Master of the Rings

Master of the Rings is the sixth album on which Helloween, newly welcoming Andi Deris and Uli Kusch, binds a new voice and rhythm to its drive and makes a splendid restart. After the experimental Chameleon, the band returns powerfully to straight-ahead power metal. Deris’s slightly shadowed voice gives a fresh face to the former bright melody. From the drive of the opening classic “Sole Survivor” and the catchiness of “Where the Rain Grows” to the humor of “Perfect Gentleman” and “Mr. Ego” and “Why?,” the guitar unites hard riffs and light hooks at a high level. Even with speed returned, playfulness and narrative remain in the songs. Its great significance lies precisely in powerfully rebooting Helloween’s clear power metal while openly accepting the change of a lineup shift. The new members’ character breathes fresh vitality into the band. Announcing a radiant opening of the Deris era, it is a powerful, fulfilling comeback record.