Halloween

Michigan’s Halloween never made it big, and that might just be one of the biggest crimes in the history of metal. A band that was every bit as good as Iron Maiden, King Diamond and the similarly named Helloween, these guys deserved a much better hand than they were dealt. In all honesty, I’ve always felt like this band, as well as Helloween, was hampered by the confusion of which “o-ween” you were getting. Albums like DON’T METAL WITH EVIL and VICTIMS OF THE NIGHT are classics that fans of the bands mentioned above need to discover. That being said, if you’ve never heard of this band, you might as well start with their latest, HORROR FIRE, as it is probably the best release this anthem-creating band has ever done.

Above anything else, it’s always great to hear the evil, powerful and brilliant voice of Brian Thomas ripping through the speakers. Thomas is very much cut from the King Diamond mold. The difference though is that he does not spend the bulk of his vocal time unleashing nut-tugging highs. Instead, he stays with a clean, but somewhat growling mid-range tone that sets up the piercing sounds he creates when he goes up. Songs like “Halloween Night” find Thomas crawling up and down the octave scale with his most powerful vocal ever. At other times, like on “The Crush”, Thomas shows that even in the mid-range, he’s got a great voice. Brian Thomas is a great vocalist, and his performance on HORROR FIRE is as good as any he’s ever done.

With bands like this though, vocals only begin to tell the story. HORROR FIRE is a powerful guitar and rhythm album, to say the least. Guitarist Donny Allen, who’s been with the band since the turn of the century, creates a full wall of sound throughout the CD. Cuts like “Wake Up Screaming” and “Nobody’s Home” find Allen rocking in classic 80s-influenced power chords and progressions. He creates the ambiance on each and every song, which is then pumped up by the excellent work of drummer Rob Brug and longtime bassist George Neal. More than most bands, the rhythm section of Halloween demands attention. On songs like “Exist”, you can’t help but follow along to the thumping underside created by Brug and Neal. In fact, HORROR FIRE is one of the best sounding metal albums to come out in the last year from a drum standpoint.

PITRIFF RATING – 9/10 - I’ve always loved this band, and HORROR FIRE gives me even more reason to continue that thought process. Definitely not for you nu-metal fans, HORROR FIRE harkens back to the time when powerful metal was appreciated and worshipped. HORROR FIRE is more than deserving of a listen from anyone that fancies themselves to the music of Mercyful Fate, old and powerful Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and the like. You won’t be sorry you sought this one out. - Pitriff.com - Chris Akin

For over two decades Detroit's victims of the night have haunted the black skies with their heavy metal horror show. This “don’t metal with evil” attitude ensnares and ensures that no one gets out while the fire still burns; lest he wake up screaming. Once again they rage with the ways of man, prepared to engage in battle with fighting words, willing to fight the beast of this evil nation with their horror fire. The new CD was released appropriately on June 6th, 2006, in accord with the ill-fated omen coming to life.
The CD begins with a rather lengthy intro called "I Am" with some demonic voice-overs demonstrating the darkside's vicious lies, then it fades out with some inaudible backward message response. The music commences with "Wake Up Screaming" whereby a shrill screech of agony pierces the eardrums like a dying victim sacrificed on Halloween night, now being sold into sin. Just then there's a brooding bass beat seeping into the speakers; the very thing that creeps down your spine, trouncing, trampling, and stampeding the listener like malevolent forces on four horses. This song suggests thrash elements similar to early Metal Church, Metallica and Megadeth, while still maintaining the classic Halloween trademark riffage.
"Halloween Night" follows portraying imagery of the awesome spectacle which this band is known for performing for their fans. I highly devil's advocate watching them live as their theatrical horror epics are quite impressive. I confess, I've only seen them play live once. I was initiated into their sacred rites in 2001 at the first Classic Metal Fest in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Even though they played several gigs 20 years ago in my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio with fellow Motor City madcaps Seduce; I always just missed seeing them, much to my dismal dismay.
The next nightmare tinged tracks all seem to welcome the terror train treatise and trauma while effortlessly attaining an effluent effigy. The grisly guitar work by Donny Allen and Billy Gray, the methodically bane bass by George Neal, all neatly rail with Rob's drumming demolition. The King Diamond dalliance is common on tracks like "Candles" & "Nobody's Home". There are even some stimulating stigmatic horror based interstitials between songs which keep the rhythm and concept congruent. Another dark blessing for the CD is the excellent rendition of Alice Cooper's "Go to Hell". This cover was featured on their "Evil Pieces" EP along with updated versions of classic tracks. Vocalist Brian Thomas sounds dead on Vincent on this cover, and the song choice definitely mirrors Halloween's harrowing musical themes. The CD concludes with a rather silly song singing "Happy Birthday" in a very sardonic and fatuous facsimile.
Halloween have always been heavily influenced by Alice Cooper & Kiss both theatrically and musically, and their appropriate covers corroborate this. This time around I noticed more of a personal agenda and justice for all attitude in the lyrical litanies; especially with songs like "Rage" and "The Crush" "Fighting Words" and "Ways of Man". "The Battle" is an excellent example of this prideful probity, with is patriotic pervasiveness. Once again Halloween have managed to create another If I die, you die delightfully morbid metal evil masterpiece of horror and fear. If every day for this band is Halloween, then essentially every track is a true treat! www.Halloweentheband.us - By: Live4Metal.com - Michael "MettleAngel" Francisco

