GAMBLING WITH THE DEVILS ALBUM
Looking back, Gambling with the Devil might be seen as a kind of watershed album for Helloween. Prior to the turn of the millenium, the Germans were dabbling in material much lighter in weight and more traditional than their recent work, then The Dark Ride took things a shade more concentrated and simple. However, it wasn't until their third album of the new century that they would get the formula right, since a string of inconsistent albums lie before this one, whereas the band's form after Gambling with the Devil has been surprisingly strong.
None of the major parts were altered from Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy, nor were there line-up changes, but the songs take on a more confident and aggressive edge, as well as cutting away the fat. Most Helloween releases prior to this had included at least one "epic" song exceeding 8 minutes, though since then nothing has touched that mark. Perhaps a reaction to the excessive previous effort, the songs on this album bristle with energy and purpose aside from one or two more reflective moments. Going straight to the point on numbers like 'Kill It', 'Paint a New World', and 'Dreambound' makes those moments irresistible, ensuring that neck muscles and pulses alike will receive significant exercise. A song like 'Kill It' has its precedent in 'Push' from 1999 effort Better than Raw, yet the grit and drive that Andi Deris puts into his vocals makes this a more sincerely dark experience. There are a lot of other moments that seem to be the product of pure adrenaline, such as the flashy solo in 'Final Fortune' (hold onto your hat for that one), the (admittedly stupid) chorus of 'Can Do It', and the sheer rush of 'Paint a New World'.
That last mentioned song is a prime example of how Helloween have turned into a band who can instinctively produce great tunes, because there is literally nothing I can fault in its construction, execution, or lyrical content. The speed metal riff that dominates the introduction, the soaring melody that glides seamlessly across said riff, the breakdown into gentler verses, the build-up into the bridge riff, the lead guitar frazzling out from an initially inconspicuous harmony, and Deris's fantastic wail of "Earth, wind, fire, and sea" at the end of the chorus all increase the enjoyment of the song until it rises very close to a perfect standard. And then there's the joke ending, which is pure Helloween humour. No other song on the album quite touches that level, but there is little to complain about in the band's use of structure, usually planting a couple of solid riffs and a memorable chorus at the centre of the song before embellishing it with plenty of guitar leads and melodies. 'As Long As I Fall' and 'Fallen to Pieces' are more laidback, both making use of a distorted vocal effect more commonly found in pop or dance music, which is slightly unsettling but not altogether terrible. The both prove memorable, though wane in comparison to the more powerful and skillful songs around them. On the other hand, some other slower moments turn up in 'The Bells of the Seven Hells' and 'Heaven Tells No Lies'; here, the creepy keyboards of the former and the spreading unease of the latter's pre-chorus are a big plus for atmosphere, something that the band have rarely been successful at generating.
Aside from the rich content provided in the songwriting, Gambling with the Devil is supported by strong individual performances and a growing sense of band unity that would reach its peak on the following 7 Sinners. As mentioned already, both guitarists do a great job at giving each song focus and momentum, proving that they still have riffs to spare and have retained their melodic ingenuity deep into the band's career. The use of keyboards on several songs provides some of the sinister ambience that the band intended, although the processed sounds are rather a poor fit for such a guitar-oriented band as Helloween, whereas they worked comparatively well for Stratovarius who are already known for having a keyboardist. The rhythm section took a big step up here too, Dani Löble surely having had testosterone slipped into his drink before recording as his battery is furiously heavy and intense. Some of the beats he plays are simply power metal with more power, but there are times when he switches into straight-up double bass or blastbeat flurries, as well as some authoritative fills. While he tends to work as a team with Löble, Markus Grosskopf can occasionally be witnessed in his own right (there's a bass solo in 'Heaven Tells No Lies'), often affecting the atmosphere at slower moments. Deris continues to impress with his control over power and emotion, despite the grumble about those vocals in the slower songs, which might have worked more naturally as pure ballads, but they would have stuck out anyway on such a heavy album.
