2007 was a pretty good, no make that very good, year for anyone who follows the fortunes of the many alumni of Helloween.The current incarnation of the band released the fabulous Gambling with the Devil CD and a live CD/DVD; Masterplan returned to the fray with a new vocalist, strong new record and even toured the UK alongside the mighty Saxon and Ride the Sky unleashed a creditable debut album, so all in all everything was tickety-boo in the Helloween garden in many ways. 

2008 however might not be quite such a winner though. January brought the truly abysmal Bass Invaders CD from Michael Grosskopf and his four  string friends, an album that still makes me shudder.  each time I see it as I whiz past it on my I-pod. Then there's this; Michael Kiske going all Tim Burton as he re-imagines past triumphs in his new non-metal style. I have to say that I was quite prepared to banjo this one all the way around the houses just in many ways to be fashionable but do you know what? Past in Different Ways is in no way as bad as it could have been.

It is obviously tempting to want to lay into Kiske as he seems clearly to have forgotten who and what made him the icon he remains today and all the anti-metal posturing leaves somewhat of a sour taste. Here the man with the voice revisits some classic Helloween tunes from the Keeper albums, Chameleon and Pink Bubbles Go Ape. There’s also a fairly creditable new tune – Different Ways. Kiske himself says that with these new versions he’s made peace with his past. I suspect that he’s only too well aware that many fans (or ex-fans) may possibly not come along for the ride especially as the new stripped back arrangements are decidedly not metal in any way whatsoever.  

The main criticism of the record is that it’s all a little samey by track eleven and the acoustic nature of the project doesn’t allow for the greater colour palette that electric guitars and huge production allows. On the other hand the man himself sounds just fine. His delivery throughout is excellent but in particular on You Always Walk Alone and the arrangement on We Got the Right is ingenious especially the trumpet which adds a near Flamenco appeal. Those two tracks rather blow away the rest  however, although there’s some remarkably fluid and tasty guitar work on show on many occasions. The big question with this one must be though; who exactly is it being aimed at. Metalheads? Probably not. Current Helloween fans- Nope. It’s all a bit of a mystery really.

Simon Bray