The Time of the Oath
The Time of the Oath finds Helloween working convincingly with their familiar power metal sound. Fast guitars, double-bass drums and large choruses give the record substantial energy. The band bring enough melody into that activity to keep the songs recognisable. Innovation matters less here than the quality of the writing itself.
We Burn begins directly and keeps the pace high. Steel Tormentor gives the guitars more room to connect melody with power. Wake Up the Mountain belongs comfortably within that strong opening. The band sound certain of their materials and require little additional decoration to make these tracks convincing. Firm playing and memorable lines provide the essential impact.
Power chooses a shorter, easily sung shape. Its clear vocal line becomes a welcome point of recognition between the longer pieces. Forever and One (Neverland) then introduces the ballad side. Andi Deris sounds particularly comfortable in that quieter setting. His voice competes less with the backing and gains more character as a result.
Mission Motherland lets the band work on a much larger scale. Its extended running time contains enough forceful guitar work to sustain interest, although every passage does not feel equally necessary. Kings Will Be Kings convinces more compactly through its weight and chorus. The closing title track chooses a darker atmosphere that suits the heavy guitars well and gives the record a substantial finish.
The album is not equally sharp throughout. Some later songs contribute less, and the ballads interrupt its momentum longer than necessary. Deris also sounds less convincing in certain fast or high passages. The result is less consistent than its strongest moments promise. Nevertheless, a strong central set remains. Helloween give familiar materials sufficient force and melody to demonstrate why this approach can still work.
