Master of the Rings

Last updated

Master of the Rings
HelloweenMasterofring.jpg
Studio album by
Helloween
Released8 July 1994
Recorded1994
StudioChateau du Pape, Hamburg, Germany
Genre Power metal
Length50:12
84:49 (with bonus tracks)
Label Raw Power/Castle
Producer Tommy Hansen and Helloween
Helloween chronology
Chameleon
(1993)		Master of the Rings
(1994)		 The Time of the Oath
(1996)
Singles from Master of the Rings
  1. "Mr. Ego"
    Released: 22 July 1994
  2. "Where the Rain Grows"
    Released: 3 August 1994
  3. "Perfect Gentleman"
    Released: 28 September 1994
  4. "Sole Survivor"
    Released: 5 October 1995
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 8/10 [2]

Master of the Rings is the sixth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1994. [3] It is the first to feature new members Andi Deris and Uli Kusch.

Contents

This album contains four singles, which are "Where the Rain Grows", "Mr. Ego (Take Me Down)", "Perfect Gentleman", and "Sole Survivor", with corresponding videos for the first three. "Mr. Ego" was dedicated to the band's former singer, Michael Kiske, and was released as an EP in Europe.

Context and recording

Helloween and vocalist Michael Kiske had reached the end of the road during the touring of 1993's "Chameleon". Michael Kiske's replacement was Andi Deris, formerly with Pink Cream 69.

After an alcohol and drug-related incident in Japan, drummer and co-founder of the band Ingo Schwichtenberg was replaced first by the session-drummer Richie Abdel-Nabi, then on a more permanent basis by former Gamma Ray drummer Uli Kusch, [4] who only arrived when most of the album was already written. [5]

After two highly controversial studios projects and a live album, Helloween parted company with EMI records, aligning themselves with the more modestly sized Raw Power (an imprint of Castle Communications). Nevertheless, the effect of Deris and Kusch was to re-energize their collective fortunes. In Japan, "Master of The Rings" sold more than 120,000 copies. [6]

Commenting on the recording sections for the album, bassist Markus Grosskopf said: [5]

"It was very quick because there was a couple of songs Weiki [Michael Weikath, guitarist] did and Roland [Grapow, second guitarist] had a couple of stuff and then combined with the stuff Andi brought into the band you know it was very functioning and amazing because it went all so quick. We had like three months to rehearse and then the studio was booked and... That was a very quick session and I kind of liked that. There was also a drummer change because we got Uli Kusch in but we still did all that within like three months."

According to Roland Grapow's comments in the liner notes, the lyrics for "Take Me Home" were written by his wife Silvia (the song is simply credited to "Grapow" in the album).

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Irritation (Weik Editude 112 in C)" Michael Weikath 1:14
2."Sole Survivor"Music: Weikath, Lyrics: Andi Deris, Weikath4:33
3."Where the Rain Grows"Music: Weikath, Lyrics: Deris4:47
4."Why?"Deris4:11
5."Mr. Ego (Take Me Down)" Roland Grapow 7:02
6."Perfect Gentleman"Music: Deris, Lyrics: Deris, Weikath3:53
7."The Game Is On"Weikath4:40
8."Secret Alibi"Weikath5:49
9."Take Me Home"Music: Grapow, Lyrics: Silvia Grapow4:25
10."In the Middle of a Heartbeat"Music: Deris, Lyrics: Deris, Weikath4:30
11."Still We Go"Grapow5:09
Total length:50:12
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Can't Fight Your Desire"Deris3:45
13."Grapowski's Malmsuite 1001 (In D Doll)"Grapow6:33

Expanded edition (disc 2) track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Can't Fight Your Desire"Deris3:45
2."Star Invasion"Music: Weikath, Lyrics: Deris, Weikath4:47
3."Cold Sweat" (Thin Lizzy cover) Phil Lynott, John Sykes 3:46
4."Silicon Dreams" Markus Grosskopf 4:10
5."Grapowski's Malmsuite 1001 (In D Doll)"Grapow6:33
6."I Stole Your Love" (Kiss cover) Paul Stanley 3:23
7."Closer to Home" (Grand Funk Railroad cover) Mark Farner 8:13

Personnel

Helloween

Others

Charts

Chart (1994)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [7] 34
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [8] 7
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [9] 23
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [10] 6
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [11] 26
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [12] 23

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [13] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helloween</span> German power metal band

Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. It is said that the band is one of the most influential European heavy metal bands of the 1980s. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weikath and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. By the time Hansen left Helloween in 1989 to form Gamma Ray, the band had evolved into a five-piece, with Michael Kiske taking over as lead vocalist. Schwichtenberg and Kiske both parted ways with Helloween in 1993; Schwichtenberg died two years later as the result of suicide. Between then and 2016, there had been numerous line-up changes, leaving Grosskopf and Weikath as the only remaining original members. As a septet, their current lineup includes four-fifths of the Keeper of the Seven Keys: Parts I and II-era (1987–1988) lineup, featuring three additional members, vocalist Andi Deris, guitarist Sascha Gerstner and drummer Daniel Löble.

<i>The Dark Ride</i> 2000 studio album by Helloween

The Dark Ride is the ninth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 2000. The album's style was quite different from Better Than Raw as it had a much darker sound, drop-tuned guitars, and gruffer vocals. The album was produced by Roy Z and Charlie Bauerfeind. It is the last studio album to feature Master of the Rings-era lineup with the dismissal of guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch after completion of the supporting tour for the album. They went on to form the band Masterplan.

