It's been two years since HELLOWEEN released "Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy", and though a failed attempt at being the appropriate third installment of the "Keepers" story, it did appear to have brought new focus to the band. Sure enough, the veteran German power metallers have bounced back big time with a new album that's easily their best since 1998's "Better Than Raw". Once again produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (HAMMERFALL, SAXON), "Gambling With The Devil" is a impressive return to form and shows just how far HELLOWEEN have advanced, even in just a few years.

Gone are the elements of experimentation and silly noises that were used on recent albums like "Keeper 3" and "Rabbit Don't Come Easy". Instead, the band have opted to take the path of old, essentially returning to their proverbial roots in terms of style, polished with a modern feel. All in all, it's a welcomed step in the right direction. The members themselves also show undeniable improvement in their skill and execution. Most notably, Andy Deris takes his voice to new, almost unfamiliar ground in some instances (see the banshee-like screams in "Kill It") and original guitarist Michael Weikath dishes out a killer arsenal of riffs and solos that were just waiting to be awakened from within. Overall, the band have come full circle as a collective unit, enabling them to create a powerful, diverse and highly-potent album.

One of the best things about this album is the return to speed in many of the tracks. "Kill It", "The Saints", "Paint A New World", "The Bells Of The 7 Hells", "Dreambound" and closer "Heaven Tells No Lies" all follow the march of pounding double-kick drumming blistering riffage. Another treat is SAXON vocalist Biff Byford narrating the intro "Crack The Riddle". Of course, the album doesn’t come without a few slower ones; "As Long As I Fall (the first download-only single) is a catchy tune that sees Deris displaying different ranges while "Fallen To Pieces" jumps all over the place with time changes back and forth. The mid-tempo "Final Fortune" has to be one of the album's most enjoyable listens with its soaring vocals and melodic, yet aggressive fretwork (courtesy of Weikath and Sascha Gerstner). It should also be mentioned that one of the main focal points of "Gambling With The Devil" is the three-part theme made up of the tracks "The Bells Of The 7 Hells", "Falling To Pieces" and "I.M.E.", which represent the album's title.

In the end, HELLOWEEN have proven that they are still more than capable of producing Metal with substance without overdoing it, and "Gambling With The Devil" is a fine specimen that achieves just that on virtually every front. Despite a few minor quirky parts here and there, this disc is worth every penny, regardless of which version you buy. However, if you have a few extra bucks in your pocket go for the limited edition digipack, which contains two unreleased bonus tracks "Find My Freedom" and "See The Night", the enhanced video for "As Long As I Fall", a making of video and more. Halloween 2007 is almost here folks; what better way to celebrate it than with a big, fat, juicy pumpkin in your CD player?