Auffe Fresse, Alder!

Andi Deris had already explained in advance, In Flames to love and to be influenced by Disturbeds "Ten Thousand Fists", and "Seven Sinners" makes in terms of heaviness no prisoners. What had begun on "Gambling With The Devil", was continued here mercilessly. No Eighties nostalgia more, Helloween had arrived in the here and now, recorded the line-up for several years STABL and perfect. The opener "Where The Sinners Go" actually looked a bit like Disturbed, unmistakable but much more to a modern, absolutely fresh version of Deris-era Helloween sound. In "Are You Metal" there's even blast beats, "Who Is Mr. Madman" is a typical Gerstner-tempo hard rock number (and skilfully takes the "Perfect Gentleman") and "Raise The Noise" a gripping Weikie-Speedie with catchy melody.

Between these poles to the rest of the disc, consistently blessed with crude, fat riffs and catchy hooks and popped out with a freshness that was the hit power metal forming young combos where the Bartel brings the Most moves. And Andi, the much criticized, the still regularly arising Kiske comparisons went clever out of the way by amazingly variable, soulful and at times so snappy and aggressive than ever showed up, thereby handed in the most convincing and most mature performance of his entire career. Here but one never loses the typical trademarks of the eyes, anyone who is not stuck in the "keeper" years, hear immediately who is at work here.

Helloween subsided "7 Sinners" finally completely independently and played on album length again at the greats of the metal scene. And yes, with real metal. Has the edge and sometimes must hurt ... just as it should be.