Kids of the century...
- Nostra Dam
- Apr 23
- 8 min read
Helloween is a German band formed in 1984 in Hamburg, originally composed of Kai Hansen, Markus Grosskopf, Michael Weikath, and Ingo Schwichtenberg. The band boasts over 10 million records sold to date, a truly remarkable achievement.
Their first two Singles, "Oernst of Life" and "Metal Invaders," were released in 1984 and 1985 respectively. Both tracks were later included on a metal compilation titled *Death Metal*.
1985 also saw the release of a self-titled EP, which went largely unnoticed. The same fate befell their first full-length album, "Walls of Jericho", which is remembered primarily for its contribution to launching the speed metal genre.
The arrival of a new singer, Michael Kiske, then only 18 years old, would seriously change things thanks to the successful release of the new album "Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I" in 1987. Paradoxically, this album failed to produce any major hit Singles.
It wasn't until 1988 and the following album, "Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II," that the band truly took off and achieved its first hit Singles, notably with the lead Single "Dr. Stein." This arrival of widespread and undeniable success didn't prevent the band from being plagued by strong internal disagreements, particularly regarding the musical direction the group should take going forward.
A change of label followed, moving to EMI Records, which would later lead to legal action from their former label, Noise Records, and a forced hiatus for the band.
They returned in 1991 with the album "Pink Bubbles Go Ape," an album less successful than its predecessor but which nevertheless managed to survive by the skin of its teeth, thanks in particular to the track "Kids of the Century."
A new album, "Chameleon," followed two years later in 1993, but it remains one of their biggest commercial failures, with none of its Singles charting.
Things picked up somewhat afterward with the successful release of the albums "Masters of the Ring" in 1994, "The Time of the Oath" in 1996, and "Better Than Raw" in 1998.
This adventure continued in the following decades, with the group producing a considerable number of albums and Singles, even if these never quite reached the level of success the group had achieved at the end of the 1980s.
To discover or rediscover...
Discography (among others ...) :
80s Decade :
Oernst of life 1984
Metal invaders 1985
Starlight 1985
Murderer 1985
Judas 1986
Future world 1987
Twilight of the gods 1987
A tale that wasn't right 1987
Dr. Stein 1988
I want out 1988
90s Decade :
Kids of the century 1991
Back on the streets 1991
Number one 1992
Windmill 1993
When the sinner 1993
Step out of hell 1993
I don’t wanna cry no more 1993
Mr. Ego 1994
Perfect gentleman 1994
Where the rain grows 1994
Sole survivor 1995
Power 1996
The time of the oath 1996
Forever and one 1996
I can 1998
Hey Lord ! 1998
Time 1998
Lay all your love on me 1999
2000s Decade :
If I could fly 2000
Mr. Torture 2000
Immortal 2000
Just a little sign 2003
Never be a star 2003
Sun 4 the world 2003
Mrs. God 2005
Run (In the name of your enemy) 2005
Light the universe 2006
As long as I fall 2007
Paint a new world 2007
The saints 2007
2010s Decade :
Are you metal ? 2010
Who is Mr. Madman ? 2010
Raise the noise 2010
Burning sun 2012
Wanna be god 2012
Another shot of life 2012
Nabataea 2013
Live now ! 2013
Waiting for the thunder 2013
Battle’s won 2015
My God-given right 2015
Stay crazy 2015
Pumpkins united 2017
2020s Decade :
Skyfall 2021
Fear of the fallen 2021
Best time 2021
Tracks :
1984...from the very first track, you know immediately that this band isn't going to pull any punches. Sensitive souls beware...
1985...speed seems to be their basic DNA, so we'll have to get used to their totally unrestrained rhythm...
1985...not sure if that's the best way to break through to the highest level, but in any case, it doesn't seem to be their primary concern at this stage...
1985...it is clear that their style and especially this overspeed can only be reserved for a select audience of initiates...
1986...the first official title, and little difference from its predecessors, it must be said. A speed that seems to amuse them immensely...
1987... but it's not paying off much, at least not yet. So perhaps they need to slow things down a bit to see how things develop in the right direction...
1987...for now, it's clear that things aren't heading that way. So, it seems we'll have to wait a little longer to see them calm down even slightly...
1987...and to calm things down, they really toned it down with this new track. Paradoxically, it wouldn't even chart...
1988... things are already a bit better with this new title. Enough, in any case, for them to achieve their first success, and a worldwide one at that. Finally...
1988...the style and sound evolved, and this undoubtedly helped them gain wider recognition. It just goes to show that it didn't take much to make a difference...
1988...this track will not be officially released as a Single, but it is useful to bring back into focus some tracks with what we would call a normal style...
1991...they reached their peak of popularity with the two previous installments, but that doesn't mean the sequel should be neglected, far from it...
1992...because there will be a sequel, we can well imagine. Just because the level of success will be lower doesn't mean the adventure is over, far from it...