For a band with such a long career and so many changes in style as Helloween, finding a best album is a very difficult task. Nevertheless, Gambling with the Devil makes a strong case for itself, with several really great songs and frequent fresh ideas injected into a classic formula. Almost consistent from front to back, it ushered in the modern sound of the band and remains a cracking listen each time you listen. The gamble paid off.
Daftar lagu
1. Crack the Riddle 00:57
So you want to be rich and you want to win fame
Your face on a poster immortal your name
So you want a good life on the highest top level
Then bet your soul and turn the wheel
It's gambling with the devil
2. Kill It 04:13
[Music & Lyrics: Deris]
I'm your maker
Mold your mind
Idea-creator
Bias from behind
People never wonder
How the world goes round
They who care go under
That's what I'm about
I kill it! Kill it! Kill it!
Kill it! Kill it! Care must die!
Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!
What we can't tie, what we can't buy - must die!
I'm a soul hunter
Of the might
Upright hatemonger
Angel of the blind
People never wonder
How the world goes round
They who care go under
That's what I'm about
I kill it! Kill it! Kill it!
Kill it! Kill it! Care must die!
Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!
People never wonder
How the world goes round
They who know must follow,
They who don't die bound.
I pay billions
All got a price
Plain corruption
No roll of the dice
People never wonder
How the world goes round
They who care go under
That's what I'm about
Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!
Kill it! Kill it! Care must die!
Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! - Domination!
Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!
Kill it! Kill it! Heavens die!
Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!
What we can't tie, what we can't buy - must die!
3. The Saints 07:06
[Music & Lyrics: Weikath]
Gimme gimme sell your souls
I skin and strip you bold(ly)
My revenue ain't yours
All means my way, I'm mighty
I clutch what's mine, yours sevenfold
I leave you in the cold
Got all my schemes in place
You stifle in my maze
All you shysters
Seek shelter on the last day
While you laugh loud, disclaiming
As your dire end will come/dawn on you
Ah you..!
Possesed, in your mask, and a dirty heart
Unrest in ye must've been the devil in all of us
The saints are marching again
And harvest souls
Taking every single one
The saints march again
And harmony
Is here, ye can go testify
Don't you dream you're ever safe
I'll get you in your grave
Go molest your heirs with my
sleight of hand attorneys -I
Profit at your dear expense
Cash in, perform my prance
Relinquish and lose what you
toiled for, anyway
4. As Long as I Fall 03:41
[Music & Lyrics: Deris]
I close my eyes so I don't have to see
I shut my heart and tell my mind to run and flee
Once I was flying high
I touched the sky
As long as I fall
I don't hit the ground
As long as I fall
I'm safe and sound
As long as I fly
I sure cannot die
I don't need to hear the call
As long as I fall
Would I have time to change reality
I would become the man
The man I could never be
Oh my God please tell me
How to break free
Once I was flying high
I touched the sky
As long as I fall
I don't hit the ground
As long as I fall
I'm safe and sound
As long as I fly
I sure cannot die
I don't need to hear the call
As long as I fall
As long as I fall
I got no reason to care
As long as I fall
I got no problem to bear
I don't need to bother what I did or did not
I would cry out in pain, but:
As long as I fall
I don't hit the ground
As long as I fall
I'm safe and sound
I don't need to face
No blame or disgrace
No reason to change at all
As long as I fall
I don't hit the ground
As long as I fall
I'm safe and sound
As long as I fly
I sure cannot die
I don't need to hear the call
As long as I fall
5. Paint a New World 04:27
[Music: Gerstner, Lyrics: Gerstner / Weikath]
We all know the feeling, it's frightenin' sometimes
When we catch the news on the radio
Death, war, destruction, limitless pain
All the tears that have been cried
Time is running, years gone by
No one to break the silence
What we do is what we get
We harvest what we've sown
Poles are melting, holes in the sky
Woods are on fire
Scary pollution, our world's gonna die
Look what we do
It's madness
I paint a new world
Colours of magic are brightenin'
Paint a new world
Moon sun and stars are risin'
I paint a new world
Magical brushes will lighten
A tame new world
Earthwind, fire and sea
I hear all those voices, I see all the signs
Of killing, rape, forced conformity
Hedonism, decay, deaf dumb and blind
Where do we go from here
Time is running, years gone by
No one to break the silence
What we do is what we get
We harvest what we've sown
Who will wage the next few wars
Wreak havoc on the masses
Politics, religion soaked up with lies
See what we do?
