Master of the Rings

Helloween and vocalist Michael Kiske had reached the end of the road during the touring of 1993's "Chameleon". Michael Kiske's replacement was Andi Deris, formerly with Pink Cream 69.

After an alcohol and drug-related incident in Japan, drummer and co-founder of the band Ingo Schwichtenberg was replaced first by the session-drummer Richie Abdel-Nabi, then on a more permanent basis by former Gamma Ray drummer Uli Kusch,{{cite web| author= Metal Storm| url= http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/bandmember.php?member_id=120| title= Ingo Schwichtenberg}} who only arrived when most of the album was already written.{{cite web|last1=Syrjala|first1=Marko|title=Helloween – bassist Markus Grosskopf|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/metalnews/2011/01/11/helloween-bassist-markus-grosskopf/|website=Metal Rules|accessdate=31 May 2015|date=11 January 2011}}

After two highly controversial studios projects and a live album, Helloween parted company with EMI records, aligning themselves with the more modestly sized Raw Power (an imprint of Castle Communications). Nevertheless, the effect of Deris and Kusch was to re-energize their collective fortunes. In Japan, "Master of The Rings" sold more than 120,000 copies.[http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=88303 Sunday Old School: Helloween]

Commenting on the recording sections for the album, bassist Markus Grosskopf said:

{{cquote|"It was very quick because there was a couple of songs Weiki [Michael Weikath, guitarist] did and Roland [Grapow, second guitarist] had a couple of stuff and then combined with the stuff Andi brought into the band you know it was very functioning and amazing because it went all so quick. We had like three months to rehearse and then the studio was booked and... That was a very quick session and I kind of liked that. There was also a drummer change because we got Uli Kusch in but we still did all that within like three months."}}

According to Roland Grapow's comments in the liner notes, the lyrics for "Take Me Home" were written by his wife Silvia. The song is simply credited to "Grapow" in the album.

{{track listing

| title1 = Irritation (Weik Editude 112 in C)

| writer1 = Michael Weikath

| length1 = 1:14

| title2 = Sole Survivor

| writer2 = Music: Weikath, Lyrics: Andi Deris, Weikath

| length2 = 4:33

| title3 = Where the Rain Grows

| writer3 = Music: Weikath, Lyrics: Deris

| length3 = 4:47

| title4 = Why?

| writer4 = Deris

| length4 = 4:11

| title5 = Mr. Ego (Take Me Down)

| writer5 = Roland Grapow

| length5 = 7:02

| title6 = Perfect Gentleman

| writer6 = Music: Deris, Lyrics: Deris, Weikath

| length6 = 3:53

| title7 = The Game Is On

| writer7 = Weikath

| length7 = 4:40

| title8 = Secret Alibi

| writer8 = Weikath

| length8 = 5:49

| title9 = Take Me Home

| writer9 = Music: Grapow, Lyrics: Silvia Grapow

| length9 = 4:25

| title10 = In the Middle of a Heartbeat

| writer10 = Music: Deris, Lyrics: Deris, Weikath

| length10 = 4:30

| title11 = Still We Go

| writer11 = Grapow

| length11 = 5:09

| total_length = 50:12

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks

| title12 = Can't Fight Your Desire

| writer12 = Deris

| length12 = 3:45

| title13 = Grapowski's Malmsuite 1001 (In D Doll)

| writer13 = Grapow

| length13 = 6:33

}}

{{track listing

| title1 = Can't Fight Your Desire

| writer1 = Deris

| length1 = 3:45

| title2 = Star Invasion

| writer2 = Music: Weikath, Lyrics: Deris, Weikath

| length2 = 4:47

| title3 = Cold Sweat

| note3 = Thin Lizzy cover

| writer3 = Phil Lynott, John Sykes

| length3 = 3:46

| title4 = Silicon Dreams

| writer4 = Markus Grosskopf

| length4 = 4:10

| title5 = Grapowski's Malmsuite 1001 (In D Doll)

| writer5 = Grapow

| length5 = 6:33

| title6 = I Stole Your Love

| note6 = Kiss cover

| writer6 = Paul Stanley

| length6 = 3:23

| title7 = Closer to Home

| note7 = Grand Funk Railroad cover

| writer7 = Mark Farner

| length7 = 8:13

}}

• M – 1 and 2 also appear on the "Mr. Ego" and "Where The Rain Grows" singles.
• M – 3, 4 and 5 also appear on the "Perfect Gentleman" single.
• M – 6 and 7 also appear on the "Sole Survivor" single.

• Andi Deris – vocals
• Michael Weikath – guitar
• Roland Grapow – guitar, lead vocals on "Closer to Home"
• Markus Grosskopf – bass
• Uli Kusch – drums

• George Chin – photography
• Ian Cooper – mastering
• Jorn Ellerbrock – programming
• Tommy Hansen – production, mixing, programming
• Michael Tibes – sound engineering

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|artist=Heloween|title=Master of the Rings|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=1994|certmonth=9|access-date=27 December 2020}}

{{certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

{{reflist}}

{{Helloween}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Helloween albums

Category:1994 albums