	PAPA ROACH's JACOBY SHADDIX: 'I'm Glad I Made... 111
	Watch: Former FEAR FACTORY Singer BURTON C. BELL Kicks Off A... 95
	DAVID ELLEFSON Says He Worked On MEGADETH's 'Soldi... 85
	DAVID ELLEFSON Reflects On MEGADETH's 'Risk':... 62
	Sweden's LIV SIN Announces New Album 'Close Your E... 56

все новости группы

Helloween

Германия

Symphonic Rock
Power Metal

http://www.helloween.org
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/helloween
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helloweenofficial

20 июн 2025 :	HELLOWEEN's ANDI DERIS 'Did Not Feel Any Pressure' Making 'Giants & Monsters' Album: 'We Proved Ourselves On The Previous' LP
13 июн 2025 :	HELLOWEEN Shares Music Video For 'This Is Tokyo' Single From Upcoming 'Giants & Monsters' Album
27 май 2025 :	HELLOWEEN's HANSEN And DERIS Explain 'Giants & Monsters' Album Title, Say They Are 'More Connected Now' As A Band
13 апр 2025 :	HELLOWEEN Announces New Album 'Giants & Monsters'
10 апр 2025 :	HELLOWEEN's New Album Is 'Done': 'I Am Very Happy With The Result', Says KAI HANSEN
2 апр 2025 :
18 мар 2025 :
16 мар 2025 :
14 мар 2025 :
13 мар 2025 :
12 мар 2025 :
10 мар 2025 :	HELLOWEEN's MICHAEL KISKE: 'I Don't Think There Was Ever Any Serious Consideration' About Me Joining IRON MAIDEN
7 мар 2025 :
6 мар 2025 :
3 мар 2025 :
27 фев 2025 :
25 фев 2025 :
21 фев 2025 :	HELLOWEEN’s “I Want Out” Music Video Remastered In HD
13 фев 2025 :
31 янв 2025 :
23 дек 2024 :	HELLOWEEN's MICHAEL KISKE: 'God Has Placed Darkness Inside Of Every Individual To Deal With'
17 дек 2024 :	MICHAEL KISKE Loves Having 'Two And A Half' Lead Singers In HELLOWEEN: 'I Never Wanna Do It Differently Anymore'
13 дек 2024 :
13 дек 2024 :	ANDI DERIS Says New HELLOWEEN Album Will Include A Ballad; First Single To Arrive In February
12 дек 2024 :	MICHAEL KISKE To Record Vocals For New HELLOWEEN Album In January
2 дек 2024 :	ANDI DERIS Says Next HELLOWEEN Album Will Be 'More Happy', 'Confident' And 'Much More Easy Listening' Than Self-Titled LP

20 июн 2025

HELLOWEEN's ANDI DERIS 'Did Not Feel Any Pressure' Making 'Giants & Monsters' Album: 'We Proved Ourselves On The Previous' LP

‪HELLOWEEN‬ vocalist Andi Deris spoke to Finland's Chaoszine about the band's upcoming album, "Giants & Monsters", which will be released on August 29 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The follow-up to HELLOWEEN's self-titled record was mixed at the legendary Wisseloord Studios (IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, DEF LEPPARD) in Hilversum, Netherlands. Asked if he and his bandmates felt any pressure making "Giants & Monsters", Andi said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "So, for the last album, yes. For this album, me personally, I did not feel any pressure because I think we proved ourselves, if there was anything we could prove, on the previous album. So that was probably the most anticipated thing. Would the boys fuck up or would it be a good album? I think it was a good album. Because in several countries it went Number One does not mean especially that it's a good album. But people weren't super nosy and bought it anyway. [Laughs] No, I personally did not feel any pressure for this upcoming album."

When the interviewer noted that it was probably a "more relaxed" process this time around, Andi clarified: "I wouldn't say relaxed, but this pressure was not on the shoulders to prove something. So, that was proven already. And so it was just back to the hobby — write songs, have fun with it, and I think that's a recipe for a good album, if you ask me."

Asked if all the touring HELLOWEEN had done in support of the self-titled effort had somehow affected the sound of the new songs, Andi said: "In my case, maybe, because we talked about that a few hours ago, and I thought, it's very interesting because there was this question, how do you come up with the ideas? And they were like pretty tricked about the 'Giants & Monsters' theme, which sounds a bit comic but at the end of the day is very deep, because we're talking about the giants we could be and the monsters we have to fight against in our lives again and again and again.

"The new album, I think, is so much more hobby-driven," Deris continued. "At least I was reminded at my very early days when I started out as a songwriter and just did it because I loved to do it and I did not even know if there's somebody who would ever listen to it because I recorded it on a tape, like these little cassette tapes back in the days. And so I had two tape players, and when you recorded on that one, you had to sing or play your guitar on to that, and again back, you could take another sound or another guitar or another instrument. So at the end of the day, you had to cross it six, seven times and the quality was horrible and made a lot of noise, but somewhere you heard the music. [Laughs] And I was so proud, because I finished my first song. It was still my first song, even though it was noisy and bad quality, but I never forget that feeling of having done my first song. The only guy who ever listened to it was myself. I was proud of myself, loved what I did, and I wanted to have it again and again and again and again. That's something that came back for this production for me. Because I knew nobody's forcing me to write in a lot of songs, because [there are] lots of boys here who can write great songs. So I was just happy to be without responsibility."

The official music video for "This Is Tokyo", which is the first single from "Giants & Monsters", can be seen below. The powerful four-minute anthem features vocalists Deris and Michael Kiske.

The song holds personal significance for Deris, who previously said: "I've always wanted to write this song. Japan plays a special role in my life because I had my first big successes there. I wanted to create a tribute to Japan for a while now and finally found the right lyrics. Because 'Tokyo' sounds better than 'Japan,' the city stands for a whole country that is very important to me."

HELLOWEEN will celebrate four decades of metal mastery with a global 40th anniversary tour. The European leg begins in mid-October, with initial dates selling out quickly and additional shows in Madrid and Bochum already on sale. Featuring an ultimate set list packed with surprises, the tour will showcase the band's unparalleled legacy and ongoing creative power.

"Giants & Monsters" pushes the boundaries of HELLOWEEN's sound, thanks to the instincts of producers Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, as well as the band's relentless pursuit of excellence. Per example, drummer Dani Löble recorded all tracks using three different drum kits to capture the perfect vibe for each song, a testament to their attention to detail and love of experimentation.

The band's chemistry continues to drive their success. "What keeps motivating us is the fact that we're extremely different. It generates creative energy," said guitarist Michael Weikath. Guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen added: "We try not to take ourselves and everything around us too seriously." Deris summed it up: "In the end, we're just seven guys who want to make music and enjoy the incomparable force that arises when we're together. HELLOWEEN is way more powerful than the sum of its parts."

"Giants & Monsters" track listing:

01. Giants On The Run
02. Saviour Of The World
03. A Little Is A Little Too Much
04. We Can Be Gods
05. Into The Sun
06. This Is Tokyo
07. Universe (Gravity For Hearts)
08. Hand Of God
09. Under The Moonlight
10. Majestic

In a recent interview with Hakos Pervanidis of the Metal Hammer Greece TV program TV War, Deris and Hansen were asked if they would agree that "Giants & Monsters" sounds "more focused and direct" than 2021's self-titled effort. Hansen said: "Yeah, I would agree. I mean, we have diversity, but we've grown together as HELLOWEEN and the individual members, so you could hear the differences between the songs and the songwriters still, but there's a straight red line. And we're more connected now."

Deris chimed in: "So far I'm happy to say that there were lots of little things being put into your song by the other guys, which was much easier this time. Honestly, we had so much more time, actually, so everybody had tons of time to listen to each and everybody's tracks and come up with own ideas. Kai, for example, he added I would say a whole new song into my song. 'Giants On The Run', the whole middle part is a new song which Kai put in, and it's just perfect; it fits. That's something I love and I always wanted to have, but, honestly, back in the day, like [on] the [previous] album, everybody was minding his own business. You have to write super songs for the new upcoming album and the expectations are so high because Michael [Kiske, HELLOWEEN singer] and Kai are back. And so there was no mindset to actually put your shit into the other songs and vice versa. And this time it just played out easily because the pressure was gone. I think when you just had such a successful album, it takes away so much pressure because you know you were on the right track. So play with it. Don't stress it. Just play with it. And that was a lot of fun."

Regarding the "Giants & Monsters" album title, Deris said: "The first title says it all. It's 'Giants On The Run', and it talks about us as mankind. We are actually giants. We are gods inside. But then you could come up with a conspiracy theory. Are we on purpose, purposely put down that the god side, that giant thing that we all have inside, is not allowed to express itself or to come out? But at the end of the day, everybody, each and every individual I know, they are much bigger inside with their dreams, with their possibilities they would like to have, than they're actually allowed to have or allowed to be in our society. And there you could come up with that conspiracy theory. Are we held down on purpose? I personally think when I listen to my inside, I know everybody from the band and all my friends I know, they're so much bigger inside. They're great, great people. And they have great ideas, but in our world, you're not allowed to express it."

Kai added: "It takes all efforts. You have to fight the monsters. That's the point. And I think the title leaves a lot room a for interpretation. You could say the giants is your great ideas that you might have, your aims, your goals. But then here come the monsters, the demons you have to fight and everyday struggle. Then you could go to the Anunnaki, the return of the gods from outer space, giant people and so on. There's a lot of room for fantasy, I think."

Andi continued: "But I just went back also to the Bible. I said, 'Okay, look, it's even written in the Bible.' There were giants walking on earth, and who says that the giants are not still here in ourselves? I mean, we are still the giants, and as Kai said, you constantly have to fight the demons, the monsters in your life. And I thought that's a super metaphor. And I think everybody knows what I'm talking about because sometimes when you're with yourself thinking about yourself, your own life, you realize you would be much more if only you are allowed to be."

Asked if HELLOWEEN purposely approached songwriting this time around in a way where the vocals and the first chorus come in very early in each song, Andi said: "Yes and no. I mean, honestly, if it would destroy the song, I'd rather not, me personally. I think everybody in the band would agree, because if the song yells for it and shouts for it — keep it short; otherwise it's getting boring — then I keep it short.

Hansen added: "It's good to have that on the commercial tracks, all the — how do you say it? — the hit singles. It's very hard. Personally, I don't mind if it takes longer to go into the chorus if it makes sense for a song. So there is no general thought or rule when you approach songwriting to say, 'Oh, no, the chorus has to come after one minute or so.'"

Deris continued: "If we talk about looking what the commercial side would be, and back in the days, I remember you've been forced by the record company to put it short into maximum three-minute songs because otherwise it couldn't be a single. Fuck it. I mean, honestly, no. If I have to keep it short, then probably, because I'm a stubborn asshole, I would do the opposite. But nobody tells me what to do, so I just personally write the way I feel. But then again, it's very important, when we have guys in the band who say, 'This is a great song, and I could hear it even better when we not keep it that short.' For example, 'Giants On The Run'. [Kai's] part is at least three minutes and stretches the song to eight minutes something, which used to be something like round five minutes, and it's totally worth it. But if it's not worth it, why would you? That was another question: 'Do you always have to write these long songs?' And Kai said, 'No.' It's just what it is. When you're in the process of songwriting and it yells for another part and here's an idea, and yeah, I could do this lyrics, so I need another part, otherwise the story is not round, and maybe you end up with 10 or 12 minutes."

Hansen added: "And it's fun to do those long songs. To me, it's fun. It's a kind of challenge, but I don't do it on purpose to say, 'I need a long song.' It's just if the song gives it to you, then you do it."

Deris explained: "And if the story is two sheets of paper. You can't possibly put all the lyrics in a three-minute song; that's not possible. So then you've got different feelings depending on the lyrics itself. Suddenly there's a romantic section, for example. Ah, yeah, definitely you have to go down and do something romantic around it arrangement-wise. You probably cannot go all metally with that romantic thing. And so it cries, it, it yells, it shouts for another part."

On the topic of how they balance fans' expectations with being creative and trying new things with their music, Hansen said: "It's a challenge and it's always like a walk on the edge. Because if you consider that you want people to be pleased with what you're doing, but on the other hand, when you do your thing, you should not consider that. You should not write with that purpose in mind, because, first of all, you have to be a fan of what you're doing. To me, it's a very egoistic process. I write for myself, and I want to be a fan of what I'm doing. And then I'm glad if other people think so too."

Deris added: "Yeah, that's my way too. I don't wanna say I don't give a fuck, but when you are writing, there should be nothing in the back of your mind. It's just you and your music. And as Kai said, if you goosebump goes up, it's great for yourself, first of all. And then when you finish the song, on the second thought or second guess would be, 'Would they like it out there?' But during the songwriting process, it's not important. You are important because you have to actually give your thoughts, your feelings into whatever you do in the very moment. And yes, sometimes it's not good enough that the people would say, 'Yeah, I love it.' But I always say that the possibility that I am completely happy with my song and my goosebump goes up, considering myself a super-normal guy, so when I say I love it, my goosebumps go up, because I consider myself a mediocre guy, I would say the normal person out there would feel the same [as] I do. That's what I always hope."

Hansen continued: "You develop a feeling. I mean, when you write a song, and you trust yourself, if you like it, then there will be a lot of others that would like it too."

Deris concurred, saying: "No guarantee, but that's the way to work."

"Helloween" was the first HELLOWEEN album to feature the band's expanded lineup, consisting of returning singer Michael Kiske and Hansen along with Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf and drummer Daniel Löble.

Upon its release in June 2021, "Helloween" landed in the Top 10 in more than 10 countries, including Germany, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. The cover artwork for the LP was painted by artist Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with HATEBREED, SOULFLY, TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH and SODOM, among others.

Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, the last HELLOWEEN LP was recorded in part at the H.O.M.E. Studios in Hamburg (where everything started in 1984). The same recording console used for such HELLOWEEN albums as "Master Of The Rings", "Time Of The Oath" and "Better Than Raw" was utilized to record the band's new material. The effort was mixed at the Valhalla Studios of Ronald Prent (IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, RAMMSTEIN).

"Helloween" saw the legendary German power metallers going "back to the roots," with the band recording fully analog and Löble playing the drum kit previously used by HELLOWEEN's original drummer, the late Ingo Schwichtenberg, on the legendary "Keeper Of The Seven Keys" recordings.

HELLOWEEN released a new live album, "Live At Budokan", on December 13, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The colossal effort immortalized HELLOWEEN's September 16, 2023 performance at Tokyo's legendary Nippon Budokan.

"Live At Budokan" was made available in a plethora of formats: 2CD-digipak and 3LP vinyl in trifold with the first print run of both coming as "deluxe edition" including embossed cover artwork, as well as Blu-ray, DVD and digital. Each version is meticulously crafted to suit the metal community's diverse tastes, ensuring every fan can relive the raw, unfiltered energy of HELLOWEEN in their preferred medium.

This release celebrated the grand finale of HELLOWEEN's epic world tour from 2022 to 2023. Spanning over 30 countries on three continents, the tour was nothing short of a triumph, drawing massive crowds and showcasing the band's undying appeal, the sold-out concert in Tokyo is the crowning glory of the cycle.

HELLOWEEN is:

Michael Kiske - vocals
Andi Deris - vocals
Kai Hansen - guitars, vocals
Michael Weikath - guitars
Sascha Gerstner - guitars
Markus Grosskopf - bass
Daniel Löble - drums

Photo credit: Mathias Bothor

-0


	( 3 )

Комментарии могут добавлять только зарегистрированные пользователи.
Вы можете зарегистрироваться на сайте или залогиниться через социальные сети (иконки вверху сайта).

20 июн 2025

Kiskenbassker

Что-то Вайкат совсем плохо выглядит.

20 июн 2025

EvgenBriden

Честно говоря, если прошлый альбом был написан "под давлением", то с этим самым давлением они справляются крайне плохо... Посмотрим, может сейчас будет действительно лучше.

21 июн 2025

Mike Barlow

Обложка красивая. А вот эта песня про Токио, ну совсем какая-то боль и тоска.