Helloween/Tokyo,Japan 3.30.1989

In 1989, HELLOWEEN boasted immense popularity in Japan, producing the super masterpiece “Shugoshinden -Chapter 2-“, which can be called the masterpiece of the music genre “Melodic Power Metal”. A masterpiece that conveys the second performance in Japan is now available. What is engraved in this work is the “May 30, 1989: Tokyo Welfare Pension Hall” performance. This is the best audience recording. It was part of the “PUMPKINS FLY FREE TOUR”, but Kai Hansen left during the world tour. It was also his second visit to Japan, replacing Roland Grapow. This is also a good opportunity, so let’s look back at the schedule at that time and check the show’s position. 1988/August 20th: Appearance on MONSTERS OF ROCK [“Shugoshinden -Chapter 2-” released on August 29th]/September 4th – November 8th: Europe (36 performances) *LIVE IN THE U.K. 1989《January 1: KAI leaves → Grapow joins》・January 25: Hamburg performance・April 3-May 12: North America (30 performances)・May 23-June 3: Japan (9 performances) ←★Here★ This is HELLOWEEN in 1988/1989. The official mini-album “LIVE IN THE U.K.” was produced in the European leg, but Kai → Grapou was subsequently replaced. In 1989, I toured North America and then Japan. After this return to Japan, they produced “PINK BUBBLES GO APE,” but their activities were suspended due to transfer issues. The next time they returned to the stage was in 1992. This work is the 5th performance of the Japan tour just before the hiatus. This was the second concert of the Tokyo Welfare Pension Hall 3DAYS. This work recorded at such a show is truly a superb audience recording…maybe. I’m sorry for suddenly becoming unreliable, but I couldn’t believe my ears and thought, “This is the audience!?” The lively applause is certainly like a guest record, but the extremely thick core, super detailed details, and above all, the close contact with zero distance is extremely strong. All I can think is, “Isn’t it really a sound board?” In fact, this recording has been known among enthusiasts for a long time, and has been loved as a masterpiece since arriving in Japan in 1989. This work is the highest version, digitized from the best master with accurate pitch and great stability. It is a legendary recording backed by an unparalleled track record for over 30 years. What is depicted with such a legendary sound is truly the paradise of melodic power metal. As mentioned above, speaking of “PUMPKINS FLY FREE TOUR”, the official version “LIVE IN THE U.K.” is famous, but that is just a mini album. In this work, you can enjoy a full show with plenty of famous songs that you can’t hear there, including the super masterpiece “Eagle Fly Free”. In order to get a feel for the flavor, let’s organize the set while comparing it with the official version. Shugojinden – Chapter 1 -・A Little Time/Future World/A Tale That Wasn’t Right (★)/Halloween (★)/I’m Alive (★) Shugojinden – Chapter 2-・Invitation/Eagle Fly Free (★) / Dr. Stein / March Of Time (★) / Rise And Fall / Keeper Of The Seven Keys (★) / I Want Out Others・How Many Tears / Save Us (★) / Living Ain’t No Crime (★) *Note: Songs marked with “★” cannot be heard on the official mini “LIVE IN THE U.K.”. …and it looks like this. Not only are HELLOWEEN’s top songs all packed together at once, but the overall flow is also amazing. The repertoire of the four-member era was limited to “How Many Tears”, and the “Shugoshinden” dilogy was concentrated and reduced (the following songs also include “Stairway to Heaven”, but this is a play on the intro of “A Tale That Wasnt Right”) is). The two works, which were originally supposed to be released as a two-disc set, have been recombined and reassembled as one show. It is truly the ultimate “mero power set”. And the performance that spins such a group of famous songs is the best! It’s very wild, including Ingo’s drumming, but that’s what 80’s HELLOWEEN is all about. Unfortunately, Kai isn’t there, but Grapow is just as good (it might be better if he doesn’t imitate Yngwie). The melody that makes your hands go numb runs along with the beat, and the dramaticism and humor overflow. And Michael Kiske’s vocals! This luster, this tension, this volume of voice. The bass is dandy like Chris Pepler, and the treble has an extension that surpasses Rob Halford. Moreover, the large-scale vibrato is so generous that it’s disgusting, and the magical tone and perfect control are reminiscent of Ronnie James Dio. Although there are many famous singers in metal history, Kiske or Geoff Tate in their heyday are probably the only ones in this category. “I want an official full live version of the Shugoshinden era” “Isn’t there a complete version of LIVE IN THE U.K.”…This is the ultimate dream of every metal fan. This work is the live album closest to that dream. It is true that it may be an audience recording, but the sound quality that you can actually hear is official. And the show is the special world of “Shugoshinden” itself. Although HELLOWEEN had a promising future, they were forced to take a hiatus, and when they revived, although they were melodic, they forgot their dramaticism. What this work is packed with is the brilliance that comes just before that. A live album that allows you to experience the world of the super masterpiece “Shugoshinden” 2-part series, which symbolizes not only one band but one genre, with the finest sound. It is no longer just a memory of a performance in Japan, but a masterpiece that should be talked about as a world-famous “masterpiece from Japan.” Live in Japan from the era of “Shugoshinden -Chapter 2-“. This is a superb audience recording of the “May 30, 1989: Tokyo Welfare Pension Hall” performance. This is the highest version of the legendary recording that has been loved by enthusiasts for many years, with an extremely thick core, extremely detailed details, and above all, an extremely close feeling with zero distance. It is a tremendous live album that goes “like a soundboard” on the ground. Including the super famous song “Eagle Fly Free”, there are tons of songs that you won’t hear on “LIVE IN THE U.K.”, and you can experience the ultimate live performance of melodic power metal that is a concentrated version of the “Shugoshinden” two-part series. Masu. Live at Koseinenkin Kaikan, Tokyo, Japan 30th May 1989 TRULY PERFECT SOUND Disc 1 (62:50) 1. Happy Happy Halloween 2. Invitation 3. Eagle Fly Free 4. A Little Time 5. Dr.Stein 6. March of Time 7 . Future World 8. Save Us 9. Rise and Fall 10. Stairway to Heaven 11. A Tale That Wasnt Right 12. Halloween Disc 2 (48:12) 1. Roland Grapow Guitar Solo 2. Keeper of the Seven Keys 3. Im Alive 4. Living Aint no Crime 5. I Want Out 6. Mike Weikath Guitar Solo 7. How Many TearsMichael Kiske – Vocals Michael Weikath – Guitar Roland Grapow – Guitar Markus Grosskopf – Bass Ingo Schwichtenberg – Drums