Review Summary: Take me down to a higher ground!
Could there be a succesor to Michael Kiske? Was there a future after Kai Hansen leaving the band? Fortunately, to both questions, the answer is positive. Master of the rings is a superb album, ofc not monumental like Keeper pt. 1, but still, competing on a very high level. I still remember the "metalfathers", back in the days, ignoring this album, just because Kiske and Hansen had departed. Those were the same ppl, back then, who rated "Ride the lightning" with a score 7/10, just because Mustaine had left Metallica.
Unfortunately for them, though and fortunately for us, heavy metal is a genre which looks always ahead and history comes to prove if an album is worthy or not.
What we get here, is top notch power metal with a more groovy approach, than we were used to, by the teutonic speed/power metal school. Believe it or not, this album contains some of the most catchy-melodic choruses and vocal lines ever presented in heavy metal music. "Sole Survivor", "Where the rain grows", "Why", "Secret Alibi" will always be there to prove that statement. We also get solid rhythm section and top notch guitar work by Weikath and Grapow. Deris' vocals fit perfectly to the songs and offer a new insight to the band's musical style. We also have a perfect powerballad, "In the middle of a heartbeat" and a pretty enjoyable poser-like song, 100% fit to Deris, "Perfect Gentleman". "Mr Ego" shows true heavy riffing, some sleeze and some of the best lyrics that Helloween has ever provided. "The game is on" is a bit funny and looks more than a b-side track, still it's not bad.
Overall, this is an album to listen to, from start to end, repeatedly and every time, sing softly along. Power metal doesn't always need to make its presence noted by screaming or singing in so high tones, power may also arise from the feeling of uprising that it provides. And this album, delivers for sure. I don't think that Helloween of the second period ever surpassed the level of this album, even though they released some very good material, like "Better than Raw" or "The Dark Ride". "Master of the rings" has a little bit of everything and most importantly, very inspired in every aspect. A definetely must- have for every fan of quality-made music.