<i>Better Than Raw</i> 1998 studio album by Helloween

Better Than Raw is the eighth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1998. The album spawned the singles "I Can" and "Hey Lord!".

<i>Chameleon</i> (Helloween album) 1993 studio album by Helloween

Chameleon is the fifth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1993. It is their most musically adventurous release, but also their least commercially successful, and is their last studio album to feature singer Michael Kiske until 2021's self-titled album, as well as their last with original drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. It was Schwichtenberg's last album to be recorded during his lifetime. This was also the last album on EMI Records.

<i>Pink Bubbles Go Ape</i> 1991 studio album by Helloween

Pink Bubbles Go Ape is the fourth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1991. It marked the departure of guitarist Kai Hansen, with Roland Grapow replacing him. It was also the first album released on EMI Records.

<i>Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy</i> 2005 studio album by Helloween

Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy is the eleventh studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 2005. It is the first album with new and current drummer Dani Löble and a continuation of their 1987 and 1988 albums Keeper of the Seven Keys, Parts I and II. The album is a double CD with nearly 80 minutes playing time and comes in a digipack with 6 flaps. It was produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and features Blackmore's Night singer Candice Night on the track "Light The Universe". The album's opening track, “The King for a 1000 Years” is, to date, the longest song released by the band.

<i>Metal Jukebox</i> 1999 studio album by Helloween

Metal Jukebox is a cover album by German power metal band Helloween. The song "Lay All Your Love on Me" was released as a single in Japan. Each member of the band recorded their instruments independently of each other and was later brought together at Andi Deris' Tenerife studio.

<i>The Time of the Oath</i> 1996 studio album by Helloween

The Time of the Oath is the seventh studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1996. This is the first album following the death of their original drummer, Ingo Schwichtenberg, who was fired from the band after Chameleon and later committed suicide. This album was dedicated in his memory.

<i>High Live</i> 1996 live album by Helloween

High Live is the second live album by German power metal band Helloween, released in video and audio formats in 1996. The video was re-released on DVD in 2002 by Sanctuary Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Could Fly (Helloween song)</span> 2000 single by Helloween

"If I Could Fly" is a power ballad song and single made by German power metal band Helloween, from their album The Dark Ride. The song begins with a grand piano that combines itself with distorted guitars and pounding drums. The lyrics depict a man in a journey of self-discovery. The song was written by Helloween frontman Andi Deris. The song has become one of Helloween's most popular, joining Future World, I Want Out and "Eagle Fly Free" on their live setlists. It was released in some countries as If I Could Fly. In Japan, it was released as Mr. Torture.

<i>Treasure Chest</i> (Helloween album) 2002 box set by Helloween

Treasure Chest is a box set by German power metal band Helloween.

"Step Out of Hell" is a song and single made by German power metal band Helloween taken from the album Chameleon. The song is written by Roland Grapow about Ingo Schwichtenberg's problems with drugs and drinking. This single has the same b-sides as the single "Windmill", and the same cover. "Windmill" was released in Europe and "Step Out of Hell" in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kids of the Century</span> 1991 single by Helloween

"Kids of the Century" is a song and single by German power metal band Helloween taken from the album Pink Bubbles Go Ape. This is the first Helloween single with Roland Grapow playing guitars, replacing Kai Hansen.

<i>Mr. Ego</i> (Take Me Down) 1994 EP by Helloween

Mr Ego (Take Me Down) is the second EP by German power metal band Helloween. It contains the song of the same name, taken from the album Master of the Rings. The EP is "dedicated" to then-former Helloween singer Michael Kiske.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perfect Gentleman (Helloween song)</span> 1994 single by Helloween

"Perfect Gentleman" is a song and single by German power metal band Helloween, taken from the album Master of the Rings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sole Survivor (Helloween song)</span> 1995 single by Helloween

"Sole Survivor" is a song and a single by German power metal band Helloween from the album Master of the Rings. On "Closer to Home", the lead vocals are sung by Roland Grapow. The song has been covered by the Swedish power metal band Dragonland on their third album 'Starfall'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power (Helloween song)</span> 1996 single by Helloween

"Power" is a song and single by German power metal band Helloween, taken from the album The Time of the Oath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forever and One</span> 1996 single by Helloween

"Forever and One (Neverland)" is a power ballad by German power metal band Helloween from the album The Time of the Oath and composed by lead vocalist Andi Deris. The German version of the single contains a live version of "In the Middle of a Heartbeat" from their album High Live.

<i>Helloween</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Helloween

Helloween is the sixteenth studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released on 18 June 2021. The album is the first released with the "Pumpkins United" line-up, which marked the return of original member Kai Hansen on guitars and vocals and Michael Kiske on vocals in 2016, in addition to the five-member line-up active since 2005.

References

  1. ↑ Anderson, Jason. "Helloween – Master of the Rings review". AllMusic . Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  2. ↑ Popoff, Martin (1 August 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 194. ISBN   978-1-894959-62-9.
  3. ↑ "Helloween – Master of The Rings (tracklist and versions)". Discogs . Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Metal Storm. "Ingo Schwichtenberg".
  5. 1 2 Syrjala, Marko (11 January 2011). "Helloween – bassist Markus Grosskopf". Metal Rules . Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Sunday Old School: Helloween
  7. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Helloween – Master of the Rings" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  9. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Helloween – Master of the Rings" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  10. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  11. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Helloween – Master of the Rings". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Helloween – Master of the Rings". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Heloween – Master of the Rings" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved 27 December 2020.Select 1994年9月 on the drop-down menu
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.