Gambling With The Devil, Helloween - CD

1 in stock
$70.00
Artist - Helloween
Format - Digipak - Limited Edition
Genre - Heavy Metal and Metal
Year - 2007
Country - Europe
Grading (record) - Mint
Grading (sleeve) - Mint

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Description

Limited Edition Digipak - Includes Bonus Disc - Enhanced Video.

Helloween – Gambling with the Devil

Artist: Helloween

Title: Gambling with the Devil

Format: CD (Original Pressing)

Original Release Date: October 23, 2007 (Japan) / October 31, 2007 (Europe)

Label: SPV / Steamhammer (Catalog: SPV 98112 CD)

Genre: Power Metal

Background & Production Gambling with the Devil is the twelfth studio album by German power metal icons Helloween. Recorded at G-Track Studio in Ebermannstadt and Mi Sueño Studio in Tenerife, the album was produced by the long-time collaborator Charlie Bauerfeind. This release marked a return to a faster, more aggressive "modern" Helloween sound following the experimental Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy. It is often cited by fans as one of the strongest albums from the Andi Deris era, balancing darkness with the band's trademark humor.

Musical Composition & Style The album is notable for its heavy, punchy production and a more direct songwriting approach.

  • The Lead Single: "As Long as I Fall" became a major hit for the band, showcasing Andi Deris’s melodic range and the band’s ability to craft radio-ready power metal.

  • Speed Metal Power: Tracks like "Kill It" (featuring Deris’s unusually high-pitched, raspy screams) and "The Bells of the 7 Hells" highlighted the band’s heavier, darker side.

  • Classic Helloween: "The Saints" serves as the album's epic, clocking in at seven minutes and featuring the signature dual-guitar harmonies of Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner.

  • Concept Elements: The album features a recurring "gambling" theme, introduced by the spoken-word track "Crack the Riddle," which featured a guest appearance by Biff Byford (Saxon).

Original CD & Collector Notes There are several specific versions of this CD that are highly sought after by metal collectors.

  • The Standard Jewel Case: The most common European version (SPV 98112 CD) features the "Devil" cover art and a standard booklet.

  • The Limited Edition Digipak: This version (SPV 98110 CD LTD) is a 2-CD set. The second disc includes the bonus tracks "Never Surrender" and "See the Night," along with an enhanced video section featuring the "As Long as I Fall" music video and making-of footage.

  • The Japanese Edition: Released via Victor (Catalog: VICP-63989), this version is a favorite for collectors as it includes the exclusive bonus track "Find My Freedom" and the mandatory OBI strip.

  • The "Scratch-Off" Cover: Some limited editions included a "gambling" scratch-off card as part of the initial marketing campaign, which is rare to find un-scratched today.

    • Keywords: Helloween, Gambling with the Devil, Original CD, 2007, SPV Steamhammer, Andi Deris, Power Metal, German Metal, Michael Weikath, Rare Metal CD.

    • Collection Ideas: Modern Power Metal Essentials, The Andi Deris Era, European Metal Classics, Charlie Bauerfeind Productions.

    • Related Artists: Gamma Ray, Stratovarius, Blind Guardian, Edguy, Avantasia.

     
Click for Grading Scale

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve
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