Gambling With The Devil

SPV

Germany’s leading Metal export Helloween are back with a vengeance! Their new CD Gambling With The Devil is without a doubt the most amazing work they have delivered since 1994’s Master of The Rings. I have no idea what forced their hand this time around but this magnificent accomplishment more than makes up for their rather disappointing 2005 endeavor, Keeper Of The Seven Keys – The Legacy. This is the album that should have been. The classic Helloween sound is alive and well here and in full force. From the opening cut “Kill It” which is led by the short intro “Crack The Riddle” (narrated by Biff Byford of Saxon fame) it is very evident that the guys are not messing around and seek to show the world that Helloween still have what it takes to make uncompromising Heavy Metal!

The band sophomore release for SPV Records makes Gambling With The Devil their thirteenth studio release to date. Massively patterned after the traditional Metal sounds of the mid to late 80’s, fans will likely wonder whether or not this is unreleased vintage material or new compositions. So what can you expect to hear? How about some of the best guitar work laid down within the last decade including monster riffs (“The Bells Of The 7 Hells”, “Kill It”), sweet leads with a sophisticated twin attack (“Paint A New World”, The Saints”) as well as the occasional neo-classical bout (“Heaven Tells No Lies”) and don’t forget the prog like influx of “Fallen To Pieces”. If that isn’t enough vocalist Andi Deris finally shows his true worth and deeply instills the passion that the bands former vocalist conveyed so strongly on their landmark releases Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt. 1 and 2.    

Gambling With The Devil is a very exciting achievement for Helloween and will inevitably put them back on the map as one of the defining power metal bands of our time. Whether you are a long time fan or just a fan of pure Metal this is an album you absolutely must own. Too much hype you say? Not at all! This is the honest to God’s truth. Take the gamble, you won’t regret it.

-Priest