I bought my first Helloween release more than 30 years ago, picking up the single “I Want Out”, since when I have had a soft spot for the Teutonic band. They released some groundbreaking albums, and are still going strong today, but over the years they have made some decisions which have left fans shaking their heads in disbelief. I remember when I first saw the cover for ‘Pink Bubbles Go Ape’, when I had originally thought it was the name which was the worst part. Now here I am playing the remastered 2010 album, ‘Unarmed’, and one word keeps going through my head, “Why?”

Helloween were/are one of the most important power metal bands to come out of Germany, so why is there a need to revisit some of the greatest songs and parody them? There is a children’s choir on “I Want Out”, who start by singing “la la la la”, while “Dr. Stein” has saxophones! I have no idea who the audience would be for this album, as Helloween fans for the most part will play this once (if they make it all the way through), while anyone who is introduced to the band through this will probably be horrified if they discover any of their proper albums. It has been well recorded and produced, and someone has spent lots of time on the arrangements, but I cannot truthfully see myself ever playing this again.

Rating: 4/10

Links:
https://www.helloween.org/
https://www.nuclearblast.de/en/