Helloween - Straight Out Of Hell out January 18, 2013

I am ashamed that I have not yet picked this up but being stuck in MN in -26 degree weather for a week did not help.

Upon first listen, I'm a tad dissapointed. It not a bad album, but they were on such a role with the last two and I think it's a step back. The songs are, as always, melodic and memorable but they don't have quite the staying power of Gambling or 7 Sinners. One very noticable thing, is that the increase of heaviness of the previous two is not found on here. Now that is just on first listen and it was done while grocery shopping, the next listen in a different surrounding might produce different results.

They've changed it up a bit, as they always do after a few albums.

I got the CD today. The Blackhawks aren't playing tonight, so I made a night out of listening to it and having good whiskey to accompany the experience. I've listened to it three times through already, in three song increments. I have to say I'm really enjoying it. And the album is good too.

No, seriously, it's really good. There's a lot of great rhythm based songs and actually just tremendous musicianship throughout the album. I'm really surprised at how fresh the band still sounds. I was not expecting to like the album this much. It's not as heavy or by the numbers as the last two albums (which were also both really good!), but there's a more subtle "we can do what we want" type of attitude here. I love the drumming. Intricate, but not too progressive or something that would cheapen or undermine the songs.

In fact, I'm in the mood for writing, so I'll give a small rundown of how I feel about each song so far:

1. Nabataea - I was not aware Andi Deris was such a history buff. A serious song like this does not strike me as a typical Helloween track. A great song. However, it's not a great opener. Makes me think of history and do wikipedia searches too much to focus on the following songs. It has epicness akin to some other well known European power metal bands.

2. World of War - this is just wonderful. Time of the Oath-y, a great song that alternates between speed metal and heavy rhythm based 'angry' song that alternates and builds up to a crescendo. Lyrics are whatever hippie B.S., but that's rock'n'roll to you.

3. Live Now! - the band showing some groove. Not my favourite, but it works because of the big main riff (and the subtle keyboard melody on the chorus)

4. Far From the Stars - Now this is a band showing off their chops! Possibly my favourite song. Still groovy, but I love the tempo changes and the build up to the chorus. Everything works here. The verses show a completely different side of Helloween. The pounding polka-like beat timed with the vocal delivery somehow works! I've forgotten to mention how much I've liked the vocal melodies on the album so far. Good smurf poo, splendid stuff! Seriously, Deris rules on this album.

Good whiskey, too!

5. Burning Sun - the song that does the least for me, and by now it hell ought to: I've played it twice as much as any other track! I don't know why this would be considered the best track to show tribute to Jon Lord. Oh well, it doesn't stink. It's fast and has nice vocal melodies again. That's Helloween in a nutshell! The chorus is a bit too Iron Saviory with the layered vocals, but well... maybe it's a grower - I bet tomorrow morning I'll still be singing "GAPE IN AWE AT THE BURNING SUN!"

6. Waiting for the Thunder - Is this Pink Cream 69? If not, it could be. Total Andi Deris show here.

7. Hold Me in Your Arms - I'm not in the mood for a sad ballad, so no comment tonight. I'm on the fastlane, baby! Next!

8. Wanna Be God - A strange, but fun 2 minute piece. Dedicated to Freddie Mercury? With lyrics that say "He's a prick you got to really call evil"? I must be reading too much into the lyrics, or maybe Deris needs to set the record straight about his relationship with Freddie. The song is all about the beat and it will stick to your head.

9. Straight Out of Hell - the best chorus on the album, I'd say. So poppy you feel a little dirty liking it. A real nice gritty vocal delivery by Deris.

10. sfincter - a stupid joke the first time you hear it. Stupid, but funny. Funny the second time you hear it. Funny the third time, too. Fourth time? Still funny. Also stupid. I don't know. A big beat and a catchy silly chorus. Who the hell was Sascha Gerstner thinking of when writing this song!? I can imagine many youtube videos with this song on the background. "TYPICAL HUMAN BEING!"

11. Years - good speed and a hypnotic Weiki-style bridge and chorus. It's okay, but gets buried among the more exciting and weird songs.

12. Make Fire Catch the Fly - A pretty dramatic song by Helloween standards. The keyboards are taking over with the ambience and then taking it over the top. Good drumming, the song is very Keeper-of-the-7-Keys-the-Legacy-ish. Yes, that's a word.

