
just to ask for more
I'm still waiting
as I did before
If you only said that
it's not too late
We could then rely
upon your fate
All those little things
you'd tell me
Could bear enough to
show me
That we're gonna make
it through the time
I found out
In the middle of a
heartbeat
And I know that I'm
tellin' right
Together we are still
so far apart
I found out
In the middle of a
heartbeat
and the more I try to
be your light
I can't get any closer
to your heart
I found out
I found out
I found out
In the middle of a
heartbeat
And I know that I'm
doin' right
Together we are still
so far apart
I found out
In the middle of a
heartbeat ...
12 I Stole Your Love (03:22)
Alright!
I remember the day that we met
I needed someone you needed someone too
Spent time taking all you could get
Even yourself was one thing you never could do
You played with my heart, you played with my head
I've got to laugh when I think all things you said
'Cause I stole your love
Stole your love
Ain't never going to let you go
I stole your love
Stole your love
You never stop running around
You pick me up and say you want some of me, down
You were the girl that nobody could own
You stay for a while and then you would leave me alone
But I'm something different - ain't like the rest
How does it feel to find out your failing your test
'Cause I stole your love
Stole your love
Ain't never going to let you go
I stole your love
Stole your love
Guitar!
Listen!
Cause I stole your love
Stole your love
Ain't never going to let you go
I stole your love
Stole your love
I stole your love
Stole your love
Stole your love
Come on
I stole your love
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