Helloween | Expanded reissues on colored vinyl

Helloween’s three albums “Master of the Rings” (1994), “The Time of the Oath” (1996) and “Better Than Raw” (1998) are today regarded as one of the band’s most defining consolidation phases—a period in which they rediscovered their melodic power metal core while sharpening the sound with greater modern weight and focused songwriting. “Master of the Rings” marked the beginning of the Andi Deris era (and also introduced drummer Uli Kusch), quickly setting the tone with standout singles such as “Where the Rain Grows”, “Mr. Ego (Take Me Down)”, “Perfect Gentleman” and “Sole Survivor”—tracks that remain fan favourites for the way they fuse classic Helloween drive with a rougher, more rock-oriented vocal approach.

With “The Time of the Oath”, the band raised their ambitions further. Often described as a concept album inspired by the prophecies of Nostradamus and produced by Tommy Hansen, it is remembered both for its grand, hymn-like moments and for being dedicated to former drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. At the same time, the singles and videos for “Power”, “The Time of the Oath” and especially the ballad “Forever and One (Neverland)” cemented the album’s role as a central pillar of the Deris era—one that is frequently highlighted today as among the most cohesive and accomplished chapters of Helloween’s 1990s catalogue.

The thread continues on “Better Than Raw”, where Helloween turned up both aggression and variety without sacrificing their trademark big choruses. The album produced the singles “I Can” and “Hey Lord!”, further underlining the band’s renewed confidence and creative momentum at the close of the decade.