One of the best gigs I’ve ever experienced!!! Yes, it’s true that I am a major pumpkin head, after all “Keeper II” was the first heavy metal tape I’ve ever purchased... However, having seen the band already once I could have a clearer judgment this time... or at least I thought so... every rational kind of thinking disappeared once the band appeared on stage.

Anyway, the show opened with the very good, ever improving Greek band Fragile Vastness. Their modern progressive (a mixture of Fates Warning, Nevermore, Biomechanical) was a very good appetiser for the crowd, which seemed to hail the band. A very good cover on “Gutter Ballet” helped us warm up even better. The band played much from its new album “A Tribute to Life”, which sounds indeed cool live...

The place was packed with 3.500-4.000 pumpkinheads waiting for the band. You see their new amazing album had created much anticipation among the Greek fans - I have to state here that Helloween is among the most adored heavy metal bands here in Greece . Lights go down and we listen to “For Those About To Rock”, which introduces us to the show. Suddenly a flash of light, a flood light of amazing colours, the two statues of the Keeper on the two sides of the stage hold their crystal balls, painted curtains appear, smoke and the introduction from “King For 1.000 Years” comes from the speakers. Dani Loeble appears behind hit drum kit, and on two higher stands on his sides appear Sascha “I’m two meters long” Gerstner and Andi Deris, delivering the acoustic introduction of the new glorious opus of the band! Shivers, the crowd seems to be speechless... until Weiki and Markus appear when the first electric riffs whip the air of the hall. Total chaos - I haven’t seen so much moshing for a long time.

The sound isn’t great at start, it got better in the third-fourth song. However no one cares! The whole venue seems to be a complete party... ”Eagle Fly Free” lifts us up and Deris doesn’t need to sing anymore. At this point, I have to say once more that he is the absolute frontman! He plays with the crowd all the time, dressed with his leather coat, delivers lines, and not to mention his voice! He kicks ass - although he didn’t seem to be in his best shape that night! What is worth mentioning in general is the amazing light show, which added points to the atmosphere. I cannot remember the exact sequence of the tracks, but here is the setlist: “Hell Was Made In Heaven”, “Mr. Torture”, “If I Could Fly” (anthem), “Occasion Avenue” (yeah!!!), “The Invisible Man”, “Mrs God” (which sounds much better live), “Keeper of the 7 Keys” (what can I say???), “Future World”, “A Tale that Wasn’t Right” (we all wept), “Power”...

The performance is amazing, the crowd delirious, some happenings occur, and I can only sit back and enjoy. Before the first encore the crowd calls for “I Want Out”, and this is what we get! Some guys light up flares underneath the stage and the whole pit is leading a crazy dance... even the bricks of the venue sung with us!!!! Second encore with “Dr. Stein” and I can hardly believe how the hall still stands!!! Helloween proved that they are among the best European bands, that they have indeed revived their career and most of all that they enjoy what they are doing and do it with their hearts! My only question remains... what would have happened if Hansen had not left the band... But then again, who cares anymore??? Pumpkin fly free!!!

by Alex Savationos