Album Review: Helloween - 7 Sinners
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Ten years since the original release, and the German power metal legends have rereleased their 13th album ‘7 Sinners’, one, if not the only power metal albums to feature a flute. It’s that ridiculous segment in ‘Raise the Noise’ that always sticks in the memory. Yes, Erberhard Hahn’s flute solo is indeed one of many highlights on a bloody good heavy metal album. The awful rubbish of ‘Chameleon’ long banished, and singer Andy Dekis approaching his first decade with the band with his eighth album with the band, ‘7 Sinners’ is one of the heaviest records the band have released.
‘7 Sinners’ is a slick, polished record. It’s long, at over 74 minutes in length but the songs are in the main blistering in their speed and power. At least until the first part of ‘The Smile of the Sun’, when they go a bit more melodic in a track that still does the business. Before that, the album opens with a trio of bangers (term © Carl Black). The masterful and powerful Where The Sinners Go, which sees Dekis in fine form, the tongue in cheek but pounding ‘Are You Metal?’ and the bizarre intro of ‘Who Is Mr Madman?’ which features Saxon’s Biff Byford’s spoken word at the start.
One of the interesting factoids about ‘7 Sinners’ is that all the tracks were written independently. There is no collaboration between the band here. Deris writing the bulk of the record, with founder guitarist Michael Weikath, fellow guitarist Sascha Gerstner and bassist Markus Grosskopf all adding additional songs. But that doesn’t take away the quality on offer. The guitar work of Weikath and Gerstner is first rate, with heavy riffs and soaring solos a feature of nearly every track.
There is ample power metal on display. ‘You Stupid Mankind’, ‘The Sage The Fool The Sinner’ and ‘My Sacrifice’ are all blisteringly fast, Dekis’s vocals race in time with the high tempo, his range matching the melody whilst the drumming performance of Dani Löble is once more first rate. Sure, the lyrics are often cheesy, but this is a band who were pushing back the years, utilising symphonic elements and choral arrangements to enhance and add layers to great effect.
This rerelease features three additional tracks, all written by Grosskopf. ‘I’m Free’ combines the classic powerful gallop of Helloween with some classy symphonic strings, ‘Faster We Fall’ is a riff fest whilst ‘Aiming High’ closes the album in epic style with a synth intro that is just blown away by the sheer velocity of the track.
It’s been a long time since I listened to ‘7 Sinners’. It’s already made me dig out those early albums, but also given me a desire to catch the band live again. It’s also reminded me that for proper power metal, few bands can match Helloween on their day. This album is a welcome prompt and one that will deservedly get more plays now than it has for many years.