13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

Actually, yes, I was thinking Helloween were more in tune with the church what with all the "Lavdate Dominum" stuff etc. But beyond that, it's massive. It's great. A wonderful epic finisher. Not epic as in long and drawn out, but "epic" as in it takes you to another world. A bit like "Midning Sun" out of Better than Raw. It's fast and kick-ass. Nice instrumental section, I love it. A great way to end the album.

Oh wait, there's more.

Another Shot of Life - I'm confused, is it about alcoholism? I only heard this song once. Maybe it's the whiskey I'm drinking, but it's a little depressing.

There's also the hammond version of Burning Sun, but I don't know if there's much worth mentioning there. Jon Lord rules! That's what there is to mention!

EDIT: I just skimmed the post after pressing Preview and I find it humorous Helloween of all bands gets a song title censored by the filter. Track #10 that is.

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

I get what you're saying, and you understood what I was saying a few lines down, but it's funny you only quoted the part of my post that jokingly dealt with my own personal pet peeve, and was directed toward people that refer to Leonardo as "Da Vinci".

Seriously, it's a minor thing, but it always gets me. The ultimate genius, painter and general renaissance man who was known as LEONARDO for centuries gets called "Da Vinci" by people who only know him from that Dan Brown novel / Tom Hanks movie.

http://arthistory.about.com/od/davincicode/f/leosname.htm

Waiting for Dan Brown's next novel, di Lodovico. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got it right....

Somehow there's a storyline about the end in 2012 and the results after. Or so i've read but it may explain some of the lyrics.

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

I get what you're saying, and you understood what I was saying a few lines down, but it's funny you only quoted the part of my post that jokingly dealt with my own personal pet peeve, and was directed toward people that refer to Leonardo as "Da Vinci".

Seriously, it's a minor thing, but it always gets me. The ultimate genius, painter and general renaissance man who was known as LEONARDO for centuries gets called "Da Vinci" by people who only know him from that Dan Brown novel / Tom Hanks movie.

http://arthistory.about.com/od/davincicode/f/leosname.htm

Waiting for Dan Brown's next novel, di Lodovico. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got it right....

I wasn't sure about that part (I forgot to quote that last part as there was so much of your initial post I was trying to delete ). I just saw something that matched my initial reaction to the lyrics. As long as I remember, people have referred to him as Da Vinci (long before that novel came into being). History books, documentaries, etc. so I didn't realize there was something wrong about referring to him like that.

I particularly remember an Animaniacs episode where they were pestering Michaelangelo:

Dot: Why don't you go paint that Moaning Lisa of yours.
Michaelangelo: That's de Vinci!
Dot: That's de-lightful!
Yakko: That's de-lovely!

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

Writing about the atrocities of "the church" is being respectful to Christianity.

Eyesore wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

Writing about the atrocities of "the church" is being respectful to Christianity.

I realize that, which is why my initial reaction was subdued. I'm just saying that if it wasn't respectful, it wasn't from one of the main songwriters of a non-Christian band and I'd be able to overlook it.

DallasBlack wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

Writing about the atrocities of "the church" is being respectful to Christianity.

I realize that, which is why my initial reaction was subdued. I'm just saying that if it wasn't respectful, it wasn't from one of the main songwriters of a non-Christian band and I'd be able to overlook it.

Right on.

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

I get what you're saying, and you understood what I was saying a few lines down, but it's funny you only quoted the part of my post that jokingly dealt with my own personal pet peeve, and was directed toward people that refer to Leonardo as "Da Vinci".

Seriously, it's a minor thing, but it always gets me. The ultimate genius, painter and general renaissance man who was known as LEONARDO for centuries gets called "Da Vinci" by people who only know him from that Dan Brown novel / Tom Hanks movie.

http://arthistory.about.com/od/davincicode/f/leosname.htm

Waiting for Dan Brown's next novel, di Lodovico. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got it right....

I wasn't sure about that part (I forgot to quote that last part as there was so much of your initial post I was trying to delete ). I just saw something that matched my initial reaction to the lyrics. As long as I remember, people have referred to him as Da Vinci (long before that novel came into being). History books, documentaries, etc. so I didn't realize there was something wrong about referring to him like that.

I don't know what you've been reading, but kiddie shows aside, I refuse to believe any credible history book would actually refer to Leonardo as "da Vinci" like Dan Brown did. Certainly not in art history. It's always either Leonardo da Vinci or just Leonardo. Never just da Vinci. It's just erroneous. If there's any confusion when writing about Leonardo, you can start with "Leonardo da Vinci", and from then on it's just Leonardo.

