Released	18 January 2013
Recorded	Mi Sueño Studio, Tenerife, Spain
Genre	Power metal
Length	60:16
Producer	Charlie Bauerfeind

Straight Out of Hell is the fourteenth studio album by German power metal band Helloween. It was released on 18 January 2013 and produced by Charlie Bauerfeind.

A version of the track “Burning Sun” featuring a Hammond organ performed by Helloween session keyboardist Matthias Ulmer was dedicated to longtime Deep Purple organist Jon Lord, and is included as a bonus track on the limited edition version of the album.^[2][3]

Regarding the songs, guitarist and founding member Michael Weikath stated:^[2]

“

Straight Out of Hell is the consequent development of the two albums before. The new songs are a continuation of the 7 Sinners directives, only less doom-bound and noticeably more positive. These songs will kick even the laziest listener’s ass.

”

The first single of the album is the opening track “Nabatea”, which talks about how “the legendary kingdom and its secret capital Petra – hidden behind cliff scenery and only discovered at the beginning of the 20th century – are the origin of many myths and legends“.^[2] Later, in a track-by-track commentary on Facebook, Andi added: “Nabatea is a song about an ancient country that used to be missed until 1910 when it was finally discovered and turned out to be reality… About a nation which was probably the first democracy in the world 3,500 years ago. It used to be somewhere in Jordan, today Israel. And because it was probably the only country which never brought war to other countries I thought it’s a great story to tell in a song!“^[4] A shortened version of “Nabataea” received a music video later.^[5]

War is also a topic of the second track, “World of War”, which is “a very fast, complicated song. It more or less talks about this thing how nowadays today’s world is actually still handling the subject as it would be more or less business… and if you look at it, nobody really gives a shit about if there are casualties. When it is because of money, for money, everything seems to be good enough“, said Andi.^[6]

According to Deris, the third song (“Live Now”) was so “pop metal” oriented that guitarist Sascha Gerstner preferred to make it “a bit more modern, a bit more Helloween, still it’s not in the typical vibe of Helloween, but at least it fits perfectly on the new album”.^[7]

Regarding “Far From the Stars”, bass player Markus Grosskopf said: “[it] is an idea of living and where you have something you can believe in either it’s a religion or at least you believe in something that keeps you going on in life. […] If you really get [a] strong belief, you will survive“.^[8]

“Burning Sun”, the lead song from the Burning Sun EP, talks about a lunatic who dreams of stars and the Sun.^[9] Said composer Weikath: “Actually, if he could, he would rather leave this common life that he has right now. […] He just wants to be a spaceship and steer the ship to the Sun“.^[9] Weikath also said he had the idea for the song while taking a shower and had to immediately go to a computer to register it.^[9]

“Waiting for the Thunder” is a piano-driven song that Andi came up with while drunk on the Seychelles. It is about a man that knows he did wrong, but doesn’t care about that. He just waits until the punishment is coming.^[10] “I know sometimes I’m that guy”, said Andi.^[10] “Wanna Be God” was also a Seychelles idea.^[11] It was conceived when Andi heard some locals partying on the beach.^[11] The song, performed solely by Andi and drummer Daniel Löble more than halfway through its length, and later completed by the guitar; is musically similar to “We Will Rock You“, by Queen, according to Andi himself – indeed, the song is dedicated to their deceased vocalist Freddie Mercury.^[11] Previously on December 12, 2012, Metal Shock Finland‘s Chief Editor, Mohsen Fayyazi, compared the drums of this track with a traditional Brazilian folk rhythm and also he wrote “It seems they wanted to wear QUEEN‘s shoes, as this track sounds like “We Will Rock You” by QUEEN to me“^[12] [13]

“Hold Me in Your Arms” is a ballad, a “relaxing song”, according to Grosskopf.^[14] The title song was also written by him and plays with heavy metal clichés.^[15]

“Years”, written by Weikath, talks about how people live their lives: “You’re being born and spend a little bit of time here on Earth […] and then time time passes, and maybe you give something to the world or maybe you just live on and nothing happens… And in the end you die, and this is basically all there is.”^[16]

On “Make Fire Catch the Fly”, Andi makes a comparison between a man that feels attracted for a beautiful woman but does not want to talk to her because he believes he will be rejected, just as he had always been. The flies are always attracted by the fire and end up burning themselves, but will keep on flying next to the flames anyway.^[17]

The last track, “Church Breaks Down”, mentions the crimes the church has committed throughout the centuries.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	“Nabataea”	Andi Deris	7:03
2.	“World of War”	Sascha Gerstner	4:56
3.	“Live Now!”	Deris/Gerstner	3:10
4.	“Far From the Stars”	Markus Grosskopf	4:41
5.	“Burning Sun”	Michael Weikath	5:33
6.	“Waiting for the Thunder”	Deris	3:53
7.	“Hold Me in Your Arms”	Gerstner	5:10
8.	“Wanna Be God” (dedicated to Freddie Mercury)	Deris	2:02
9.	“Straight Out of Hell”	Grosskopf	4:33
10.	“Asshole”	Gerstner	4:09
11.	“Years”	Weikath	4:22
12.	“Make Fire Catch the Fly”	Deris	4:22
13.	“Church Breaks Down”	Gerstner	6:06