1992...the group evolved as much in its sound as in its style. Some of its fundamental elements were still present, but one could sense that something profound was changing...
1993...and the change is nothing short of drastic, as evidenced by this new title. As a result, longtime fans are completely lost...
1993...the group made real efforts to better meet the expectations of the general public, but paradoxically, this didn't bring them any more money than expected...
1993...frankly, it's a shame because the desire to do things right is more than evident. Then again, people need time to get used to it, as they say...
1994...even though Single sales have seriously fallen, albums continue to sell well, and that's the main thing...
1994...admittedly, the best years are behind them, but still. In any case, the group has absolutely no intention of stopping now that they're on such a good path...
1994...it's not the die-hard fans who are going to complain when the group goes back to its old habits of the past and switches back into overdrive mode...
1995...so the regular audience who had shown interest in them left as quickly as they had arrived, with such a frenetic rhythm...
1996...an astonishing career strategy that sees them changing directions at dizzying speeds. Not easy to keep up with them under these circumstances...
1996... that doesn't mean everything they produce is without merit, far from it. There's real talent in this group, no matter what...
1996...and as always, Metal bands know how to hit hard but also excel in the 'emotional' realm. Proof !
1998...we suspected the lull wouldn't last long. The tempo picks up again at full speed as usual...
1998...on the other hand, we know they won't be repeated at that level because it's part of their fundamental principles. So it's not surprising...
1998... a track that wasn't officially released as a Single, but it would have been a shame to overlook it. Here it is, brought back into the spotlight as it deserves...
1999...daring to take ABBA from 1980 and transform it in this way is a seriously audacious gamble. And why not, you might say...
2000...strength and finesse to start this new decade of the 2000s in the best possible way. Good work, in any case...
2000...and as always, after the softer track comes the energetic one. There's nothing to be done, it's practically impossible for them to produce two softer tracks in a row, it's undeniable...
2000...the start of their third decade in the business, which at least shows that the group is managing to stay in the game without too much difficulty at this stage...
2003...and as in previous decades, overspeed mode is the order of the day. One can easily imagine it will be like this until the end...
2003...this new album will only officially produce one Single, and it would be a shame not to bring other tracks from it back into the spotlight...
2003...because other titles also deserved to be highlighted. That's the great advantage of these articles : they show more than average...
2005...the output of tracks remains impressive, in any case. The albums follow one another at an impressive pace and clearly demonstrate that the group is far from having reached the end of its journey...
2005...what's certain is that the core fans always want more. And with this band, they're definitely getting what they want...
2006...a female presence in a Helloween song, who would have thought it possible ? And yet it's indeed the case on this track...
2007...what is also certain is that the group has been able to evolve with the times and has adapted its style and sound to the musical developments of each decade...
2007...the breakneck speed of this track is almost supersonic and truly dizzying. At a certain point, too much speed becomes counterproductive...
2007...and what about this one ? But that's also what made them legendary, and it will therefore be extremely difficult to reverse the trend...
2010...and another decade on the clock ! It's impossible to stop them at this stage, it's clear once again...
2010...another track that won't be officially released, but it would have been a shame not to bring it back into the spotlight. Especially since the album it comes from will only produce one official Single...
2010...hence the need to bring back some of their lesser-known tracks. Because in each of the band's albums, at least two, or even three, tracks deserve recognition...
2012...and the adventure continues in full swing. Longtime fans can only rejoice at this truly exceptional longevity...
2012...but as always, only the best of each generation last. The others disappear from the radar more or less quickly...
2012...the fact that the band is still around is anything but a coincidence. Certainly, their musical style inevitably limits their potential audience, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't pay attention to this kind of band...
2013...because they excel in their field, that much is clear. And they therefore fully deserve the praise that all the best groups in each field merit...
2013...well, it's true that in their very particular field they are certainly among those who play at excessive speed, that's clear...
2013...after this over-the-top approach, which has always been their trademark, making it difficult, if not impossible, for them to deny their deep roots...
2015... so they'll continue like this until the end, regardless of whether it penalizes them somewhat. Because such a crazy rhythm isn't necessarily to the liking of the average person...
2015...and why change anything as long as the albums continue to sell well ? Whether or not the Singles are successful is of little importance to them...
2015...and in principle they are absolutely right because the essentials are safe, as they say. In any case, they have a sufficient core fan base to continue the adventure for as long as possible...
2017...they've already celebrated four decades in the business, which is no small feat. In such a specialized musical field, it's quite an achievement in itself...
2021...and here they are, embarking on their fifth decade. Who would have thought that possible when they started their career in the mid-80s ? Not many people, that's for sure...
2021...and yet they are still here, and quite proud of it. Exceptional longevity for an extraordinary group with extraordinary music...
2021...we can certainly imagine that this title won't be the last, far from it. So we're calmly awaiting a return that's bound to be announced...
Wiki :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :
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