All Over the Nations - Helloween, Weikath, Michael
Mr. Torture - Helloween, Kusch, Uli
Escalation 666 - Helloween, Grapow, Roland
Mirror Mirror
If I Could Fly
Salvation - Helloween, Weikath, Michael
The Departed (Sun Is Going Down) - Helloween, Kusch, Uli
I Live for Your Pain
We Damn the Night
Immortal
The Dark Ride - Helloween, Grapow, Roland
The Madness of the Crowds
Japanese version of the German metal act's 2000 album. Released one week earlier than the European and no domestic is currently scheduled it includes one bonus track, 'The Madness Of The Crowds' and the singles, 'If I Coul... more »d Fly' and 'Mr. Torture'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.« less
Japanese version of the German metal act's 2000 album. Released one week earlier than the European and no domestic is currently scheduled it includes one bonus track, 'The Madness Of The Crowds' and the singles, 'If I Could Fly' and 'Mr. Torture'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.
"Helloween has always been one of my favourite bands. It's however curious how they became really a top level band after they lost their leader (Kai Hansen, who left to create Gamma Ray) and their great singer (Michael Kiske, who left for a solo career). Beginning from The Time of the Oath they've been on a continuous rise, topping in power with Better Than Raw and in quality and melody as well with The Dark Ride. This album is fantastic: songs as Mr. Torture, If I Could Fly, Live for your Pain and The Dark Ride are absolute masterworks, but the others are not so below. GET IT!!!"
Interesting Album, interesting surprise.
David E. Brody | Mentor, ohio (worst school district ever) | 11/19/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Dark Ride lives up to it's title, much different in terms of content than you may be used to in songs like: Hey Lord, Mission Motherland or Sole Survivor. The album focuses on the dark side of living hence the title. The music is heavy, but well done. Not at all what I expected, but I don't regret the purchase. I will probably be listening to Better than Raw or Time of the Oath more often. Still, this album will serve as entertainment for most any Helloween fan and it won't be an excuse to "round out the collection.""
Wow!!!!
Vince | Cary, NC USA | 01/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Dark Ride will come as a plesant surprise to many of the Helloween faithful. This is not the same brand of Helloween music we've become accustomed to. Of course, there are a few songs, namely "All Over Nations", "Salvation", and "We Damn The Night" that carry the traditional Helloween stylish stamp but the majority of tunes in this collection are a bit darker, heavier, and more methodical and calculating. You won't find as much flat-out blazing speed on this one compared with previous releases but what you will find is a highly polished, heavier, more powerful punch at the core. Helloween becomes a tighter unit on The Dark Ride and delivers and executes flawlessly under the direction of Charlie Bauerfeind and Roy Z.. Undoubtable, Roy Z. gives this band a new dimention and hopefully he'll be back for future Helloween efforts. Everything this guy touches turns to gold and The Dark Ride is no exception. You can hear his influence throughout, particularly in Roland's guitar solos. Highlights include "Mr. Torture", "Escalation 666", "The Departed", "I Live For Your Pain", and "The Dark Ride". A perfect 10! Go get it!!!"
Apparently they now like it raw
Jason P. Sorens | Tonawanda, NY United States | 01/05/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I am very torn about this album. Half of it is great, melodious metal that we are used to hearing from Helloween; half is brutal sludge that sounds more like Machine Head than Helloween. The layout and lyrics show a real dark, jagged-toothed, hyper-realist, "street-wise" edge. Luckily, the music doesn't go this way completely - but it does to a large extent. I am surprised I haven't seen any of the previous reviewers mention this drastic change! It's not that I don't like really heavy music, even "death metal," but I do not like this simplistic, tuned-down, groove attack that is so popular among the nasal-piercing crowd these days. Maybe Helloween is trying to get some fans from this set, but it's curious that they're doing it now, just when well-played, melodic, complex metal is coming back in a big way.To be sure, some of these songs are simply great: I'm thinking especially of "All over the Nations," "If I Could Fly," "Salvation," and "Immortal," which are all more in the traditional Helloween style. "We Damn the Night" is mostly a sludge song, but toward the end there is some great neobaroque riffing that is surely one of the best moments on the CD. "The Dark Ride" is also a pretty good epic song, but in my judgment doesn't stand up to "Revelation," let alone "Keeper of the 7 Keys" or "Halloween." The bonus track on the Japanese edition, "The Madness of the Crowds," is a brutal thrash track and not worth getting the Japanese edition for. However, the Japanese edition does have a, well, very expensive layout (I won't say beautiful) that some listeners may want to have.Overall, this is a good album, but the bad parts prevent it from being a great album like "Better than Raw" or the "Keeper" albums."
Excellent album for the new millenium
Concerned One | Clarinda, IA | 02/16/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is probably the strongest of the current line-up in Helloween. This album from start to finish is a bit heavier than all previous albums. Mr. Torture is a nice little nod to the tounge and cheek history of Helloween, but then the album rips through a great mix of power metal/dark metal songs unparalleled in other helloween albums. A natural evolution to catch up to the times. There is almost more of a concept here than on the "Keepers 3" Album. Highlights for me are Escilation 666, Mirror Mirror, and the instant classic single "If I could Fly", the obvious first single from this album, and excellent choice by the band, great melodyIf you have seen the video for "If I Could Fly" well done also, look around for that. The title track is a perfect way to end the album with a nice "epic" 9 minute song that helloween is known for. This was a great way for helloween to thrust themselves back into the metal scene. Helloween fans need this album, new fans should embrace this also. Buy this album
Of note, there were several versions of this album put out. There is the US 12 track version. Also a 13 track japanese version with "Madness of The Crowds" as a bonus track (available on Just a Little Sign single also from Rabbit Don't Come EASY). There is a newer US 12 track version that comes with the "If I could Fly" single which features Deliver Us from Temptation and If I could Fly extended. Finally, there is the version I own which came as "The Dark Box"- a 12 track CD, neck band/lanyard, sticker, 5 postcards featuring the band members, mouse pad, and a Zippo type refillable lighter in a nice box. Any version you purchase, well worth the deal. This is a must have helloween album"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