It's madness
I paint a new world
Colours of magic are brightenin'
Paint a new world
Moon sun and stars are risin'
I paint a new world
Magical brushes will lighten
A tame new world
Earthwind, fire and sea
6. Final Fortune 04:46
[Music & Lyrics: Grosskopf]
We try to force our final fortune
As if we knew the final score
And we pretend to know things better
In our madness we ignore
How small we are
We are
Far above this ignorance
A higher force you'll find
Forever giving answers to the blind
When fate comes calling you
You don't know what to do
Behind the world we're living in
Is so much more than we do know
There's ONE who loves you so
Behind the world we're living in
There's so much more than we will ever get to know
Protecting nations, wealth and soldiers
Collecting fame and victory
Inventing star-ships, tanks and rockets
But still we don't know how to see
The love in our hearts
Our hearts
Far from all this ignorance
A higher force would share
Verity and hope
But we don't care
When fate comes calling you
You don't know what to do
Behind the world we're living in
Is so much more than we do know
There's ONE who loves you so
Behind the world we're living in
There's so much more than we will ever get to know
7. The Bells of the Seven Hells 05:22
[Music & Lyrics: Deris]
Listen to the whisper of the weak and blind
Listen good if you want to learn how to survive
Treasure when you've been chosen to turn water into wine
Never meant for your own
Don't drink it !
We are the hive
We are the people
We ring The Bells Of The 7 Hells
We bear the light
We bear the fire
We ring The Bells Of The 7 Hells
Shiver, you have taken from the poor in greed
Shiver, you betrayed the ones you've sworn to feed
With given power comes responsibility
When you will regret
Don't take it
We are the hive
We are the people
We ring The Bells Of The 7 Hells
We bear the light
We bear the fire
We ring The Bells Of The 7 Hells
Did I keep my vow ?
Did I wrong somehow ?
Did I stay right on my way ?
Have I lied to cover
My precious lover ?
My prurience for fame
God help me
God help me
Listen to the breathing of the underground
Listen to the voice that tries to make no sound
Treasure when you've been chosen to turn water into wine
Never meant for your own
Don't drink it!
We are the hive
We are the people
We ring The Bells Of The 7 Hells
We bear the light
We bear the fire
We ring The Bells Of The 7 Hells
8. Fallen to Pieces 05:52
[Music & Lyrics: Deris]
Thunder
Rain
My aching mind
Arise from a dream
Step aside
Into the shadows
Brightness
Just borrowed
For too short a time
Why must I die one more time if I try?
Way down I pray but the skies turn to grey
How long lived I waiting?
How long can I vie?
I run high and low
I'm fallen to pieces
My heart cried for you
I'm fallen to pieces
Say, do you see you're just playing with me?
Way down I flee from your spell and appeal
No more I'll be waiting
No longer I'll vie
I run high and low
I'm fallen to pieces
My heart cried for you
I'm fallen to pieces
Hold on
Hold on
Lies turn to ties for ill famed and disguised
One day you'll pay and your skies turn to grey
I run high and low
I'm fallen to pieces
My heart cried for you
I'm fallen to pieces
I died times ago
I'm fallen to pieces
Now I rise alone
I'm fallen to pieces
Fallen to pieces
9. I.M.E. 03:46
[Music & Lyrics: Deris]
I should not this
I must not that
No matter how I act
I must regret
Its not me
Its not me
I got to play
What others say
I got to turn it down
When I feel great
Thats not me
Its not me
I am me! (I am me)
Who do you think you are, to tell me what to be?!
I am me (I am me)
No matter what you say, today I keep my way!
I am me
You make me sick
You make me choke
For me your way of life
Is just a joke
Its not me
Its not me
I got to face
I got to name
Whatever you percieve is not the same
That I see
Its not me
I am me! (I am me)
Who do you think you are, to tell me what to be?!