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

I get what you're saying, and you understood what I was saying a few lines down, but it's funny you only quoted the part of my post that jokingly dealt with my own personal pet peeve, and was directed toward people that refer to Leonardo as "Da Vinci".

Seriously, it's a minor thing, but it always gets me. The ultimate genius, painter and general renaissance man who was known as LEONARDO for centuries gets called "Da Vinci" by people who only know him from that Dan Brown novel / Tom Hanks movie.

http://arthistory.about.com/od/davincicode/f/leosname.htm

Waiting for Dan Brown's next novel, di Lodovico. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got it right....

I wasn't sure about that part (I forgot to quote that last part as there was so much of your initial post I was trying to delete ). I just saw something that matched my initial reaction to the lyrics. As long as I remember, people have referred to him as Da Vinci (long before that novel came into being). History books, documentaries, etc. so I didn't realize there was something wrong about referring to him like that.

I don't know what you've been reading, but kiddie shows aside, I refuse to believe any credible history book would actually refer to Leonardo as "da Vinci" like Dan Brown did. Certainly not in art history. It's always either Leonardo da Vinci or just Leonardo. Never just da Vinci. It's just erroneous. If there's any confusion when writing about Leonardo, you can start with "Leonardo da Vinci", and from then on it's just Leonardo.

Now we are getting our wires crossed. I thought you were saying Da Vinci was never part of his name that it was always just Leonardo. I was saying his name, wherever I read it, was always Leonardo Da Vinci. We seem to be missunderstanding each other.

However, that being said, I don't know why it's a peeve to you. When someone says De Vinci, it is assumed that people understand they're talking about Leonardo. How many historically famous De Vinci's are there really? It's like if someone said Washington, Jefferson, or Lincoln. They wouldn't need to say George, Thomas, or Abe for someone to know who they were talking about.

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

I get what you're saying, and you understood what I was saying a few lines down, but it's funny you only quoted the part of my post that jokingly dealt with my own personal pet peeve, and was directed toward people that refer to Leonardo as "Da Vinci".

Seriously, it's a minor thing, but it always gets me. The ultimate genius, painter and general renaissance man who was known as LEONARDO for centuries gets called "Da Vinci" by people who only know him from that Dan Brown novel / Tom Hanks movie.

http://arthistory.about.com/od/davincicode/f/leosname.htm

Waiting for Dan Brown's next novel, di Lodovico. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got it right....

I wasn't sure about that part (I forgot to quote that last part as there was so much of your initial post I was trying to delete ). I just saw something that matched my initial reaction to the lyrics. As long as I remember, people have referred to him as Da Vinci (long before that novel came into being). History books, documentaries, etc. so I didn't realize there was something wrong about referring to him like that.

I don't know what you've been reading, but kiddie shows aside, I refuse to believe any credible history book would actually refer to Leonardo as "da Vinci" like Dan Brown did. Certainly not in art history. It's always either Leonardo da Vinci or just Leonardo. Never just da Vinci. It's just erroneous. If there's any confusion when writing about Leonardo, you can start with "Leonardo da Vinci", and from then on it's just Leonardo.

Now we are getting our wires crossed. I thought you were saying Da Vinci was never part of his name that it was always just Leonardo. I was saying his name, wherever I read it, was always Leonardo Da Vinci. We seem to be missunderstanding each other.

However, that being said, I don't know why it's a peeve to you. When someone says De Vinci, it is assumed that people understand they're talking about Leonardo. How many historically famous De Vinci's are there really? It's like if someone said Washington, Jefferson, or Lincoln. They wouldn't need to say George, Thomas, or Abe for someone to know who they were talking about.

Yeah, I didn't mean to say "Leonardo da Vinci" is wrong. That's how he has been called for all of history. But that's a long name so my pet peeve was that whenever you need to shorten it, you cannot take out his actual name, Leonardo, and leave just the word meaning his hometown (which was not part of his name). Obviously it is a very minor issue. As long as people know it's the same person. It's just that I don't like Dan Brown and it's such a major oversight by Brown to have his main character, a professor of all people, constantly refer to Leonardo da Vinci just as "da Vinci". No self-respecting professor would ever do that. It's like saying "Yeah, Helloween rule! Their guitarist, German, he is the best!". It's a bit off. It was never his name nor did he go by that. Yes, there are other Leonardos, but there are also a million other Jesuses especially in the Latin America, but you don't refer to him just as "of Nazareth" without the name. Or shorten Joan d'Arc as "d'Arc".

