Year: 2024
Total Time: 120.52
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music
Certainly one of the most important events in the last few years is the reunion of Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen for the HELLOWEEN’s “Pumpkins Reunited” tour a few years ago. A decision that, just commercially speaking, blew up beyond all expectations. And when this was accompanied by the excellent album “Helloween” in 2021, it was made clear that this decision was far and away the right one, and it was not just a way for the band to earn more money, but something substantial.
However, HELLOWEEN themselves seem to be having fun and it is probably in this context that the release of a live album from the concert they had given at the iconic Budokan in Tokyo is part of it. Like most, if not all, live albums, they don’t offer anything special in a band’s history other than the recording of a major milestone as the “Pumpkins Reunited” tour through a best-of album that nonetheless carries a little (or a lot) of the magic of a live performance. Such is the case with “Live At Budokan” which starts with HELLOWEEN’s latest masterpiece “Skyfall” from their latest album as if to remind us that they are still writing monumental songs. Like in the old days with both “Keeper…” or “Walls Of Jericho” which are represented on the album through anthems like “Eagle Fly Free”, “Heavy Metal Is The Law”, “Keeper Of The Seven Key” and their all time classic hit “I Want Out” with which they said goodbye to the ecstatic Japanese. This last one, the ecstasy of the audience, is what gives a special character to the album since it is so intense that it is passed on to the listener. Kiske and Deris constantly alternate in the lead role, Hansen does his thing in between with a giant medley (and more) and everyone works as a well-tuned machine.
The release of this album gives the reason for yet another addition to the HELLOWEEN collection of their fans but also the opportunity for newer fans to get to know the band through a best -of release and even get a taste of the atmosphere that prevails at their concerts.
Rating: Ν/Α
Editor: Kostas Boudoukos
Related Link: HELLOWEEN – Official Page
