Long-running German power metallers HELLOWEEN will release their Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary album via Sony Music in co-op with SPV, on the following dates:

December 16th - Japan & Southeast Asia (JVC/Victor)

January 29th - Europe (Sony/SPV)

The release dates for North America will be announced soon.

The band have revealed the artwork for the album (click image at left to enlarge), and have issued the following message:

"The artwork for the forthcoming album was once more made by Martin Haeusler who was already in charge of The Legacy and the Gambling With The Devil artwork. The photo shooting took place at a salt-lake near Los Angeles and a detailed making-of story will be featured here soon.

Unarmed will also be released in a limited version with a very special digi-pack, incl. a 30 min. making-of DVD, containing interviews and studio footage... also available will be a double vinyl version!"

A previous update from Helloween reads:

"Unarmed - Best Of 25th Anniversary is a big ‘thank-you’ to all our fans, old and new all over the world! Instead of putting together a regular greatest hits compilation featuring our most successful tracks to celebrate this anniversary, we completely rearranged and re-recorded the greatest songs and melodies of our career.

Together with our tried and tested producer, Charlie Bauerfeind, we invited many great musicians to guest on this special record, with the doubtless highlight of having the 70-piece Prague Symphonic Orchestra performing 'The Keeper's Trilogy', a 17 minute medley consisting of the songs 'Halloween', 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys' and 'The King for A 1000 Years' - goose bumps guaranteed!

Here's a list of all songs we recorded:

'Dr. Stein'

'Future World'

'If I Could Fly'

'Where The Rain Grows'

'The Keeper's Trilogy'

'Eagle Fly Free'

'Perfect Gentleman'

'Forever & One'

'I Want Out'

'Falling To Pieces'

'A Tale That Wasn't Right'

We aren’t one of those bands who like to celebrate themselves, we just want to say ‘thank you’ in our own special way to all of you who have followed us through the past 25 years - to us, this album stands for an official celebration.

It was a big challenge & great experience and we had a lot of fun recording our most important tracks in an entirely new ‘outfit’ and with new arrangements - we hope you like them!"

Further updates to follow.