And it's just a name, okay, but ever since the novel I've heard a lot of "da Vinci was a great inventor" stuff from random people. People who previously didn't know he existed suddenly name-drop Leonardo da Vinci a lot, and without exception they use only "da Vinci" when shortening it. It doesn't bother me since generally people who do that have no clue who Leonardo was anyway, but I just didn't think Helloween would use that in their lyrics. "I THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN THAT!"

But the whole thread is getting side tracked. So let's get back on topic - I've listened to the album six times now and with the Helloween binge I've been on lately I've now started to think where to rank this new one. I cannot properly compare it to Kiske or Hansen era albums, but I think it's probably in the bottom half of the Deris era CDs for me. Not because it isn't good, but because the band has just been so consistent. I think only The Legacy has been clearly worse than this. Straight Out of Hell can't touch the awesomeness of Better than Raw, Time of the Oath, Rabbit Don't Come Easy or Gambling with the Devil, but that's just my opinion. I think it goes in the middle bucket with 7 Sinners, Master of the Rings and the Dark Ride.

Good fast stuff, a nice bit of experimentation and catchy tunes.

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

I get what you're saying, and you understood what I was saying a few lines down, but it's funny you only quoted the part of my post that jokingly dealt with my own personal pet peeve, and was directed toward people that refer to Leonardo as "Da Vinci".

Seriously, it's a minor thing, but it always gets me. The ultimate genius, painter and general renaissance man who was known as LEONARDO for centuries gets called "Da Vinci" by people who only know him from that Dan Brown novel / Tom Hanks movie.

http://arthistory.about.com/od/davincicode/f/leosname.htm

Waiting for Dan Brown's next novel, di Lodovico. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got it right....

I wasn't sure about that part (I forgot to quote that last part as there was so much of your initial post I was trying to delete ). I just saw something that matched my initial reaction to the lyrics. As long as I remember, people have referred to him as Da Vinci (long before that novel came into being). History books, documentaries, etc. so I didn't realize there was something wrong about referring to him like that.

I don't know what you've been reading, but kiddie shows aside, I refuse to believe any credible history book would actually refer to Leonardo as "da Vinci" like Dan Brown did. Certainly not in art history. It's always either Leonardo da Vinci or just Leonardo. Never just da Vinci. It's just erroneous. If there's any confusion when writing about Leonardo, you can start with "Leonardo da Vinci", and from then on it's just Leonardo.

Now we are getting our wires crossed. I thought you were saying Da Vinci was never part of his name that it was always just Leonardo. I was saying his name, wherever I read it, was always Leonardo Da Vinci. We seem to be missunderstanding each other.

However, that being said, I don't know why it's a peeve to you. When someone says De Vinci, it is assumed that people understand they're talking about Leonardo. How many historically famous De Vinci's are there really? It's like if someone said Washington, Jefferson, or Lincoln. They wouldn't need to say George, Thomas, or Abe for someone to know who they were talking about.

Yeah, I didn't mean to say "Leonardo da Vinci" is wrong. That's how he has been called for all of history. But that's a long name so my pet peeve was that whenever you need to shorten it, you cannot take out his actual name, Leonardo, and leave just the word meaning his hometown (which was not part of his name). Obviously it is a very minor issue. As long as people know it's the same person. It's just that I don't like Dan Brown and it's such a major oversight by Brown to have his main character, a professor of all people, constantly refer to Leonardo da Vinci just as "da Vinci". No self-respecting professor would ever do that. It's like saying "Yeah, Helloween rule! Their guitarist, German, he is the best!". It's a bit off. It was never his name nor did he go by that. Yes, there are other Leonardos, but there are also a million other Jesuses especially in the Latin America, but you don't refer to him just as "of Nazareth" without the name. Or shorten Joan d'Arc as "d'Arc".

And it's just a name, okay, but ever since the novel I've heard a lot of "da Vinci was a great inventor" stuff from random people. People who previously didn't know he existed suddenly name-drop Leonardo da Vinci a lot, and without exception they use only "da Vinci" when shortening it. It doesn't bother me since generally people who do that have no clue who Leonardo was anyway, but I just didn't think Helloween would use that in their lyrics. "I THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN THAT!"

