Treasure ChestArtist: HelloweenGenre: Metal Publisher: Metal-Is / Sanctuary Records Released: April 9th, 2002 |
A Review by Kevin Buffington
05/14/2002
I have to say that Treasure Chest is appropriately named. Both CDs are packed full of music, 29 songs, which is over 2 1/2 hours of music. Now a pet peeve of mine has always been greatest hits albums that skimp on songs. Fortunately just about every hit the band has ever recorded is here, and all of their studio albums are represented. The band obviously made a choice not to include any live tracks or any of the covers from their Metal Jukebox album, and I think it was the right decision. I was a little surprised to see that the songs weren't in chronological order, but I suppose some of that may have had something to do with running times as the CDs are packed to capacity.
Helloween was wise in choosing the songs that appear here and thus the most important albums are generously represented with four songs from each volume of Keeper of the Seven Keys, three from Walls of Jericho and at least one track from every other recording, including the bands first Mini LP. My only complaint in regards to song selection is that it would have been nice to have included at least one more song from either Pink Bubbles Go Ape or Chameleon. While those albums certainly weren't the best received by fans, there were a few more interesting songs that could have been here, possible in place of one of the five songs from Master of the Rings.
I would be remiss to mention the wonderful packaging. A detailed band history is included along with many pictures from all stages of the bands career. In the center of the booklet is an invaluable Helloween/Gamma Ray family tree which shows where all those band members came from and where they went. To top it off we have a picture discography and a complete track listing showing running time and who played on which song. This is quite simply one of the best CD booklets I've ever seen and is invaluable to the casual fan who may not know the whole Helloween story.
Five of the tracks here are remixed, but the differences don't seem to be jarring or even all the noticeable. For fans with complete or mostly complete discographies the remixes here definitely aren't worth it. For fans new to Helloween or those who just want a better understanding of the whole Euro-metal genre, you'd be hard pressed to find a better way to spend your money.
Track Listing:
DISC 1:
1. Mr. Torture
2. I Can
3. Power
4. Where The Rain Grows
5. Eagle Fly Free
6. Future World
7. Metal Invaders
8. Murderer (remix)
9. Starlight (remix)
10. How Many Tears
11. Ride The Sky (remix)
12. Halloween
13. A Little Time
14. A Tale That Wasn't Right
15. I Want Out
DISC 2:
1. Keeper Of The Seven Keys (remix)
2. Dr. Stein (remix)
3. The Chance
4. Windmill
5. Sole Survivor
6. Perfect Gentleman
7. In The Middle Of A Heartbeat
8. Kings Will Be Kings
9. Time Of The Oath
10. Forever & One
11. Midnight Sun
12. Mr. Ego
13. Immortal
14. Mirror, Mirror
© Copyright ToxicUniverse.com 05/14/2002
