Pink Bubbles Go Ape

by

Helloween

Edit

If you're looking for a return to the old Helloween thrash sound, you won't find it here. But you will find some very sound metal that is not afraid to experiment with traditionally non-metal influences. Depart Kai Hansen and enter Roland Grapow. With Roland's bluesy influences, they've expanded their sound quite a lot, especially on the bluesy accoustic title track, and bluesy rocker "I'm Doing Fine, Crazy Man" (which is lyrically reminiscent of old Anthrax). "Your Turn" is an incredible blend of blues, country and metal sounds, and Michi's angelic voice resulting in a power ballad like no other. Of course, this CD isn't without a good dose of blistering metal. The anthemic "Kids of the Century" will rolick through your brain long after the song ends, "Someone's Crying" harkens back to the Walls of Jericho sound, and the heavy keyboard orchestrations really play well with the driving metal guitars on "Mankind". In a genre of music that is so overdone with dark, evil, and satanic imagery, Helloween stands apart, fighting the "good fight" with spiritually uplifting messages (which has earned them accusations of being a Christian band) and a healthy dose of good humor -- "Heavy Metal Hamsters" takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the metal genre, and "Number One" (which is musically a turning point for the band, with its electronic pop sound, a sound that would be recreated later on Chameleon) is one of the most spiritual pieces of music ever penned, not unlike "Believe" (from Chameleon) and "Don't Run For Cover" (from The Best, The Rest, The Rare). This, ultimately, would be the next to last album for both Michi (who departed after Chameleon to pursue a solo career) and Ingo (R.I.P.). Buy it. You won't be disappointed.

After the highly successful Keeper I and II releases, Helloween were put on ice with a lawsuit from their distributor Noise for nearly 3 years before recording Pink Bubbles Go Ape. Gone was founding member Kai Hansen, who showed his displeasure with the band through the song I Want Out on the Keeper II album. His replacement, Roland Grapow, proved worthy to hold the vacated guitar spot in Helloween, and Grapow contributed much to Pink Bubbles Go Ape. However, a battle of sorts ensued between Michael Kiske and Michael Weikath as to the material on Pink Bubbles. Kiske did not want to do another concept album like Keepers, but Weiki felt the new material was not strong enough to follow up the Keepers II success. Kiske won out, and the material Weiki had written for Pink Bubbles would later surface on Master of the Rings and Time of the Oath. A departure of sorts from their early thrashings, Pink Bubbles Go Ape does reflect the band's improved songwriting. Kids of the Century, Someone's Crying,Mankind, and The Chance are standouts here. Granted, some of the tracks like Number One, I'm Doin' Fine Mr. Crazy Man, and Heavy Metal Hamsters should have been released as b-sides. If the b-side You Run With The Pack and the unreleased City Cries would have been included on Pink Bubbles Go Ape, I believe the album would not have received the criticism it did. Of worthy note, the production on this CD is not very good. EMI paid Chris Tsangerides (Judas Priest, Overkill, Prong) $400,000 to produce Pink Bubbles Go Ape--the most expensive production cost of any Helloween album up to that point. The drums and vocals are at the forefront (Kiske sounds phenomenal on this album), while the guitars sound muddy and flat at best. While some of the tracks on Pink Bubbles are worthy of criticism, the album as a whole is pretty good and deserves to be in any Helloween fan's collection.