But the whole thread is getting side tracked. So let's get back on topic - I've listened to the album six times now and with the Helloween binge I've been on lately I've now started to think where to rank this new one. I cannot properly compare it to Kiske or Hansen era albums, but I think it's probably in the bottom half of the Deris era CDs for me. Not because it isn't good, but because the band has just been so consistent. I think only The Legacy has been clearly worse than this. Straight Out of Hell can't touch the awesomeness of Better than Raw, Time of the Oath, Rabbit Don't Come Easy or Gambling with the Devil, but that's just my opinion. I think it goes in the middle bucket with 7 Sinners, Master of the Rings and the Dark Ride.

Good fast stuff, a nice bit of experimentation and catchy tunes.

I can agree with you in a certain aspect. Better than Legacy but I think it's the weakest of the previous 3 albums. I know that I'm in the minority here, but I feel Master Of The Rings is the low point of the Deris era. That may be due to the fact that I only first heard it a few years ago. After getting familiar with Time Of The Oath-Rabbit and Gambling I just couldn't really get into it. I'd rank Deris era like this:

Time Of The Oath
Better Than Raw
The Dark Ride
7 Sinners
Gambling With The Devil
Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Straight Out Of Hell
Keepers 3: The Legacy
Master Of The Rings

As for comparing them to the other eras, I don't really do that. However, I choose Keepers Pt. 2 over all the above as it's one of my top albums of all time (I know, how dare someone thinks it' better than the first one or Walls Of Jericho-but I like what I like).

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

Lari wrote:

I
13. Church Breaks Down - first off, I have to say I am really offended by the lyrics: I can't believe Helloween refers to Leonardo as "da Vinci"...... *sigh*.

I kind of felt that way as well, but I realize that it was more about Church attrocities than an actual religious belief. Plus it was written by the second guitarist. Michael and Andi are usually more respectful to Chistianity (though only Michael has ever amitting to having any Christian-like beliefs but that was many moons ago, not sure how he feels about it these days). Of course, Helloween isn't a Christian band so I can overlook it.

I get what you're saying, and you understood what I was saying a few lines down, but it's funny you only quoted the part of my post that jokingly dealt with my own personal pet peeve, and was directed toward people that refer to Leonardo as "Da Vinci".

Seriously, it's a minor thing, but it always gets me. The ultimate genius, painter and general renaissance man who was known as LEONARDO for centuries gets called "Da Vinci" by people who only know him from that Dan Brown novel / Tom Hanks movie.

http://arthistory.about.com/od/davincicode/f/leosname.htm

Waiting for Dan Brown's next novel, di Lodovico. Even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got it right....

I wasn't sure about that part (I forgot to quote that last part as there was so much of your initial post I was trying to delete ). I just saw something that matched my initial reaction to the lyrics. As long as I remember, people have referred to him as Da Vinci (long before that novel came into being). History books, documentaries, etc. so I didn't realize there was something wrong about referring to him like that.

I don't know what you've been reading, but kiddie shows aside, I refuse to believe any credible history book would actually refer to Leonardo as "da Vinci" like Dan Brown did. Certainly not in art history. It's always either Leonardo da Vinci or just Leonardo. Never just da Vinci. It's just erroneous. If there's any confusion when writing about Leonardo, you can start with "Leonardo da Vinci", and from then on it's just Leonardo.

Now we are getting our wires crossed. I thought you were saying Da Vinci was never part of his name that it was always just Leonardo. I was saying his name, wherever I read it, was always Leonardo Da Vinci. We seem to be missunderstanding each other.

However, that being said, I don't know why it's a peeve to you. When someone says De Vinci, it is assumed that people understand they're talking about Leonardo. How many historically famous De Vinci's are there really? It's like if someone said Washington, Jefferson, or Lincoln. They wouldn't need to say George, Thomas, or Abe for someone to know who they were talking about.

Yeah, I didn't mean to say "Leonardo da Vinci" is wrong. That's how he has been called for all of history. But that's a long name so my pet peeve was that whenever you need to shorten it, you cannot take out his actual name, Leonardo, and leave just the word meaning his hometown (which was not part of his name). Obviously it is a very minor issue. As long as people know it's the same person. It's just that I don't like Dan Brown and it's such a major oversight by Brown to have his main character, a professor of all people, constantly refer to Leonardo da Vinci just as "da Vinci". No self-respecting professor would ever do that. It's like saying "Yeah, Helloween rule! Their guitarist, German, he is the best!". It's a bit off. It was never his name nor did he go by that. Yes, there are other Leonardos, but there are also a million other Jesuses especially in the Latin America, but you don't refer to him just as "of Nazareth" without the name. Or shorten Joan d'Arc as "d'Arc".

