HELLOWEEN - Treasure Chest
May 30, 2002, 22 years ago
(Sanctuary)
True, it makes little or no sense to review a Best Of package, never mind give it a rating, but Treasure Chest is noteworthy for what it does NOT offer the fans. Basically, if you're a follower there is absolutely no reason to buy into this as it compiles tracks from both the Hansen and Kiske eras of the band, weaving them in amongst material (not necessarily the strongest) from the current Deris years. Considering that the 'Weenies have had serious downtime while seeking out a new second guitarist to replace the departed Roland Grapow, it would have been nice if they'd thought to re-record some of the old stuff with Deris on vocals ('A Little Time' or 'Eagle Fly Free' would have been cool). Too close to the Gamma Ray - Blast From The Past idea, perhaps? (Bah! Wimps!) Still, it's great to hear long forgotten gems like 'Murderer' and 'Metal Invaders' (from the Hansen years) buffed and polished for inclusion here even as tracks like 'Push' and 'Still We Go' are conspicuously absent. Perhaps the only real plus is that the first pressing of Treasure Chest comes with a third CD called Buried Treasures, featuring twelve hard to find b-sides like 'Shit And Lobster' and 'Grapowski's Malmsuite 1001'. Without question, the Deris-era extras are superior, 'Can't Fight Your Desire' and 'A Game We Shouldn't Play' of particular interest in that they are strong enough to have been put on an album. But again, if you're a hardcore fan these songs are nothing new to you, and you'll find something seriously wrong with tracks like 'Deliver Us From Temptation' and 'Walk Your Way' not having been included in place of some of the weak-kneed stuff that did make the final cut. I dunno, once a fan always a fan, I suppose; just call me disappointed rather than disinterested.