Helloween – Live at Budokan Review

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My, my, my…

Finally!

It was about time to get my hands on one of the bands that have been influencing an uncountable number of Metal bands in all time. A band that is so iconic, but so iconic thaqt all Power Metal bands should record an album in respect to them after all without Helloween there would never be Power Metal the way we all know. One way of knowing how influent a band can be is to get to know all the bands it influenced. No need to say I had lost track of how many Helloween did.

“Live at Budokan” celebrates the grand finale of Helloween‘s epic 2022-2023 world tour, which spanned over 30 countries across three continents. Drawing massive crowds and showcasing the band’s timeless appeal, the sold-out concert in Tokyo stands as the crowning glory of the tour. The place it was recorded, the Budokan, is also a temple of Metal music. It’s impossible to tell how many iconic and top-notch Metal albums were recorded there. It was the tour that could gather, and homage, the band’s career with almost all its musicians. The presence of the triple guitar attacks from Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, and Sascha Gerstner alternate with powerful duets between vocalists Michael Kiske and Andi Deris, often supported by original singer Kai Hansen. Hansen also treats fans to a nostalgic medley from Helloween’s early days, the “hatchery” of their signature sound, solidifying their place as godfathers of melodic speed metal.

My history with Helloween started in 1986 when I was a high school senior and Metal music had taken my life over in an instant. I couldn’t help it to say how fresh 1985’s “Walls of Jericho” sounded to me with its unique blend of a faster Iron Maiden full of debauchery. Back then Iron Maiden were the influence to most Metal bands and Helloween couldn’t be different. Of course, the album was recorded in a cassete with the promise that I would buy it as soon as I had the money – It took me a long time to do it. It was “Pink Bubbles Go Ape” that made me go back and kind of put the band in some sort of hold. That is really funny because I use to adore Helloween. I did listen to their other albums but the emotion wasn’t the same anymore. It’s impossible to explain.

It’s possible to say “Live at Budokan” has to clear and distinct moments for me. I can divide it into the tracks I don’t know, therefore meaning not so much and the tracks I’m deeply and fondly connected. The album commences the long, epic, and grand “Orbit,” a song I didn’t know, but with Helloween’s DNA in it. “Skyfall” is another track that I haven’t been introduced before. My memories go pretty far in the instant “Eagles Fly Free” started to play here. I went back to the time I first listened to it “Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2.” By that time, I didn’t even know there was a “Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 1” – an album that I still haven’t heard with the respect it deserves. As usual, the album was borrowed from my dear friend and recorded in a cassete that I used to listen all the time in my car – I mean, my mother’s. I have very few recollection of “Mass Polution” and “Future World.” I know I was introduced to them, but the memory isn’t that vivid. The best for me commences with what’s called here “Kai’s Medley,” which begins the intro of 1985’s “Walls of Jericho” and goes adding other iconic and unforgetable Helloween songs in a kind of potpourri as “Metal Invaders,” which is bit shorter here and connected with a very short “Gorgar” that soon leaves the way open to one of the fastest and most iconic Helloween’s track – at least for me – “Ride the Sky.” I lost count of how many times I sangalong with it. Next is “Heavy Metal Is the Law,” another great moment of the band and my motto from then on. Ironically, or not, Kai says the moments go back in time when Power Metal was invented. There was no way I couldn’t agree more. CD1 closes with the most beautiful ballad Helloween have ever written “Forever and One (Neverland).”

Musically CD2 can be divided the way I divided the previous one the tracks I know and I am deeply and fondly connected and the ones my memory doesn’t go so far. The album opens with “Best Time” with its long and memorable guitar solo. I can’t really recall if I know the song, but it’s another great moment. Well, I know I said this a lot of times here, but, as you know, emotions flow hard here listening to “Live at Budokan.” Then comes the piece that showcases best Helloween‘s intricate sense of humor. “Dr. Stein” is a kind of display of how a Metal band can be serious and humorous at the same time. One more of the classic “Walls of Jericho,” for me their best without a shadow of doubt. By the way, I would never make a potpourri of the aforementioned tracks and play “Dr. Stein” in its entirety. But the band repent playing “How Many Tears” next with the glory it deserves. If memory serves me right, the band loves this song. The apotheosis comes with “Keeper of the Seven Keys,” in my opinion of the most perfect songs in Metal music ever. Only a minute while I take out the thing in my eyes… Even though this would be a perfect crowning for the album, there are “Perfect Gentleman,” a song I really don’t know and “I Want Out,” a song I like but if I were to choose to replace between any of the potpourri it would be it. Dang potpourri!

Even though Helloween aren’t an Epic Metal band, there are a lot of Epic Metal material in their albums. Here and there the band exercises their prone to be epic and grand. That’s the Helloween that kept my heart forever. This album would be the perfect Christmas present. Anyone?

Helloween “Live at Budokan” will be released on December 13th via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Track Listing:

CD1

1. Orbit
2. Skyfall
3. Eagle Fly Free
4. Mass Polution
5. Future World
6. Power
7. Save Us
8. Kai’s Medley
9. Forever and One (Neverland)

CD 2
1. Best Time
2. Dr. Stein
3. How Many Tears
4. Keeper of the Seven Keys
5. Perfect Gentleman
6. I Want Out

Watch “Keeper of the Seven Keys” official alive video here: