HELLOWEEN „Chameleon”

Music: power metal
Website: http://www.helloween.org
Country: Germany
Cool Songs: Revolution Now, Music, Longing

This can happen to everyone. After years of successes, comes the time, when things go not in the direction, we would like them to go. And the same is with music. Helloween’s “Chameleon” is a good example of this phenomenon. The CD starts very nice. Memorable and an ear-catching riff hits your senses. “First Time” is trying to grab you but this catch is very weak. When the laser beam of your Hi-Fi reaches the chorus, the device screams to turn it off, it is begging you to shorten this pain. And your ears… they simply do not want to hear it. Everything would be O.K. but the whole procedure repeats in the next song, and in the next “next” song… “When The Sinner” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry No More” are very good songs, or could be, if it were no for the choruses, which destroy everything, the whole beauty. And, what is more they sound, as if they were out of context. I was devastated when I heard them for the… first time. And that annoying trumpet- very popular in the beginning of the 90’s. sometimes you may feel like listening to a different band. One can find things like: jazz, blues, and… elements of country, on this CD. Two points of view appear at this moment: first- for fans this is a total disaster; second- for others, who like music, something wonderful. If you manage to go through the first four tracks, things start to look better. First to mention, “Giants”, a great piece of work- very nice intro, good riff, and that solo for two guitars (although short). Amazing song. On the other hand you have got the “Windmill”, naďve and idealistic ballad, which sounds as if it was written for children. It is a lullaby. But one thing is very crucial about it: this song shows the magnificent craft of the musicians. Guitars are very nice. Guys proved that they feel comfortable in all situations. When listening to this album, you may notice that what you do, is actually like tossing a coin: once you have got heads, once tails. Once there is something pretty cool, another time you have got worse things. And if “Windmill” was in not so good, now it is time for a change. And that is true. “Revolution Now” is an astonishing song. You will probably recognize influences and signs of old school of rock. It sounds like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple. And that “in-fix”, right in the middle of the track: a part of “San Francisco” by Scott McKenzie, seems to be in the right place. This fragment sounds as if it was created for this particular song. Skipping to number nine on the track list: “Music”, also a very good song. Great guitars. Maybe not something new, but can be exciting in some way. Also a piece of good old hard rock. And coming next: Helloween’s feature- a colossus- over nine minutes of music- “I Believe”. Quite a longish track although nice. Sometimes a little bit too boring, because of those repetitions. But one of the better songs on this CD. And when you think that you have heard all the good songs, out of the dark, come the most beautiful track. It is shining like a star. And it is called “Longing”. This is the essence of this album- very good, modish ballad. Probably the best ballad produced by Helloween. Of course one may argue with me, but I find it magnificent, in my humble opinion. It is very noble and smart. Sometimes naďve, but that does not count right here, right now. This song will catch your heart and hold on forever. You will always be hearing its melody in your head.

This album is full of surprises. Different styles, genres, etc. Not something we all know as “the typical Helloween”. We may find different ideas and styles of all members of the group. That is why this CD is so colorful. Some may say, that it is weak- and it is, as for Helloween, which is a metal band. But in the other dimension – ART – it is magnificent. This is an astonishing artistic event. It is a CD addressed to everyone. Not only to heavy metal maniacs. Anybody can listen to it. And that is its beauty. It is like 3 in 1 toothpaste- you buy one thing and get extras inside. It is really worth to try.

note: 7/10

Tracklist

1. First Time
2. When The Sinner
3. I Don’t Wanna Cry No More
4. Crazy Cat
5. Giants
6. Windmill
7. Revolution Now
8. In The Night
9. Music
10. Step Out Of Hell
11. I Believe
12. Longing

Total playing time 71:37

Line-up

Michael Kiske – vocals
Michael Weikath – guitars, vocals
Roland Grapow – guitars
Markus Grosskopf – bass, vocals
Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums