Artist: Helloween
Title: “Pumpkins United” (Single)
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 10/13/2017
Genre: Power Metal
Rating: 4.5/5
Fans of the Power Metal titans in Helloween have been chomping at the bit for new music ever since the historic reunion of some of the bands legacy members was announced and tour dates began to appear across the Social Networking channels. Historically speaking, the bands name is that of Power Metal legend and it wouldn’t be too far off the mark to say that the genre actually exists because of their efforts. So before we get any deeper into this, let’s get a roll call on just who these “Pumpkins United” actually are and it begins with Michael Kiske (lead vocals), Andi Deris (lead vocals), Kai Hansen (lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals), Michael Weikath (lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Markus Grosskopf (bass, backing vocals), Sascha Gerstner (lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Daniel Löble (drums) and Eddy Wrapiprou (keyboards) – Whew. Think that you can remember all of that? Now let’s get into a quick overview of the first single track that will hopefully be one of many from this superb combination of players.
I’ve been a fan since around 1987 when I first heard “Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt. I” and the single “Halloween” from that album that featured the bands new singer Michael Kiske. The new single opens up with a triple lead guitar flourish and the kind of thundering drum intro that one expects from a band like Helloween. While this is a new track, the guys have almost gone back in time to bring you into the classic sound that made them famous in the first place. The vocal leads are shared across the three singers during each verse but with the chorus they are united……get it? There is some cool drama during the song and a lot of atmosphere and I had to chuckle with the reference to the “Walls Of Jericho” since that was the bands first album of them all. Up next is the blistering lead guitar break where it seems like Kai and Weikath are deep in a standoff for dominance. One can only imagine the amount of air guitars that this one is going to find the audience pulling out of the sky during the live shows.
I enjoyed this one so much that I played it about five times before cobbling together these notes and since it’s a single I am not getting too much deeper into it. The bands touring run doesn’t find them even available until next year in terms of US dates and I hope that NYC is going to be on the list since this has to come here. It’s been a few years since we’ve seen them in action and its ALWAYS a good time.
Track Listing:
1. Pumpkins United
Official Website: http://www.helloween.org