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![\"TMD\"](\"http:\/\/i66.photobucket.com\/albums\/h259\/rsid999\/tmdcom.jpg\")
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\nLong-running German metallers HELLOWEEN are offering up track-by-track commentary of their entire new album each day for the next 13 days. Straight Out Of Hell, is due for release in North America on January 22nd.
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\nHelloween recently released the official video for the first single from Straight Out Of Hell. The six-minute opus for \u2018Nabataea\u2019 develops on several levels, including 3-D animation at motion picture level. The legendary kingdom Nabataea provides the atmospherically dense reference for the strong first release from Helloween\u2019s new album. View it HERE<\/a>.
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\nHelloween have documented how this future could look like, or rather sound like, on Straight Out Of Hell. It\u2019s a work full of speed and toughness, with optimism and great joy of playing, featuring complex arrangements, strong hooks and plenty of catchy melodies. Or, to let the facts speak for themself: 13 mostly fast-paced songs that turn out to be impressively multi-layered and will completely delight all Helloween fans, due to the different songwriters Andi Deris, founding members Michael Weikath and Markus Grosskopf, and guitarist Sascha Gerstner.
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\nWeikath: \u201cStraight Out Of Hell is the consequent development of the two albums before. 7 Sinners was recorded more or less in the wake of Gambling With The Devil, while the new songs are a continuation of the 7 Sinners directives, only a little less doom bound and noticeably more positive. These songs will kick even the laziest listener\u2019s ass.\u201d<\/p>\n
Helloween\u2019s guitarist is referring to tracks such as \u2018Make Fire Catch The Fly\u2019, \u2018Far From the Stars\u2019, \u2018Church Breaks Down\u2019, the title track (written by bass player Markus Grosskopf), and the straightforward \u2018Years\u2019 \u2013 all of them racing through the terrain at full speed. In addition, there is the complex and passionate \u2018Burning Sun\u2019 by Michael Weikath, which Deris refers to short and sweet as \u201cone of Weik\u2019s highspeed masterpieces\u201d (the limited edition will feature a special Hammond version in memory of DEEP PURPLE\u2019s recently deceased organ player JON LORD). \u2018World Of War\u2019 by Sascha Gerstner convinces with thrashy guitar riffs, demonstrating Helloween\u2019s impressive virtuosity.<\/p>\n
Deris: \u201cWhat\u2019s so special about this band, is the fact that we were always allowed to do anything we wanted, or \u2013 even if we allegedly weren\u2019t \u2013 did it anyway. Even the at the time slightly tabooed The Dark Ride initially earned us negative reviews, but ended up with multiple Gold Awards. That\u2019s the kind of freedom you feel on Straight Out Of Hell as well \u2013 we didn\u2019t let anybody or anything put pressure on us.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Helloween wouldn\u2019t be Helloween if Straight Out Of Hell would not feature the band\u2019s other, slightly more groovy side as well. With \u2018Waiting For The Thunder\u2019 Deris has \u2013 in his own words \u2013 contributed \u201ca rock song reminding of the old PINK CREAM 69 tunes\u201d. Gerstner lets off steam on \u2018Asshole\u2019 and complements the album with \u201cHold Me In Your Arms\u201d, a wonderful ballad, providing the desired antithesis to the otherwise extremely energetic record. Speaking of energy: the determination that has always been an integral part of the Helloween camp was captured perfectly by their producer Charlie Bauerfeind at the band\u2019s own MiSueno studio in Tenerife. Bauerfeind consciously created a raw sound, keeping the edge of Helloween\u2019s new songs and working without computer-controlled devices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a world-class drummer like Dani L\u00f6ble in the studio you don\u2019t need click tracks or computer support\u201d, Markus Grosskopf praises his drummer. \u201cThanks to Dani, the whole album breathes pure authenticity, which distinguishes Straight Out Of Hell from lots of other artists\u2019 productions. In addition, the new album sounds more compact and homogeneous than 7 Sinners has, and is one of the fastest releases in Helloween\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also, there are significant differences in a number of topics Helloween tackle on Straight Out Of Hell. The best example of the ability to think outside the box of pure metal clich\u00e9 is their first single release \u2018Nabataea\u2019, which Helloween\u2019s singer wrote during a holiday. The song is about the legendary kingdom, located in today\u2019s Middle Eastern region, where the first real democracy existed over 3000 years ago. The secret Nabataean city Petra, hidden behind a cliff scenery and only discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, is the origin of many myths and legends.<\/p>\n
