Helloween - Straight Out Of Hell

Genre - Heavy Metal / Traditional Heavy Metal / Speed Metal
Label -

Track listing -

01. Nabataea

02. World of War
03. Live Now!
04. Far from the Stars
05. Burning Sun
06. Waiting for the Thunder
07. Hold Me in Your Arms
08. Wanna Be God
09. Straight Out of Hell
10. Asshole
11. Years
12. Make Fire Catch the Fly
13. Church Breaks Down
Premium Edition bonus tracks:
14. Another Shot Of Life
15. Burning Sun (Hammond version dedicated to Jon Lord)

The mighty Helloween return with album fourteen in the form of Straight Out Of Hell, and with it a real return to form!
Straight Out Of Hell has thirteen tracks on the standard release and two extra bonus tracks on the 'Premium Edition' including a Hammond version of "Burning Sun", which is dedicated to the much admired John Lord (Deep Purple) who of course passed away in 2012.
Singer Andi Deris keeps the guys on a melodious track yet allows them to deliver all the technical craft and metal that the band Helloween have become known for over the years.
Highlight tracks for me personally include the almost rapped, Wanna Be God and the great Asshole, but there are plenty more gems on this album such as the melodic Hold Me In Your Arms, the rocking Years, or the pianno inro'd Waiting For Thunder.

Straight Out Of Hell really is a great album, an album that see's Helloween doing what Helloween do best, and delivering their best album since the days of the mighty Keeper Of The Seven Keys albums.

Very Highly Reconmended

Rating - 9/10

Seventh Calling - Epidemic

(Genre - Metal Label - Heaven and Hell Records)

Track Listing -
01. Test of Time
02. Paid in Blood
03. Rising Against
04. Epidemic
05. Ignite the Fire
06. Death Dealer
07. Fractured
08. Tyrannical Reign
09. Beyond (the Wicked Lies)

U.S metal merchants return with their second album in the form of Epidemic, bringing us their own mix of traditional heavy metal mixed with a little speed and thrash metal for good measure.
Although Seventh Calling have managed to carve out their own sound you can hear similarities with bands like Vicious Rumors and Metal Church, yet they do always maintain their own identity. Song wise, it’s all good here, and it’s great to hear a young band that’s not afraid to play this kind of music, and play it well too. The riffs come fast and furious with a dirty swagger too, and Steve Handel's vocals soar in the same vein to those of the almighty Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and at times even King Diamond (King Diamond / Mercyiful Fate). There’s not a duff track on this album, but a few of the standouts include, 9 minute epic closing track, Beyond (the Wicked Lies), Fractured, Rising Against and Ignite The Fire.
A great album that I can see all metal fans, from Metallica to Iron Maiden, from Slayer to Judas Priest, enjoying a good old fashioned slam in the mosh pit too!

website -
http://www.myspace.com/seventhcalling
Rating 9/10