German metal masters HELLOWEEN continue the reissue of their back catalog on CD with fresh remasters and bonus tracks. ”Better Than Raw (Remastered 2024)” is the band’s eighth studio album, and as part of the 40th anniversary of the band, the record has been remastered by Sascha Bühren at TrueBusyness Music Productions Berlin, and the cover art updated.
Helloween continued to record over a decade and a half after their debut album. And to some success, actually. Granted, that success was largely limited to Europe and Japan, but it was enough to sustain the group. And, weirdly enough, through sheer existence – continual touring and recording – Helloween accomplished something very rare indeed for metal bands in their second decade: they actually began to improve.
The band continued to refine its sound, and 1998’s ”Better Than Raw” is proof of that – perhaps their best album of the ’90s one one of the best from their catalog.
After the good intro track, “Push” is a very Painkiller-esque high intensity headbang-inducer with Andi Deris wailing at the top of his lungs while the rest of the band keeps a steady tandem of explosive riffs going strong. There’s an unwavering lean on the thrashy side of this song, and on the album as a whole. Throw in one the most beautiful guitar solos these guys ever wrote, and you have a high bar set right out of the gate.
Fortunately, the expertise in songwriting never lets up through the entire album. “Falling Higher” is a fairly typical speed anthem that Helloween are known for, but it’s just done so damn well here. By the time this song is blasting out of your speakers, you should notice how clearer, crisp, and crunchy the production is. Everything can be heard in detail, the guitars sound beastly.
This album is relentless in execution and never lets up. “Lavdate Dominvm” is with out a doubt one of the happiest metal songs I have ever listened to; you could easily go wrong with what is basically a happy church hymn turned metal, but it’s executed flawlessly here. “A Handful of Pain” is a midpaced rocker done right, “Midnight Sun” is a dark, powerful closer with some ingenious riffing, and the two radio-friendly numbers (“Hey Lord” and “I Can”) provide balance to the whole disc.
“Revelation” is the signature epic on the album. This song is simply a riff monster, boasting a complex opening / verse riff which alters just ever so slightly during the solo section. The chorus is oddly bare, but it works quite well in the context of the song. The latter half delves into multiple changes in speed before returning in a different key with unique vocal lines, finally modulating back up and finishing on the chorus. I
Then “Time” is an abstractly beautiful, relaxing ballad that really has no equals. It’s unique, but doesn’t feel out of place on the album, which is more or less of an eclectic offering as a whole anyways.
”Better Than Raw” is one of band’s best albums, daring, adventurous Helloween at their songwriting prime, unafraid to let their collective abilities in all departments unchained. Production is excellent, all the band members are without mention playing to their ability.
Highly Recommended
Tracklist:
01. Deliberately Limited Preliminary Prelude in Z (2024 Remaster)
02. Push (2024 Remaster)
03. Falling Higher (2024 Remaster)
04. Hey Lord! (2024 Remaster)
05. Don't Spit On My Mind (2024 Remaster)
06. Revelation (2024 Remaster)
07. Time (2024 Remaster)
08. I Can (2024 Remaster)
09. A Handful of Pain (2024 Remaster)
10. Lavdate Dominvm (2024 Remaster)
11. Midnight Sun (2024 Remaster)
12. Back On the Ground (2024 Remaster)
13. A Game We Shouldn't Play (2024 Remaster)
14. Perfect Gentleman (Bootleg Live Version; 2024 Remaster)
15. Moshi Moshi - Shiki No Uta (2024 Remaster)
Helloween – Better Than Raw (2024 Remaster) , MP3+FLAC
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