Helloween - Better Than Raw
Tracklist
Disc I01. Deliberately Limited Preliminary Prelude Period In Z
02. Push
03. Falling Higher
04. Hey Lord!
05. Don't Spit On My Mind
06. Revelation
07. Time
08. I Can
09. A Handful Of Pain
10. Lavdate Dominvm
11. Midnight Sun
Disc II [2006 Expanded Edition]
01. Back On The Ground [Previously Japan Only bonus]
02. A Game We Shouldn't Play [Taken from 'I Can' single]
03. Perfect Gentleman [Live Bootleg Version. Taken from 'Hey Lord!' single]
04. Moshi Moshi Shiki No Uta [Live Drum Solo. Taken from 'Hey Lord!' single]
Additional info
The original version also contained two bonus tracks: one for the USA and one for Japan.Bonus track on the U.S. release: A Game We Shouldn't Play
Bonus track on the Japanese release: Back On The Ground
Rating:
7.6
7.6
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Rating:
7.6 |
Now, this Helloween lot. A bit unreliable aren't they? They change from album to album, not necessarily always in a good way. "The Time Of The Oath", this album's predecessor was an out and out Power Metal record, more to the style of their original "Keepers..." albums than the albums that came before it. After "?Oath" came this album, "Better Than Raw", and by comparison it is unfocused and patchy. This is still a good album with some classic Helloween tunes on it however. It just isn't as good as its predecessor and, like I said beforehand, suffers from a lack of focus a little bit. The lack of focus doesn't relate to the fact that there is a wider array of styles on this album, it is a good thing that there is variety and that they did not make another album exactly like "?The Oath". But most of the time, it simply feels as if it's a bunch of sounds and ideas thrown all over the place, and as a result the album does not feel as complete or as cohesive as "?The Oath", or hey, even "Master Of The Rings". In fact I don't think I would be exaggerating in saying that this at times feels like a superior b-sides and rarities album. But, as I have said before, this is not a bad album, not at all. The unfocused nature of the album does take the shine away a bit, but underneath this glaring problem is some excellent songs and good variety. Some of the excellent tracks on this album include "Push", which has a blistering main thrashy riff and some excellent nasty high pitched vocals. Push is quickly followed by another classic, "Falling Higher", which is all-in-all an utterly typical Helloween song. It's chorus and basically the melody throughout the song is unbelievably catchy and powerful. "Revelation" is another awesome track with a heavier sound, like Push before it. It also has a great melody, coupled with some fine restrained vocal work from Deri. Also of note is the slow, but excellent, almost slightly depressing "Time" and the endlessly 'humable' and happy sounding "Lavdate Dominum". Read more ›› |
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Comments
Comments:
12
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Posts: 1567
As with a lot of Helloweens releases and special editions the bonus tracks are essential....I love this album!
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Posts: 64558
Fast and speedy pop music, speed pop something, not so good as previous one, it was so promising, now we drove again into the pop
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 5659
Another album i listened to today, after really long time. Forgot how good it was, even the Japanese bonus track is good. 
---- I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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Posts: 1265
Well done Helloween. Round of applause.
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Posts: 1672  |
Posts: 1672
I've always loved this album but listening to it now a couple of times I think it's better than ever. If we exclude Lavdate Dominvm, which feels as a filler here, every song seems to get it right in every aspect. There's some more "convential" Helloween tracks, one huge atmospheric ballad (Time) and some agressive yet melodic songs (Push, Midnight Sun, Don't Spit on my Mind). The album never lets go and even the two leftout tracks (Back on the Ground and A Game We Shouldn't Play) is killer. This is probably my favourite Helloween full-length album, only beaten by their debut EP.. but that's a close call.
---- Everything's twice as bright with money in your hands
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Posts: 194  |
Posts: 194
Not exactly stacked with huge hits, but a very solid, enjoyable and fine sounding album. Almost zero weak songs here for me and stand-out ones would be: "Revelation", "Hey Lord!", "Falling Higher" and "Time". I don't sure why, but I come back to this album much more often than to any other, just never get tired of it. It should be somewhere in the top 5 best Helloween albums!
---- Glory to the Nation!
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Posts: 49  |
Posts: 49
This album has a different atmosphere to its predecessor, it's different, but interesting, in fact there are several decent things here, Falling Higher, Time, Revelation and Midnight Sun are the highlights, good songs that are worth listening to, in general it's fine with the other songs, they're nothing too impressive, but they make for good listening, the only song I found really weak is Don't Spit On My Mind. Hey Lord, although not bad, is a bit strange, maybe it's the chorus that's a bit pop.
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