Deris: \u201cWe took the liberty to tell this exciting culture\u2019s whole story, although the song therefore lasts more than seven minutes. Truth be told, if there had been more to tell, the track would have been even longer.\u201d
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\nStraight Out Of Hell tracklisting:
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\n\u2018Nabataea\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018World Of War\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Live Now!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Far From The Stars\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Burning Sun\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Waiting For The Thunder\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Hold Me In Your Arms\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Wanna Be God\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Straight Out Of Hell\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Asshole\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Years\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Make Fire Catch The Fly\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Church Breaks Down\u2019<\/p>\n
Limited Edition bonus tracks:<\/p>\n
\u2018Another Shot Of Life\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Burning Sun\u2019 (Hammond version) \u2013 dedicated to Jon Lord
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\nThe Hellish Rock Tour in 2007\/2008 featured HELLOWEEN and their very special guests GAMMA RAY, which played 95 shows in 34 countries and left ecstatic metal fans in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America in their wake. Hellish Rock Tour Part II has been announced and will start in February 2013 in Europe and go around the globe, once again featuring Gamma Ray.<\/p>\n
Dates for Russia and Japan have now been confirmed. They are as follows:
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\nJune<\/p>\n
1 \u2013 Moscow, Russia \u2013 Arena<\/p>\n
2 \u2013 St Petersburg \u2013 Kosmonavt<\/p>\n
5 \u2013 Tokyo, Japan \u2013 ZEPP<\/p>\n
6 \u2013 Yokohama, Japan \u2013 Blitz<\/p>\n
7 \u2013 Tokyo, Japan \u2013 Shibuya AX<\/p>\n
9 \u2013 Osaka, Japan \u2013 IMP Hall<\/p>\n
10 \u2013 Nagoya, Japan \u2013 ZEPP
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\nPreviously announced dates for Europe, featuring SHADOWSIDE as support, are as follows:
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\nFebruary<\/p>\n
28 \u2013 Barcelona, Spain \u2013 Razzmatazz 1
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\nMarch<\/p>\n
1 \u2013 Madrid, Spain \u2013 La Riviera<\/p>\n
2 \u2013 Bilbao, Spain \u2013 Santana 27<\/p>\n
4 \u2013 Pratteln, Switzerland \u2013 Z7<\/p>\n
5 \u2013 Milan, Italy Alcatraz<\/p>\n
6 \u2013 Bologna, Italy \u2013 Estragon<\/p>\n
9 \u2013 Athens, Greece \u2013 t.b.a.<\/p>\n
10 \u2013 Thessaloniki, Greece \u2013 Principal<\/p>\n
12 \u2013 Istanbul, Turkey \u2013 Refresh the Venue<\/p>\n
15 \u2013 Sofia, Bulgaria \u2013 Arena Armeec<\/p>\n
16 \u2013 Bucharest, Romania \u2013 Arenele Romane<\/p>\n
18 \u2013 Ljubljana, Slovenia \u2013 Media Park Club<\/p>\n
19 \u2013 Budapest, Hungary \u2013 Pesca Music Hall<\/p>\n
21 \u2013 Bratislava, Slovakia \u2013 Sport Hall<\/p>\n
22 \u2013 Prague, Czech Republic \u2013 Tesla Ar\u00e9na<\/p>\n
23 \u2013 Zl\u00edn, Czech Republic \u2013 Hala Euronics<\/p>\n
24 \u2013 Brezno, Slovakia \u2013 Sport Hall<\/p>\n
26 \u2013 Krakow, Poland \u2013 Studio<\/p>\n
27 \u2013 Warsaw, Poland \u2013 Stodola<\/p>\n
29 \u2013 Helsinki, Finland \u2013 The Circus<\/p>\n
30 \u2013 Tampere, Finland \u2013 Pakkahuone<\/p>\n
31 \u2013 Oulu, Finland \u2013 Teatria
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April<\/p>\n
2 \u2013 Oslo, Norway \u2013 Rockefeller<\/p>\n
4 \u2013 Stockholm, Sweden \u2013 Arenan<\/p>\n
5 \u2013 Karlstad, Sweden \u2013 N\u00f6jesfabriken<\/p>\n
6 \u2013 Gothenburg, Sweden \u2013 Lisebergshallen<\/p>\n
8 \u2013 Paris, France \u2013 Olympia<\/p>\n
9 \u2013 Saarbr\u00fccken, Germany \u2013 Garage<\/p>\n
10 \u2013 Langen, Germany \u2013 Neue Stadthalle<\/p>\n
12 \u2013 Kaufbeuren, Germany \u2013 Allg\u00e4u Event Center<\/p>\n
13 \u2013 Bochum, Germany \u2013 Ruhrcongress<\/p>\n
14 \u2013 Mons, Belgium \u2013 PPM-Fest<\/p>\n
16 \u2013 London, UK \u2013 HMV Forum<\/p>\n
18 \u2013 Hamburg, Germany \u2013 Docks<\/p>\n
19 \u2013 Geiselwind, Germany \u2013 Music Hall<\/p>\n
20 \u2013 Balingen, Germany \u2013 Volksbankmesse<\/p>\n