Better Than Raw

This is the last of the Eight remastered Helloween albums. The album as it stood before was a very solid, hard hitting album that took Helloween into a darker, and more progressive sound that needed to occur for the band to mature, and move in a different musical direction. It stands as an early preview to what "The Dark Ride" was to be. Starting with the introductory instramental Deliberately Limited Preliminary Prelude In Z, to the last track Midnight Sun, this album is full of hard rock and thrash elements. Songs like I can and Hey Lord have a catchy anthem type vibe to add into the mix. For those who bought the album in Europe originally, this contains the US bonus track "A Game We Shouldn't Play". For other outside Japan who didn't buy the bonus version there, or the single for Hey Lord, this has the tracks Back on the Ground and Moshi Moshi Shiki No Uta (live). Also a bootleg version of Hey Lord from the single is here to. Nicely done with new slipcover sleave, and a full 16 page liner book with the continuation/conclusion of the 8 cd booklet interview/travel through time with Helloween members. Definately should pick this album up if you havn't before.

Better Than Raw is a phenomenal album, often with a heavier sound than much of their other albums. Deris is fantastic throughout, and he exhibits a great range from the intense Push to the more relaxed Time. Like Time of the Oath, I don't believe there's a single weak track on this album, and it's a must have for any Helloween fan.

This is a 5 star album. I take half star away from the re-issue I got. Unlike other Helloween extended edition albums, this one didn't come with a case cover and the colors on the booklet look rather faint, giving it a somewhat cheaper feeling. Leaving that aside, this is probably the best Helloween album in the Andi Deris era, and one the best in the band's complete catalog. Fast and heavy, while keeping Helloween's trademark sound. Every member gives a top performance in BTR. Every track ranks from "great" to "absolutely awesome". I never understood why this is such an underrated album.

A great Helloween album. Heavier than most. Not their best work but definitely on par with everything past the first lineup.

Good album. A little in even. Some of the songs are a little messy. Not quite the melodic writing I look for with these guys. It grows on ya a little bit and is a worthy effort.

I like the music and enjoy listening to it

Got what I paid for.

Very nice set on vinyl. Supposed to be New and Sealed? The one I received has been slit open on the side, plastic still on cover and gate fold looks unopen not sure if it has been played or not. But over all very nice.

This is maybe a 90% album, but it gets 5 stars on Amazon.Helloween have 3 fairly distinct stages in their career and 'Better Than Raw' falls firmly in the middle stage. This is where Andi Deris had settled in and the band were making very solid albums that were still influenced by classic power metal but no longer sounder "traditional" (like Iron Maiden etc) and had not yet begun to sound heavier and modern. 'Better Than Raw' shows a little bit of experimentation but is still a straight up heavy/speed/power metal album.All the little things are great here. The production is good - clear, heavy, and precise - and everyone in the band gives a good performance. The artwork surpasses even Helloween's high standards. The songs are all well-written and don't drift or become dull, although the 8-minute 'Revelation' could be cut to 6. The opening 'Push' was at the time perhaps Helloween's heaviest song and has Deris using a gruffer voice in the chorus, but there are sing-along moments in 'Falling Higher', 'Hey Lord!', and 'Midnight Sun', as well as 'Laudate Dominum', which is absolutely irresistible despite all the lyrics being in Latin. Even the ballad is good.The guitars are always being used creatively: the riffs are consistently catchy and the solos are some of the best from the pair of Weikath and Grapow. Listen to the twin guitar break in 'Falling Higher' if you need any persuading. The rhythm section provide a high energy backdrop to the songs without approaching extreme territory as they would after 2006's 'Gambling With the Devil', though there are moments for both instruments to shine through, like on the wicked build up to 'Midnight Sun'.A joy of an album, and one of Helloween's best.

tank tou

I really like this album, It more hard and close to next album "The Dark Ride". Unfortunately I have disk without cover. I know my post is guilty. And big thanks Amazon for repeated order, because the first was stolen. =\

Great album

Better Than Raw has everything from power metal songs to hard rock, passing through "standard" heavy metal!Andy tries to sound like Rob Halford on the opening track!A Handful Of Pain is hard rock through and through, with backing vocals that remind some glam rock bands!Midnight Sun is almost a song from the past. Very god.Hey Lord! and I Can are right in Andy's territory, reminding me of many similar songs from past and future albums.This is a good Helloween album, worth listening to!