And it's just a name, okay, but ever since the novel I've heard a lot of "da Vinci was a great inventor" stuff from random people. People who previously didn't know he existed suddenly name-drop Leonardo da Vinci a lot, and without exception they use only "da Vinci" when shortening it. It doesn't bother me since generally people who do that have no clue who Leonardo was anyway, but I just didn't think Helloween would use that in their lyrics. "I THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN THAT!"

But the whole thread is getting side tracked. So let's get back on topic - I've listened to the album six times now and with the Helloween binge I've been on lately I've now started to think where to rank this new one. I cannot properly compare it to Kiske or Hansen era albums, but I think it's probably in the bottom half of the Deris era CDs for me. Not because it isn't good, but because the band has just been so consistent. I think only The Legacy has been clearly worse than this. Straight Out of Hell can't touch the awesomeness of Better than Raw, Time of the Oath, Rabbit Don't Come Easy or Gambling with the Devil, but that's just my opinion. I think it goes in the middle bucket with 7 Sinners, Master of the Rings and the Dark Ride.

Good fast stuff, a nice bit of experimentation and catchy tunes.

I can agree with you in a certain aspect. Better than Legacy but I think it's the weakest of the previous 3 albums. I know that I'm in the minority here, but I feel Master Of The Rings is the low point of the Deris era. That may be due to the fact that I only first heard it a few years ago. After getting familiar with Time Of The Oath-Rabbit and Gambling I just couldn't really get into it. I'd rank Deris era like this:

Time Of The Oath
Better Than Raw
The Dark Ride
7 Sinners
Gambling With The Devil
Rabbit Don't Come Easy
Straight Out Of Hell
Keepers 3: The Legacy
Master Of The Rings

As for comparing them to the other eras, I don't really do that. However, I choose Keepers Pt. 2 over all the above as it's one of my top albums of all time (I know, how dare someone thinks it' better than the first one or Walls Of Jericho-but I like what I like).

Ha! Our tastes are very similar. Rings and Legacy are my least favourites and Keeper 2 clearly is superior to part 1!

I've found Straight Out Of Hell to be about what I expect Helloween to be these days. First few songs had me worried but the album picked up for me as it went along. One of my favorites is the first bonus track. Will be interesting to see how this one ages. For now I feel I got my money's worth from it.

jstate wrote:

I've found Straight Out Of Hell to be about what I expect Helloween to be these days. First few songs had me worried but the album picked up for me as it went along. One of my favorites is the first bonus track. Will be interesting to see how this one ages. For now I feel I got my money's worth from it.

Yeah, it started out weaker tha the previous two. Kill It and Where The Sinners Go were pretty strong starters.

I got it today and will be unwrapping it tonight!

DallasBlack wrote:

jstate wrote:

I've found Straight Out Of Hell to be about what I expect Helloween to be these days. First few songs had me worried but the album picked up for me as it went along. One of my favorites is the first bonus track. Will be interesting to see how this one ages. For now I feel I got my money's worth from it.

Yeah, it started out weaker tha the previous two. Kill It and Where The Sinners Go were pretty strong starters.

Especially Kill It. Great, great song.

exact33 wrote:

I got it today and will be unwrapping it tonight!

Have fun and enjoy! I know I did.

Lari wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

jstate wrote:

I've found Straight Out Of Hell to be about what I expect Helloween to be these days. First few songs had me worried but the album picked up for me as it went along. One of my favorites is the first bonus track. Will be interesting to see how this one ages. For now I feel I got my money's worth from it.

Yeah, it started out weaker tha the previous two. Kill It and Where The Sinners Go were pretty strong starters.

Especially Kill It. Great, great song.

exact33 wrote:

I got it today and will be unwrapping it tonight!

Have fun and enjoy! I know I did.

I was listening to Master of The Rings yesterday to get ready!

Off-topic bump.

So...someone posted a pic of this single on Facebook:



I don't own the single, but the picture looked so familiar. Then it dawned on me...



That's my roommate when I was stationed in Korea back in 1999/2000! That was a mural on the front of a building in downtown Kunsan! WTF? Haha. We always thought it was weird.