HELLOWEEN: Complete 'Gambling With The Devil' Details Revealed

German melodic metallers HELLOWEEN were busy working on their twelfth studio album until the end of August, and are now ready to release more details about the CD. Entitled "Gambling with the Devil", the regular album consists of eleven songs (plus an intro, spoken by SAXON's Biff Byford) with a total playing time of 57 minutes and 40 seconds. For their many faithful fans, there will also be a limited first edition (40,000 units in a digipak with an embossed and stamped slipcase to be released in Europe, and 10,000 units in a jewel case in the U.S.) with a bonus CD featuring two extra tracks, the video for the first single "As Long As I Fall", and a "making-of" of the video, including interview sequences. As a special highlight, the first edition includes a scratch ticket with an exciting puzzle, as described in detail on the HELLOWEEN homepage. The solution to the puzzle allows you to register at Helloween.org and take part in a draw with a sensational first prize: The lucky winner will receive a trip for two to a HELLOWEEN show in America — including flight, accommodation at the band hotel, backstage tickets, and, of course, a personal meeting with the band! There are also signed Gibson/Epiphone guitars and great fan packs to be won.

HELLOWEEN is currently on a promotional tour to launch their new album and will soon start preparations for their extensive world tour, which will take them through the whole of Europe, Southeast Asia and the U.S. from November 2007.

A few days ago, the impressive video clip for the song "As Long As I Fall" was shot at Munich's AVA studios (who previously worked with the group on the "Light the Universe" clip).

The audio version of "As Long As I Fall" (including the cover) will be available for download beginning on September 28, 2007.

HELLOWEEN — Andi Deris (vocals),Michael Weikath (guitar),Sascha Gerstner (guitar),Markus Großkopf (bass) and Dani Löble (drums) — will release "Gambling with the Devil" on October 23, 2007 (USA),October 26, 2007 (Germany) and October 29, 2007 (rest of Europe). "Some of the numbers were written during the tour. The fans' positive reactions and the great responses to 'Keeper of the Seven Keys – The Legacy' really inspired us. We were rearing to go," Andi Deris describes the extremely positive atmosphere among the band members, adding: "It's been years since I had so much fun composing."

Under the direction of producer Charlie Bauerfeind, HELLOWEEN recorded a total of 16 songs at the Mi Sueno studios in Tenerife. The focal point of this diverse album is a three-part epos consisting of the chapters "The Bells of the Seven Hells", "Falling to Pieces" and "I.M.E.", which represent the ambiguous album title that thematically covers all the songs. "At the end of the day, life is a gamble with the devil," Deris explains. The cover artwork was designed by Martin Häusler ("Keeper of the Seven Keys – The Legacy" and "Live on 3 Continents") again.

"Gambling with the Devil" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Crack the Riddle (Intro)
02. Kill It
03. The Saints
04. As Long As I Fall
05. Paint a New World
06. Final Fortune
07. The Bells of the 7 Hells
08. Fallen to Pieces
09. I.M.E.
10. Can Do It
11. Dreambound
12. Heaven Tells No Lies

CD 2 (Bonus Disc – Limited Digipak Edition):

01. Find My Freedom (Bonus)
02. See the Night (Bonus)
03. As Long As I Fall - Video (enhanced)
04. EPK including "Making Of" Video (enhanced)

A brand new 23-minute audio interview with HELLOWEEN frontman Andi Deris has been made available for download at this location (MP3, 8 MB).

The "Hellish Rock" tour of Europe is scheduled to start in mid-November 2007, supported by top act GAMMA RAY. Apart from a few festival appearances, this will be the first joint tour by HELLOWEEN and GAMMA RAY. So here's hoping that GAMMA RAY mastermind Kai Hansen, a former HELLOWEEN member himself, will join his ex-colleagues in a jam session featuring HELLOWEEN classics.