This felt bloody great when I got this about a year and a half ago. I seriously got into the album. Now, after many moons, I took this for a listening session. Great to see that 'The Dark Ride' still bites! As the title suggests, Helloween show their darker side this time. Of course there's some "happier" stuff or should I say upbeat, at least musically. Thankfully there's no stuff like ultra-happy 'The Game Is on' (a song about playing game consoles, or is it?!), which, I must tell you, I really abhor. Candy was never meant for metal.

Once again the album opens with an intro, this time more mood-setting than before. 'Mr. Torture' is a song with good drive, so it is an excellent opener. Next one is the most positive-sounding thing on 'The Dark Ride', it actually jumps out as a gorilla in a batch of chimpanzees. But, another rolling song and not in the candy territory. Then comes the first surprise (it was!) in mould of 'Escalation 666'. A very dark song, slower, but also very powerful. Not a ballad, mind you. 'Mirror Mirror' is a mid-paced song, one of the most uninteresting songs on the album. The single cut 'If I Could Fly' is the most catchy song, of course, but also excellent. One your mother would like. I remember seeing a video and it sounded horrible, but on CD, everything's different, believe me. A touchy song, too.

'Salvation' is a faster song, but still with sad feeling, and with truly German style chorus. Well, it's written by Mr. Weikath. A choir of guys and a lot of melody, you know..? 'The Departed...' is the next slow song. Truly powerful, although also sad. Try, and die. 'I Live for Your Pain' is a cousin if 'Mirror Mirror', so... Not a very good song among the others. 'We Damn the Night' is a driving double bass drum song, with nicely different chorus. 'Immortal' is another darker, slower song with a huge chorus. The title song is almost 9 minute epic, going from heavy metal to... well, almost hard rock (one of the band's big influences), with sad ending. Another classic-in-making song and a perfect closer for this ride.

The band's performances are incredible. Mature, but still metal as fuck. The guys want to show off a little, I mean the guitars scream and the bass is restless. This is stuff you want to air-guitar to. The sound is incredibly clear but still heavy when needed and totally suits for the music. Recorded in Andi Deris' studio in Tenerife by Roy Z. of Bruce Dickinson fame and one Charlie Bauerfeind. Even though the music is dark, good vibe can be heard in energetic playing. Mr. Deris' vocals are hardest part for me. He is a lot rougher than Michael Kiske, but also more like a rock vocalist. Took a lot of time to get into this "new" Helloween. He handles his lot well, doing it metal way and also with full of feeling when needed. His raspy voice and big register is a joy to listen to. Think about Paul Di'Anno with wider register and I think you might have quite a good picture how Andi sounds like. Artwork is somewhat dull, with just one pumpkin picture.

I've read some interviews since 'The Dark Ride' was unleashed and I remember Michael Weikath saying that there won't be coming an album this dark anymore from Helloween. Well, I say let's see where this fucking world is going to... Drummer Uli Kusch and guitarist Roland Krapow are out of the band, which I feel is sad, because they wrote 'Mr. Torture', 'Escalation 666', 'The Departed...' and the title song. Mostly my favourite songs.

I think of this album, that it is the best one since first three albums and much more whole than many of the latter outputs. So I thank the band for 'The Dark Ride'. "Take a place on a dark ride", so do it, now.

Rating: 9- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
01/05/2002 20:26