It's been a long time coming this new Halloween album and about time too. Not to be confused with the German lot under the name of 'Helloween', who are good at what they do, but this Detroit (U.S.) Power Metal act are much better than the German lot, why? Well Helloween have been doing the same stuff for years now, and don't get me wrong as they are awesome musicians, but there running out of ideas. Whereas, this lot are totally underrated and need to be heard. This band have also been around since the mid 80's, first appearing on the compilation album titled 'La Mour Rocks' which saw the world take note of this superb metal act. If you haven't heard the band before then I would say they come across between Motley Crue 'Shout at.../ Too Fast For..' meets the likes of Malice, Judas Priest and King Diamond. All of which mix really well and having seen them on DVD the band play equally as good live as they do on CD. Brian's voice reminds me of a young Vince Neil, that why they remind me of Motley Crue. Other bands that pop up in their music are, Slayer, Metal Church and Nevermore. The band however have released 4 previous albums, their debut been 'Don't Metal With Evil', which had a lot of Motley Crue in the music, with a heavier approach of course. The bands 2nd album 'Victims Of The Night' saw the band heading for a more Power Metal approach, but still capturing the 80's feel. The bands 3rd album however, for me was an outstanding release titled 'No One Gets Out', which was a heavy album but still managed to keep the bands identity with a King Diamond element to their music. Not so much that the vocals were screaming and high, just the music was heavy and in you're face. Now the band have released this their new album, and yet again another outstanding album and yes the wait was certainly worth it. This is a band that would ideally be a perfect opening slot for the likes of King Diamond and Alice Cooper, why? Well like the 2 already mentioned, Halloween also have a awesome horror show stage presence, I really would love to se all these bands on the same bill. This album however is awesome, and contains roughly 13 trax out of 19, as the rest are intros. Opening track is Wake Up Screaming', which has a certain element of Slayer in this song and is awesome, heavy and powerful music with melodic vocals. This is truly an awesome come back album that I highly recommend is anybody collection. Every song is worth every bit of you're money. Not 1 bad song on there, so grab a copy today if you can. Trax to check out are: Halloween Night, The Crush, Exist, Candles, The Seer, Nobody's Home, Rage, Ways Of Man, Coming To Life, Go To Hell, Fire Still Burns & Fighting Words. What an incredible album, one of the best albums so far in 2006, buy, buy!!!!! [5/5] - Friday The 13th Zine - Jason

Halloween is probably the best kept secret in Detroit Rock City [yes Mr. Pamela Anderson, it`s "Detroit ROCK City", NOT "Detroit RAP City"!], and for over 20 years they have stalked the dark, dreary stages of America`s Automobie capital, performing their own brand of Horror Metal to the hungry local hordes. And it seems the rest of the world is now being let in on this dark secret with the release of "Horror Fire", which hit the streets on 6/6/6! Starting with a long intro titled "I Am", after which we are treated to the blood curdling "Wake Up Screaming" and thus the tone is set! "Halloween Night" is up next, and a fitting band anthem if I ever heard one! The album impresses me on many levels; stellar production and packaging, esp. considering it`s self-financed, quality songwriting, and the highly skilled musicianship of vocalist Brian Thomas, guitarist Donny Allen, bassist George Neal and drummer Rob Brug. Why the HELL didn`t these guys get the big break years ago is beyond me! The basic Halloween [the holiday] themes continue with "Candles" & "Nobody's Home", while "Rage" and "Head Against A Wall" have a more modern Metal tinge. A fine cover of Alice Cooper's "Go to Hell" seems right at home here, as dear ol` Alice has had more than a passing influence on the band. There are a LOT of tracks on this CD, 19 in all, and I thnk that a couple of the intros/interludes could have been left out, but hey, it works. In sum, this is an album that should be played all year `round, not just October 31st! Yet ANOTHER great Metal release for 2006, and one of the BEST! Go to the link below, buy the band`s albums and merchandise, and celebrate Halloween throughout the year!! - West Side Dave's Metal Site

HALLOWEEN "Horror Fire"CD 2006 / Motor City Metal Records

The Detroit-based Heavy Metal Horror Show is back! Yes, the legendary US heavy metallers has just released brand new studio album titled "Horror Fire". And you know what? This is one is already a classic, which you can put it one line with their legendary releases such as "Victims Of The Night" or the mighty "Don't Metal With Evil". I dare to say that the only one weak song on this CD actually is the Alice Cooper cover tune "Go To Hell". But well, with no doubt Cooper was a huge inspiration to our friends, and in the past they already did few other cover songs, so why not? The new album anyway includes 18 (!) own compositions, so we don't need to worry. I already mentioned how many songs the new album includes, what kind of stuff we can find here... So I guess no more words are needed. Go and buy it, and remember, it's Halloween Night... every night! Trick or treat!

Bart Gabriel [ 9 ] - Branded & Exlied - Bart Gabriel

Halloween named in TOP 5 most Influential bands to come out of Detroit in the Detroit Almanac - 300 Year anniversary issue, printed by the Detroit Free Press Newspaper. You can view a scan of it on Halloween's website:
http://www.halloweentheband.us/Press/misc/2005_DetroitAlmanac.htm

Halloween is named along with these other famous bands:
MC5,
Iggy Pop,
Alice Cooper,
Ted Nugent,
Halloween,
Eminem

- Detroit Free Press - Detroit Almanac