Metal Reviews

With these two albums Helloween explored a heavier direction, one which was abandoned with later albums, although some fragments of it can still be heard in their music.

Better Than Raw with it's occasional almost thrash-like riffs was more raw in style, while The Dark Ride was more polished, more atmospheric and had a superb production courtesy of Roy Z.

To the point, which of these albums is your favorite?

The Dark Ride by a mile! Better Than Raw is a very good album but TDR is a fucking gem, their best since Keeper of the Seven Keys II (yes I think it's better than KOTSK - The Legacy). Salvation, Mr Torture, If I Could Fly, The Departed and All Over The Nations are all Deris-era classics, and the title track is one of their best songs ever, right up there with Keeper of the Seven Keys and Halloween.

The best Deris-album against the worst? The Dark Ride wins hands down, no contest.

I think The Dark Ride is the most overrated and worst Deris-era album. I think it's a very good album, but I think that dark, heavy sound doesn't suit them well. It works on some songs, but doesn't on others. Better Than Raw blows this album away, in my opinion.

I've always found it odd that so many people label this album a classic. I just don't hear it. I'd give this album something like a 70/100, while Better Than Raw, for me, is easily a 90/100.

I only have the three keeper albums so i was wondering which of these is worth getting, or any of the other infact?

Master of The Rings was always my favorite Deris-era album, which recently was tied with the newest Keepers Legacy. Ive heard almost everything in between, but nowheres near enough to pass judgement on them. At least with all those new expanded editions it will be alot easier to get most of them.

The only Helloween album I don't have is Chameleon, and I recommend every one of the other nine.

As for the poll, I'd have to go for The Dark Ride. Better Than Raw is a very good, very interesting album, but I tend to lose some of the songs in the halls of my memory, although I know I don't dislike a single one of them. How amazing is the solo section in Midnight Sun?

Gotta go with The Dark Ride

You recommend Pink Bubbles Go Ape?

I think that album and Chameleon are good, but I recommend them with a huge neon disclaimer.

TDR, although I absolutely love both and don't think Better Than Raw gets nearly enough mention compared to The Dark Ride when it comes to Helloween.

Got to agree there with the interesting-part. It's a pretty weird and "flawed" album, but it's definately intriguing. I don't think theres a bad song on it really, though Time might come closest to that imo. And yeah i totally agree regarding that solo section, awesome.

But i guess in the end it cant compare to TDR, as can be seen in the poll aswell.


Pink Bubbles is one of their better albums imo. It's different but I find it more rich and "organic" than for example the three first albums, and, unlike Chameleon, it maintains a lot of the speed and intensity in the music at the same time - Someone Is Crying is a good example of that, got to be the fastest tune they ever made.

+1

That was my first Deris era Helloween. As for this pole, I'm going to have to say The Dark Ride. There are more mrable tracks IMO. Both great albums though.

The only possible challenger for The Dark Ride as the best Deris-era album is The Legacy. Better Than Raw is a decent album, it has a few outstanding tracks (Falling Higher, Midnight Sun etc.), but also some that are more forgettable. On the other hand, The Dark Ride is very strong from start to finish. Not to mention that I absolutely love the darker melodies, especially on songs like Escalation 666, I Live For Your Pain or Immortal.

Whats to like abut The Legacy? This is a question from a Dark Ride fan to another one. I personally think it's filled with filler tracks, and has a production thats simply overblown.

What's to like? These: The King for a 1000 Years, The Invisible Man, Silent Rain, Occasion Avenue, Light the Universe, My Life For One More Day. 6 outstanding songs, with both epics being much better than The Dark Ride, imo. Apart from these, there are a few other that range from decent to good. I agree some may be considered fillers, but the strength of the great ones is enough to make The Legacy a worthy challenger for TDR, even if indeed it's less consistent.

Man, it's lonely being right!

And The Legacy is fucking awesome! Classic status and influence aside, I personally feel it's their best and most consistent album.

Out the ones i got the legacy is my favorite

Bleh, you're all wrong:

King for 1000 years - Awesome
Invisible Man - OK
Born On Judgement Day - Crap/Filler
Pleasure Drone - Crap/Filler
Mrs. God - OK
Silent Rain - Awesome
Occasion Avenue - Good
Light the Universe - Awesome
Do You Know What You're Fighting For - Crap/Filler
Come Alive - Crap/Filler
Shade In the Shadow - OK
Get It Up - OK
My Life for one More Day - Awesome

Thats 4 filler tracks, 4 outstanding ones and the rest is OK (i.e listenable songs). TDR has no single filler track and got like 6 outstanding songs

You're insane. "Pleasure Drone" is filler? Pffft!

Imo yes. It's nothing but a catchy chorus, just like Come Alive.