Helloween
Pink Bubbles Go Ape

Disgusting, traitor, poppettaro: you can say what you want about this album, but it remains one of Helloween's most beautiful, deserving reevaluation.

Helloween was at that time (1991) an artist/band that, after a great critical and public success (Keeper II), needed to confirm themselves. The band was almost the same (Kai Hansen out, Roland Grapow in), but not the sound. And here opinions may vary; mine is high because I judge only the album itself, without considering what happened before or after. Moreover, I believe a change of direction by an artist/band is sometimes right, if not advisable. Compared to previous albums, the songs are not just power-metal; there are two ballads, some heavy songs; in short, for power purists, I understand their disapproval of this album, seen as the Metallica's black album is by trash fans, to understand better. It is the first step towards pop by the controversial Michael Kiske. I reiterate that despite the mixture of genres, almost all the songs are beautiful, and the final result is of quality, making this album one of the most underrated in the metal scene. Quality cannot be disputed; the lineup is one of those most remembered by today's metalheads: Michael Kiske - singer (with a miraculous voice, to say the least), Michael Weikath - guitar (today's group leader), and the "historics": Roland Grapow - guitar, Markus Grosskopf - bass, Ingo Schwichtenberg - drums.

A "historic" band, as I said, and perhaps for this reason, many fans felt even more betrayed by the change of course. A separate discussion for the cover judged by many as 'the ugliest in the world', I save it for its originality though...

Now let's get into the details of the songs:

1./ 2. Pink Bubbles Go Ape/ Kids Of The Century

The intro is something you always remember fondly, Pink Bubbles Go Ape starts with a children's song style (remember: "Happy, happy halloween..." from 'Walls Of Jericho'?), but wait, the volume is too low, let's turn it up a bit... This pumpkin joke resolves with the start of Kids Of The Century, which kicks off at full speed and with the volume deliberately recorded higher than the intro to give a powerful effect. Very original indeed. Kids Of The Century is the first single from the album, not a great song, but it’s listenable despite being excessively 'power' given the band in question. Great vocal performance from Kiske (see chorus), but the album's gems are yet to come...

3. Back On The Street

More of a rock song than anything else, very catchy and unpretentious. Easily memorable.

4. Number One

Second and last single from the album. A ballad with some heavy touches with an original result, it has a beautiful chorus and a 100% Helloween-style melody. One of my absolute favorites from the pumpkins. "Now it's time for happiness..."

5. Heavy Metal Hamsters

Style "Metal Invaders" from Walls Of Jericho, an anthology heavy metal anthem complete with choir, fast just right. The solos are beautiful.

6. Going Home

Another hidden gem of Helloween's repertoire, incredibly never performed live. Fast, power, everything in this song is memorable. Beautiful. With "Rise And Fall" from Keeper II, my favorite Helloween song. Fearsome solos. Fabulous.

7. Someone's Crying / 9. I'm Doin' Fine, Crazy Man

Perhaps the most underwhelming songs that prevent a 5-star final rating. Nice fillers, but still just fillers.

8. Mankind

The dark and escalating beginning, instrumentally speaking, we are on high levels, Kiske here is a real phenomenon, only he can sing it like this. A very beautiful song, from verses to chorus, "damn, what a voice!!!" is what comes to mind.

10. The Chance

Here even the most critical of this album change their minds; the song is a true masterpiece. The only one from this album to be performed in concerts and included in the "Treasure Chest" anthology. It speaks for itself.

11. Your Turn

One of the most beautiful pumpkin ballads, serving as a worthy conclusion to this beautiful album. The guitar starts, the melancholy and the wonderful voice of the great Kiske, the second verse features another guitar and drums; in the pre-chorus, there are also electric guitars, and the chorus is beautiful. The magic of this song, a true gem, continues to the end.

To finish, I repeat what I said at the beginning: an album to reevaluate at all costs. Beautiful in many places, not a 5 because the pumpkins' masterpieces are the three albums before, but still a very decent and enjoyable album. Furthermore, my very first metal album ever listened to, and as they say, the first love...

TO REEVALUATE