HELLOWEEN
“March Of Time”
(The Best Of 40 Years)
Compilation Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Not many bands can lay claim to creating an entire musical genre, much less a movement that has continued to flourish for over four decades, but German metallers Helloween did just that! Combining the speed of thrash, the twin-guitar attack of the iconic NWOBHM, and the hymn-like melodies of European folk music, Helloween paved their own path, creating a genre that would resonate for decades afterward – the mighty, dragon-slaying style known as power metal. And every band that has raised a sword to honour and glory, owes their life to this band, who are now celebrating forty years of existence, and still thriving!

To mark this momentous occasion, BMG is proud to release ‘March Of Time (The Best Of 40 Years)’, a storming, double-bass-led thrill ride through Helloween’s triumphant history. Featuring forty two hand-picked songs from the early days to the bands staggeringly successful reunion, this massive compilation is the perfect companion on your epic quest to storm the ‘Walls Of Jericho’ and capture the ‘Keeper Of The Seven Keys’. It might even drag you ‘Straight Out Of Hell’ when you’re done!

Formed by guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen, guitarist Michael Weikath, bassist Markus Grosskopf and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg, Helloween burst onto the scene in 1985 with their self-titled E.P. and quickly found fame as the leading lights of the German metal movement, setting new standards for melody and speed. Stepping down from the mic, Hansen brought in eighteen year old Michael Kiske to front the band, and it wasn’t long before they’d created their first true classic. ‘Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I’ was stuffed to the gills with immortal anthems such as ‘Future World’ and ‘I’m Alive’, but it was 1988’s second instalment that made them famous on both sides of the Atlantic. Bolstered by ‘I Want Out’ and the high-flying ‘Eagle Fly Free’, ‘Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II’ got them support slots with Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne and Scorpions…but darker times loomed.

In 1989 Hansen left the band to form Gamma Ray, and Helloween tried commercial rock for size with ‘Pink Bubbles Go Ape’. After 1993’s divisive ‘Chameleon’, they parted ways with Schwichtenberg – who would sadly pass away two years later. Kiske left the fold soon after with Helloween at a crossroads, and in 1994 they barrelled though it recruiting Pink Cream 69 vocalist Andi Deris – making a staggering return to form with ‘Master Of The Rings’, the beginning of a new golden age. The albums that followed – 1996’s ‘The Time Of The Oath’, 1998’s ‘Better Than Raw’, and 2000’s brooding ‘The Dark Ride’, inspired a whole new generation to form bands, resulting in the glorious second wave of European power metal.

The entry of guitarist Sascha Gerstner (ex Freedom Call) in 2002 and drummer Dani Loble in 2005 to replace the departing band members Roland Grapow (Masterplan) and Uli Kusch, marked the definitive end of the line-up carousel and formed the core unit that has lasted ever since.

In 2016, Hansen (Gamma Ray, ex Iron Savior, ex Unisonic) and Kiske (Place Vendome, ex Unisonic) returned to the band to create a seven-member line-up for the “Pumpkins United” world tour, a celebration of their immense history. The tour became nothing less than a triumph and catapulted the band into new spheres: sixty nine shows in thirty two countries on three continents, selling out arenas and headlining the biggest festivals such as at Wacken, Rock Fest Barcelona and (co-headlining) Rock in Rio, their performances attracting more than one million fans and underpinned the status of Helloween.

It was such an incredible success, that the band entered the studio to create their monumental self titled seventeenth studio album, an album that reached several number one and top ten chart positions all over the world. With no doubt, it proved to be the most important reunion in metal since Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith rejoined Iron Maiden!

With over ten million albums sold, Helloween are one of Europe’s most valuable exports, and they show no signs of slowing down. Featuring songs from all seventeen studio albums, ‘March Of Time (The Best Of 40 Years)’ is a magic book of epic tales waiting to unfold. All you have to do is follow the sign…the compilation containing forty two songs curated by the band and re-mastered by Sascha “Busy” Buhren, mastering engineer behind the band´s 2021 self titled number one album.

Available as a deluxe limited edition, five red vinyl boxed set, triple CD digisleeve and digital download, ‘March Of Time (The Best Of 40 Years)’ is quintessential listening for any lover of power metal, and everyone who wants to revisit the incredible legacy of one of the most influential metal bands of all time.

Overall, a superb compilation showcasing the evolution and history of one of metal’s all time greatest bands, Helloween.

TRACKLIST

CD ONE

Walls Of Jericho/Ride The Sky
Metal Invaders
Victim Of Fate
How Many Tears
Eagle Fly Free
Halloween
A Tale That Wasn’t Right
Future World
March Of Time
Dr. Stein
Keeper Of The Seven Keys

CD TWO

I Want Out
Kids Of The Century
Number One
Windmill
Sole Survivor
Perfect Gentleman
In The Middle Of A Heartbeat
Why?
Forever And One (Neverland)
Power
Steel Tormentor
Hey Lord!
I Can
If I Could Fly
Mr. Torture
Hell Was Made In Heaven
Light The Universe

CD THREE

The Invisible Man
As Long As I Fall
Kill It
Where The Sinners Go
Are You Metal?
Nabataea
Straight Out Of Hell
Waiting For The Thunder
Heroes
My God Given Right
Pumpkins United
Best Time
Fear Of The Fallen
Skyfall

http://www.helloween.org/
https://www.facebook.com/helloweenofficial

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Source Reference, Palmer Turner Overdrive (2025) press release

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