By ENRICO SPINELLI
At the end of the year, I treated myself to this new live album by Helloween, an album that came almost as a surprise considering that the more than exhaustive "United Alive" was released only in 2019; it is equally true that in the middle there was the publication of the homonymous studio album, surprisingly beautiful even after some time and listening, so we can discuss whether or not this is a plausible release. So let's get to the listening and what in my opinion are the strong points of this work and its limits.
Let's say right away that since it is a support date for the "Helloween" tour it does not have the greatest hits characteristics of the previous one, there is a shorter setlist and with the presence of a number, however small, of songs from the latest published work: among these the long "Skyfall" stands out, placed at the opening, truly wonderful.
Minimal parenthesis and no surprises on the Deris era while on the repechage front, we find "Save us" and above all a reworking of the Kai Hansen medley dedicated to my favorite period of the Hamburg Pumpkins, that of the beginnings: in this case, next to "Ride the Sky" and "Heavy Metal ( is the law)" already present we find "Metal Invaders", "Victim of Fate" and "Gorgar"... and this for me is another absolute peak of the show and a personal reason for regret since a setlist based on the very first period of the band for me would be perfect (but unfortunately impossible first of all due to Kai Hansen's vocal conditions).
Overall, an excellent global performance and singles stand out, net of the inevitable tweaks in the studio. The sound of this live seemed more raw and less glossy than the previous one, which had seemed too cold to me, and this, for me, is another strong point. It remains a release of dubious utility, good perhaps only for extreme fans who want everything, but nevertheless enjoyable and worth listening to.