HELLOWEEN Guitarist Michael Weikath On My God-Given Right – “The New Album Is Typical Of ‘80s Helloween And Modern Helloween At The Same Time”

Helloween guitarist and founding member Michael Weikath was interviewed by Rock Overdose on February 27th and let out some details about the new Helloween album.

In an interview with Ilias Kytidis of Rock Overdose, he commented about the new album that is ready, their work with producer Charlie Bauerfeind and how surprised and happy he is with the final outcome.

“It’s more open to the public. I wouldn’t say commercial, it’s more friendly. That was also what Charlie wanted to do, it’s typical of ’80s Helloween and modern Helloween at the same time.” He continued: “We didn’t want to worry too much about concepts and what to do, and just be the ones that we are. We just wanted to do what we stand for, what we’re known for. And that works out very very good I think.”

Listen to the whole interview at RockOverdose.gr.

German power metal legends Helloween are poised to release their 14th studio album due on May 29th. The band’s first self-titled EP was released in 1985, making their new album, My God-Given Right, the celebratory marker for their impressive 30 year career. 
 
My God-Given Right was recorded between October 2014 and February 2015 at the bands very own MiSueno Studio in Tenerife, with long term producer Charlie Bauerfeind (Blind Guardian, Hammerfall) handling production and recording duties.

The enchanting artwork was once again created by graphic guru Martin Häusler (Bon Jovi, Queen, Gotthard) and will also be available as a 3D Lenticular print.

Martin Häusler comments his recent creation: “We tried to built a world of ideas, keeping the ”classical Helloween“ elements, like the pumpkins on the one hand and a complete new look on the other, just like we did it the years before, working on a Helloween artwork. A first inspiration came from the album title My God-Given Right and some of the song titles like ‘Swing Of A Fallen World’, ‘Lost In America’, ‘Battle´s Won’ etc. During my research I stumbled upon the Blockbuster “Day After Tomorrow” and the idea of just leaving the world to the “pumpkins” was born. The most challenging part of this artwork was to have both, the Limited Edition and the 11″ Earbook provided with a 3D-Lenticular-cover (a full 3D cover, visible without 3D glasses). That’s the reason the entire artwork was done ‘in one piece’, using a 3D program… we did not want one of those ‘cheap Lenticular-covers, done by converting a 2d-version’, but the best possible real 3D result: So don’t get any other versions – this will be a true collector’s item!”

 Frontman Andi Deris states: ”I never know how, but somehow we did it once again…the albums really rocks and kicks some major asses!!! We had the best folks with us to make this possible. Producer Charlie Bauerfeind and Martin Häusler, who made a massive 3D artwork this time, WITHOUT stressing the whole color range ;-)”

 Adds guitarist Michael Weikath: ”… this proves what a bit of snow not only is able to, but really causes! I personally hate snow and the cover shows that too much of everything is never good. Just like Andi Deris, I’m very happy about the new album.”

 Their most recent studio effort, Straight Out Of Hell saw Helloween entering the official German album charts on a sensational #4. Keeping this high position for five long weeks
and charting several other European Top 10 ranking as well as the US Billboard Top 100, Straight Out Of Hell, is the most successful Helloween so far.