I am me (I am me)
No matter what you say, today I keep my way!
I am me
I got to change this
To rearrange this
Start writing on to
My own pages
Its just me
Its just me
Its just me
I am me! (I am me)
Who do you think you are, to tell me what to be?!
I am me (I am me)
No matter what you say, today I keep my way!
I am me (I am me)
How brave you think you are, to tell me what to be?!
I am me (I am me)
You better creep away, today run my way
I am me
I am me
I am me
I am me
I am me . . .
10. Can Do It 04:30
[Music & Lyrics: Weikath]
When you feel weak
When you feel small
I tell you there's a beast inside you yet unknown
When times get rough
And you're being played
(You) y' ain't gonna flinch or run away cry like a babe
I say that you'd be so surprised seeing what is in for you
If after all you'd still deny it theres nothing I can do
listen up...
come along...
Well you can do it
There's nothing to it
When all others turn their backs on you
There is still yourself to prove it to that
You can do it
There's nothing to it
If the whole damn world abandoned you
You're the only one worth listening to
So, come one come on come on...
Come on come on
Get on...
Now look at you
Wearing a crown
Having achieved now all your dreams in just one go
What did I say?
You got it made
Still pondering on the spiteful things of long ago?
No!
I said that you'd be so surprised seeing what is in for you
Now after all that has been done you know what you can do
listen up...
Come along...
11. Dreambound 05:57
[Music: Gerstner, Lyrics: Gerstner / Weikath]
I'm running on a dusty road
The evil one behind me
I hear his breath and turn around
There's no place left to hide here.
Wanna break the chains of fear
There's no way back
You whisper in my ear
Your charge will save me again
[Chorus]
You change my dream, you guide my way to be
You are the light, you turn black into white.
You change my dream, you bring reality
You shine so bright, you turn black into white.
I've lost my soul in the game he plays
No doubt that he won't spare me
Haunting me trapped in his chains
Subject to violation
I'm afraid to fall asleep
Wander day and night
It was a man in my dreams
You come to save me again
[Chorus]
You change my dream, you guide my way to be
You are the light, you turn black into white.
You change my dream, you bring reality
You shine so bright, you turn black into white.
(solos)
You change my dream, you guide my way to be
You are the light, you turn black into white.
You change my dream, you bring reality
You shine so bright, you turn black into white.
You change my dream, you guide my way to be
You are the light, you turn black into white.
You change my dream, you bring reality
You shine so bright, like stars into night.
12. Heaven Tells No Lies 06:56
[Music & Lyrics: Grosskopf]
I could go a step ahead and try
Harder than before but I deny
Always when I try a step
Something's gonna hold me back
Back to where I started
I just bump my head instead
Better leave me here all on my own
Better leave me or become my clone
Everyone who grabbed my hand
Fell into the same wasteland
Don't try to convince me with your optimistic smile
I'd need a shotgun in my dreams tonight
To terminate my rotten side
Just need one shot into the center of my hate
To light the darkness and run free
From that old spell
I don't know if hell or paradise
Belong together or if Heaven Tells No Lies
You role the dice
You know the price is higher than you can afford
Beware of what you might see
Can you trust your blinded eyes ?
I don't know if Heaven Tells No Lies
Black is white and colours turn to grey
What was close is drifting far away
Just now right's already wrong
What turns weak was never strong
Can I kill the deamon without blowing out my mind ?
I'd need a shotgun in my dreams tonight
To terminate my rotten side
Just need one shot into the center of my hate
To light the darkness and run free
From that old spell
I don't know if hell or paradise
Belong together or if Heaven Tells No Lies
You role the dice
You know the price is higher than you can afford
Beware of what you might see
Can you trust your blinded eyes ?
I don't know if Heaven Tells No Lies
I will return
You have to burn
Abide my vision, you no longer keep me bound
I will be back
I will attack
In my religion I will make you hellhound drown
***Disclaimer***
I do not own any copyright
for any of this material!
Copyright belongs to Helloween
and Steam Hammer Recordings!
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