Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Helloween
Title
Mrs. God
Type
LP/EP
Company
Victor Entertainment
YOR
2005
Style
Power
8/18/2005 - Review by: Eric Compton
Helloween - Mrs. God - 2005 - Victor Entertainment Japan

Track Listing
1. Mrs. God
2. My Life For One More Day
3. Run (The Name Of Your Enemy)
4. Mrs. God (Video)
Those pesky pumpkins are back at it again, this time teaming up with those Japs to get even more metal dollars out of my wallet. Thankfully a friend of mine dished out the cash to bring this Japan single to sunny Virginia, just in time for me to crank out a review for all of the Weeny fans. As I've stated before, Helloween have become a completely different band now that they have "split" from Roland Grapow and company. This version of Helloween seems to go down the hard rock path, taking into consideration many progressive and power metal moments in a quest to become a "thinking man's band". Masterplan, the other half of Helloween (yes, the other half!) is on the same sort of quest, leading me to my bold statement; Helloween's split has now led to TWO excellent bands.

So that brings us to "Mrs. God", the first single from Helloween's upcoming full-length "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: The Legacy". It seems like I am the sole defender of this new Helloween, with many metal fans rejecting 'Ween's last goofy output "Rabbit Don't Come Easy". This time my stance is a little harder to come by defending "Mrs. God". The first two listens had me convinced that this group had completely lost any initiative to be a heavy metal band first and foremost. But after repeated listens it has slowly grown on me. The song embraces a light, progressive theme, with many soft guitar riffs and vocal layers that are almost Journey like in their delivery of Euro AOR. But the band kick in some heavy chops mid-way through and really, in all honesty "Mrs. God" fits the same sort of pattern as the group's previous material. It is a bit fluffy and tongue in cheek, but still pleases this particular Weeny.

The band's second notch, "My Life For One More Day", is a fast gallop through "Better Than Raw" era Helloween, with Deris in full speed mode set to a song structure that is very impressive in its blend of aggression and melody. The chorus part here is emphasized with a layer of "gang" vocals, something that this band does very well with the production it is given. "Run", the third cut here, seems to be missing something. It is an up-tempo song as well but for some reason just lacks a basic hook or drive to be replayed. A decent offering but a disappointing closer.

So there you have it, the very first steps toward the enchanted forest known as "Keeper Of The Seven Keys". This third installment should be very interesting considering how different this band is now from the Kiske led army of years past. "Mrs. God" is a good first step and one that leaves me wanting more and more. I think Helloween and their fans will be pleased with the new album.


---EC 08.17.05
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: HELLOWEEN
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Better Than Raw (Expanded Edition)
2006
Sanctuary Records
Eric Compton7/3/2006
-
Chameleon (Expanded Edition)
2006
Sanctuary Records
Eric Compton7/3/2006
-
Gambling with the Devil
2007
SPV/Steamhammer
Frank Hill10/19/2007
4
Keeper Of The Seven Keys: The Legacy
2005
SPV/Steamhammer
Stygian Steel10/14/2005
-
Keeper of the Seven Keys--Part 1
1987
Noise International
Frank Hill10/30/2003
-
Master Of The Rings (Expanded Edition)
2006
Sanctuary Records
Eric Compton7/3/2006
-
Mrs. God
2005
Victor Entertainment
Eric Compton8/18/2005
-
Pink Bubbles Go Ape (Expanded Edition)
2006
Sanctuary Records
Eric Compton7/3/2006
-
Rabbit Don't Come Easy
2003
Nuclear Blast
Eric Compton4/10/2003
-
The Time Of The Oath (Expanded)
2006
Sanctuary Records
Eric Compton6/9/2006
-
Walls Of Jericho (Expanded)
2006
Sanctuary Records
Eric Compton6/9/2006
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: HELLOWEEN
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


<< back >>