Metal Reviews

My opinion is shared by thousands and thousands of people whereas your opinion is shared by a select few in comparison.

How can you make a statement like that? Unless you've taken a survey of every single metal head on the planet. Lots of people think that Helloween has turned to shit. Even in those early days when they were putting out the first three albums, they had massive exposure on Mtv and such. But then they went the wayward side and now nobody really gives a fuck about Helloween. They have a revolving door of band members and they havent been able to recapture the magic of the old days.
Also, though being a shitty way of measuring a bands success, their album sales are pitiful. Helloween has been struggling ever since Keepers II, whereas Gamma Ray has been in the Euro metal spotlight for ages. Helloween is a shell of its former self and you are in total denial. Either that or your musical tastes are simple to the point of stupidity. But eh, its your opinion. This is just what I think. So please don't take it personally.

Dude, you sound like a Gamma Ray fanboy. You're making things up.

That explains why albums like Pink Bubbles Go Ape and Chameleon have such great reputations. And since when is "my opinion is shared by the majority!" a good argument? The majority believes 50 Cent and Simple Plan are incredible pieces of talent, so if you're going to defend Helloween through that logic, then you'd best start listening to one of the best new music groups ever, Simple Plan!

I'm not talking about the flock of radio sheep out there, I'm not talking about those that follow the trends dictated by MTV and Hot Topics. I immerse myself in music, all music, even the stuff I don't like. It's knowledge to me, I like to do this, therefore a comment like "the majority this, the majority that" is not based on MY personal opinion. I read this shit all the time! I've been reading it for years and just because someone claims that Helloween basically sucked after the first two albums because Kai Hansen was less involved with the music means nothing. That is HIS opinion and he's trying to project that by making like his opinion is shared by many. It's not.

What I said is just how it is and I say it not as MY opinion. I think I know enough about this band to make a general statement like that and be comfortable with it.

Where did you hear that Helloween albums struggle for sales?

Helloween have a revolving door of members? Well I can only assume by that statement that Gamma Ray have kept a consistent line-up since day one.

Oh wait....

"Helloween is a shell of its former self and you are in total denial. Either that or your musical tastes are simple to the point of stupidity."

Ha. That's just silly. Helloween is a shell of its former self and you are in total denial. Yeah, either that or he has a differnet opinion to you. But I know, you have a shit load of obscure albums, so your opinion is more valid. Please tell me, in real terms, what is so "simple to the point of stupidity" about Helloween's newer music?

Well for starters every song sounds the same. Copious amounts of double bass, generic riffing, and Andi Deris's shit ass voice. Compared to the well placed double bass of Ingo, and the intricate guitar weavings employed when Kai was in the band.....and Gamma Ray has had the same line up for like the last ten years...whereas in Helloween Weikath is the only original member...maybe Graskopf too, but I'm not too sure about it. Helloween's sound has totally degenerated from what it once was. And my collection of obscure albums has nothing to do with my opinion. I have most of the Helloween records sans Pink Bubbles and Chameleon. I have every other one and I can say from listening to them that they are mediocre at best and can't compare to the old material. I know melodic metal fans now a days like their music nice and generic, so its no wonder you guys like the new helloween shit so much.

I'm going to do the annoying Quote Guy thing.


Wrong.


Opinion.


Opinion.


Wrong. Helloween has had three member shifts in 20+ years, hardly a revolving door. Gamma Ray has had three member shifts in 15 years. I'd say they're quite even in that department, I'd also point out that your "point" is irrelevant regardless.


Opinion.


Correct.


You're a weird person, then. A band has been disappointing you since the mid-80's yet you still buy their albums? Weird.


The new Helloween shit? Since 1994? New?

HT, do you ever look at the kinds of posts you make? You come off having quite the superiority complex.

Quite the deluded superiority complex.

And yeah everything Eyesore said.

Yes I have read the posts, and yes I do realize this...do I care....not at all. And just in case there's any confusion, this is an open forum for people's opinions. So with that said I don't think any of you should be worrying about my posts as much as you do. I think the original point of discussin was whether Gamma Ray was more influential than Machine Head. I still think so, but we seem to have gotten off topic.

Opinion is fine, but you can't say black is white and go, "Well, that's my opinion." It doesn't work like that. There are things you've said here that go against fact, therefore are just wrong, not opinion.

But whatever, you can think Gamma Ray is more influential than Machine Head and overall I'd probably agree and say Gamma Ray have been more influential, but overall doesn't count.

I just wanted to make sure you were aware how you sounded. Anyhow, I'll agree with your original point.

Well first off, my facts arent wrong. Helloween has had 6 member shifts since the beginning.

Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, Uli Kush, Roland Grapow, Ingo Switchenburg, and Mikkey Dee. Now granted Ingo died, but when you look at the current line up of

Andi Deris, Michael Weikath, Sascha Gerstner, Markus Graskopf, and Daniel Lobel....the band is considerably different, especially in the last few years.....and lets face it, there is nothing now that separates Helloween from the hundreds of other bands. Originally they did have a unique sound.

Gamma Ray has had its share of lineup changes, but this was in the formative years of the band when Kai hadnt really decided what he wanted to do....but the line up of Kai Hanse, Henjo Richter, Daniel Zimmerman, and Dirk Schlacter, have been together for almost ten years....and before that Thomas Knack and Jan Rubach were in the band....for a long time. So to say that Gamma Ray has had the same lineup situation as Helloween is innaccurate. Gamma Ray has always had a more stable line up than Helloween.

And Helloween does abuse the generic riffs and copious amounts of double bass, they do, its a fact and its reflected in their music.

This makes no sense. If overall Gamma Ray have had more influence than Machine Head, than Gamma Ray has had more influence than Machine Head.

Dude, saying it doesn't make it true. Jesus. Helloween have a unique sound, they always have. Gamma Ray does not. Gamma Ray, while a great band, are the ones that sound like "hundreds of other bands." I think you have your bands mixed up, or are you just saying these things to try and convince yourself that you're right? NO BAND sounds like Helloween. Deal with it.

As for the line-up changes, quit being dumb. Gamma Ray has gone through the same amount of line-up changes as Helloween. In 20+ years Helloween has had 11 members. In 15 years Gamma Ray has had 10 members. Now please shut up.

But we're talking about an album, not the band. Burn My Eyes has had more of an impact than any Gamma Ray album. Gamma Ray have consistently been influential over time, moreso than Machine Head. But they don't have an album that had the same amount of singular impact as Burn My Eyes did.

I'm sorry dude, but now you are speaking bull shit. Name one band who sounds like Gamma Ray. Kai Hansen is THE BEST song writer in the genre and shows it one every album he delivers. Helloween does indeed have their own sound, but many bands have been influenced by that sound making them sound like Helloween. Gamma Ray has influenced many bands, but I am yet to see a replica Gamma Ray.

You're out of your mind! There isn't anything that separates Gamma Ray from the flock except maybe better songwriting. Now, don't mistake my words, that is my opinion. It can be argued, but when I listen to Gamma Ray I don't hear anything that makes them stand out from the rest of the bands in that genre, but when I hear Helloween you KNOW it's Helloween. They have a unique, signature sound. I don't think Gamma Ray has a unique sound at all, they're just damn good.