HELLOWEEN's 'Pumpkins United' Lineup To Release New Studio Album In August/September 2020

The "Pumpkins United" lineup of the German heavy metal band HELLOWEEN recently entered the H.O.M.E. Studios in Hamburg (where everything started in 1984) to work on brand new song material. The same recording console used for such HELLOWEEN albums as "Master Of The Rings", "Time Of The Oath" and "Better Than Raw" is now being utilized to record the band's new studio album — featuring an "analog and deliberately back-to-the-roots" vibe, according to a press release. The effort will feature singer Michael Kiske and guitarist Kai Hansen, along with Dani Löble drumming on late HELLOWEEN drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg's original kit. Due at the end of August or beginning of September 2020, the disc is being produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, who are excited about the quality of the material they have on offer from the band.

"The 'Pumpkins United' world tour 2017-2019 forged us into a real band," said singer Andi Deris. "We are all very keen in recording a new studio album now. Artistically, it's extremely thrilling."

In other news, HELLOWEEN has announced the "United Alive World Tour Part II", set to kick of in September 2020.

Bassist Markus Grosskopf said: "It was already lots of fun to create a show from the variety of records for the first tour. With the new album, we are able to top this. Of course, the set will contain our classics again — especially those songs we were not able to play on the first tour."

Added guitarist Sascha Gerstner: "The social media feedback was overwhelming on all counts. To hear and read 'This was the show of my lifetime' gives you the ultimate kick to offer the fans even more. Let's go for the next round!"

Tour dates:

Sep. 26 - SK Zvolen - Ice Stadium
Sep. 27 - A Vienna - Gasometer
Sep. 29 - CH Zurich - Samsung Hall
Sep. 30 - I Milan - Lorenzini District
Oct. 02 - D Stuttgart - Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
Oct. 04 - UK Manchester - Academy
Oct. 05 - UK London - Brixton Academy
Oct. 07 - F Paris - L'Olympia
Oct. 08 - LUX Luxembourg - Rockhal
Oct. 09 - F Lyon - Le Transbordeur
Oct. 11 - E Barcelona - Sant Jordi Club
Oct. 12 - E Madrid - WiZink Center
Oct. 15 - CZ Prague - TBA
Oct. 16 - D Bochum - RuhrCongress
Oct. 17 - D Hamburg - Sporthalle
Oct. 19 - H Budapest - Papp László Sportaréna
Oct. 20 - PL Katowice - Międzynarodowe Centrum Kongresowe
Oct. 23 - RUS Moscow - Adrenaline Stadium
Oct. 25 - RUS St. Petersburg - A2 Green Concert
Oct. 27 - EST Tallinn - Noblessneri valukoda
Oct. 29 - FIN Helsinki - Black Box
Oct. 31 - S Gothenburg - Partille Arena

The "Pumpkins United" tour marked the first time Kiske had played live with HELLOWEEN since 1993. Hansen, who departed HELLOWEEN in 1988, had been joining the band onstage on various tours and festival appearances throughout the years. The set featured several duets with Kiske and his replacement, Deris, along with many rarely played songs, including "Kids Of The Century", "Rise And Fall" and "Livin' Ain't No Crime". Hansen — who fronted HELLOWEEN until late 1986 — sang a medley of several early HELLOWEEN classics, including "Ride The Sky", "Judas", "Starlight" and "Heavy Metal (Is The Law)".

Photo credit: Franz Schepers