Helloween / Osaka 1996 First Night Dat Master / 2CDR / Shades
Live at Osaka Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka, Japan 26th September 1996
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HELLOWEEN in 1996, which was once again in the golden age, sending out two major albums “MASTER OF THE RINGS” and “THE TIME OF THE OATH” with Andy Deris. An original recording that conveys the scene is now available.
The performance of “September 26, 1996: Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan” is imbued in this work. It is a masterpiece audience recording that vacuum packed the whole story. Speaking of “Osaka in the TIME OF THE OATH era”, the well-received “OSAKA 1996 (Shades 1404)” is also fresh in memory, but of course this work is completely different. It is neither a gene difference nor a recording difference. It is a live album of a completely different show. In order to grasp the circumstances around that, let’s first look back from the popular schedule to Japan.
・September 19: Sendai Sun Plaza
・September 20: Niigata Terrsa
・September 21: Akita City Cultural Center
・September 23: Hokkaido Welfare Pension Hall
・September 25: Aichi Welfare Pension Hall
・September 26: Osaka Welfare Pension Hall ←This work
・September 27: Fukuoka Sun Palace
・September 29 “OSAKA 1996 (Festival Hall)”
・ September 30: Kanagawa Kenmin Hall
・October 1: Urawa City Cultural Center
・October 3: Akasaka BLITZ
・October 4: Akasaka BLITZ
・October 5: Tokyo Bay NK Hall
A total of 13 performances. From Sapporo in the north to Fukuoka in the south, it literally overruns the archipelago. HELLOWEEN has visited Japan 18 times since their first visit in 1987, and this number of performances is the most ever. It is the number of performances that performs two times of usual visits to Japan, and you can see how the Japanese people at that time were tremendous. Under such circumstances, two performances were held in Osaka, but the venues were different. While the previous work “OSAKA 1996” was at the Osaka Festival Hall, this work was recorded at the Osaka Welfare Pension Hall three days ago.
This work, which conveys such a scene, is a powerful and vivid masterpiece recording. I think there are some people who are coming with the title, but recently at our shop, there are a series of great masterpieces by the original DAT master brought by our own route. This work is the latest version of HELLOWEEN. Moreover, the splendor that further enhances the fame of the series. The timbre is also like an audience, but there is almost no sense of distance. The core that penetrates the atmosphere is sharp to the outline like a laser beam, and the density with plenty of response has no feeling of empty space.
What’s more, the feeling of being separate is overwhelming. Melodic power metal is an ensemble with a lot of information such as tour bus hits and twin guitar harmonies, and HELLOWEEN especially has a different listening response depending on the sharpness of the staccato riff. This work is extremely sharp to the subtleties of such subtleties. I don’t want you to misunderstand here, but “sharp” is just a matter of sharpness. It’s not a piercing treble (never!), nor is it an over-peaked, distorted glue waveform (at all!!). Rather, the ringing itself is extremely natural and even has a rich analog-like luster, making it easier to listen to than the official live work “HIGH LIVE” that was pats pats.
Such a “sharp and beautiful sound” portrays Melopower’s full show, which has returned to its peak. The selection is the same as “OSAKA 1996”, but let’s organize it here as well.
The Andy Delice Era (10 songs)
・Master of the Rings: Sole Survivor/Mr. Ego (Take Me Down) (★)/Why?/Where The Rain Grows
・Time of the Ous: We Burn/Wake Up The Mountain (★)/The Time Of The Oath/Before The War/Power/Steel Tormentor
● Classics (5 songs)
・Shugoshinden: Future World/Eagle Fly Free/Dr. Stein
・Other: How Many Tears / The Chance (★)
* Note: “★” indicates songs that have not been performed since the 90’s.
… and it looks like this. There are also famous songs that can not be expected today, such as “The Chance” and “Mr. Ego (Take Me Down)” by Roland Grapow and “Wake Up the Mountain” by Uli Kasshu. Of course, this kind of repertoire was also in “HIGH LIVE”, but listening to it in the midst of Japan’s popularity at its peak is a completely different feeling. More to say, Andy Deris version “How Many Tears” is a delicious highlight that can not be heard even in “HIGH LIVE”.
In fact, the “THE TIME OF THE OATH” era was even more successful than the Michael Kiske era, creating a huge frenzy. It is a new excavation DAT master that allows you to fully experience the scene with exquisite sound. Even now, HELLOWEEN boasts high popularity, but the enthusiasm and joy of their revival are only at that time. A two-disc set that allows you to stand in the middle of it and absorb the melodic metal masterpieces to your heart’s content. Please enjoy it to the fullest!
★ Strong audience recording of “September 26, 1996: Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan” performance. A powerful and vivid name recording by the original DAT master at a different performance three days ago at a different venue from “OSAKA 1996 (Shades 1404)”. The core that penetrates the atmosphere is sharp to the outline like a laser beam, and the density is dense enough to not feel empty. The tour bus hits and the twin guitar harmonies/staccato riffs are also very sharp. The Delice version of “How Many Tears”, which cannot be heard in “HIGH LIVE”, is also a delicious and popular peak full show experience.
Shades 1670