Limited edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	“Another Shot of Life” (Limited Edition bonus track)	Grosskopf	5:18
15.	“Burning Sun (Hammond version)” (Limited Edition bonus track; dedicated to Jon Lord)	Weikath	5:33
16.	“No Eternity” (Japanese Limited Edition bonus track)	Grosskopf	3:34

Lyrics

1. Nabataea

[music: Deris, lyrics: Deris]

Way back in time was a nation sublime
For they had what it takes to lead a good life
Foemen believed it’s because of some secrets
They brought the fight and it never ended

Hush, don’t cry
Deep in the night come the raiders
Shiver and pray
Petra will fall to the Great

Oh Nabataea
You came so far
Now gone you are
Oh Nabataea
You morning star
Now so afar
Nabataea

People desire and people admire
Some always try to reign with fire
So are the seals, hence the old Nabateans
Have disappeared under the wire

Hush, don’t cry
Deep in the night come the raiders
Shiver and pray
Petra will fall to the Great

Oh Nabataea
You came so far
Now gone you are
Oh Nabataea
You morning star
Now so afar
Nabataea

Petra, you were a shining star
Unique in your time
Petra, 2000 years on we still
Suffer the same crimes
Petra, today we’re trying hard
To reach your paradigm

We say no
To the ultra-extreme
No
To the killers of dreams
No
No!

Children, children have no fear
Soon we all will disappear
Children, children don’t you cry
Make no sound or we will die
Once there was a land midst of the chaos
Floating like an island in old blood
People lived in peace, there was no hunger
Though they had no slaves, believe it or not
Once there was a nation without soldiers
Never brought a war to other lands
They lived without king or queen or ruler
Once there was the first democracy

Oh Nabataea
You came so far
Now gone you are
Oh Nabataea
You morning star
Now so afar
Oh Nabataea
Oh Nabataea

2. World Of War

[music: Gerstner, lyrics: Gerstner]

Warfare – the only solution for your stupid problems
Soldiers – marching out for your revolution
Killing and burning, destroying, overturning
You got the license to hate
All the others are cowards
You believe they got no power
stealing what they own

Making all the money with your big guns
Ripping out their heart for a drop of oil

World of war
We know it all is not the grand solution
World of of peace
Would give us all an enlightened constitution

Task Force – dirty soul of an american institution
Cold War – military build-up made money for your crown
Killing and burning, destroying, overturning
You lead people into fate
Grab your M-16
Like a war machine
Just make it all yourself

Mothers crying over losing their sons
Ripping out their heart for worthless gold

World of war
We know it all is not the grand solution
World of of peace
Would give us all an enlightened constitution

Persecution, dissolution, execution NO!

World of war
We know it all is not the grand solution
World of of peace
Would give us all an enlightened constitution
World of war
We know it all is not the grand solution

3. Live Now!

[music: Deris/Gerstner, lyrics: Deris]

There’s somebody made for me
Someone I still don’t see
One I will find tonight
Everything will be alright

Live Now!
Live Now!
Say it loud
Live Now!
Say it loud
Live Now!

Don’t say you’re too scared up high
Life needs no wings to fly
Come out into the light
We can reach the height tonight

Live Now!
Live Now!
Say it loud
Live Now!
Say it loud
Live Now!

Get up and start to see now
Give it a try and learn how
To leave behind the wasteland
Have no fear, I’m taking your hand

Live Now!
Live Now!
Say it loud
Live Now!
Live Now!
Say it loud
Live Now!

4. Far From The Stars

[music: Grosskopf, lyrics: Grosskopf]

Every time I try to take control I‘m getting mad
Things are always different than you want them all to be
I have learned a million times you can just make it bad
Ain’t no way to change these things to what you wanna see

We take control of our whole wide universe
We are pretending we don‘t need no helping hand
We try to take control of all our whole wide world
But we will never understand

Far from the stars
There might be a higher being we may not yet see
Far from the stars
A better life could wait for me

Every time I lose control I learn a little more
We are not the ones to regulate or justify
Every time I see the world turns round I understand
We are not the ones to dominate or modify

We take control of our whole wide universe
We are pretending we don‘t need no helping hand
We try to take control of all our whole wide world
But we will never understand

Far from the stars
There might be a higher being we may not yet see
Far from the stars
A better life could wait for me

Nobody knows where it begins or where it ends
Time only shows we‘re holding nothing in our hands
Wasting our time trying to know the universe
The end of the line is that we can not live without a strong belief

Far from the stars
There might be a higher being we may not yet see
Far from the stars
A better life could wait for me

5. Burning Sun

[music: Weikath, lyrics: Weikath]

He shows disdain for all this world
Dreams of spaceships, to raise him high
What’s in his head’s made of fantasies
Celestial bodies, all kinda stars

In a different time he’d fly, leave his petty life behind
Pass all planets, make his way through our galaxy – and

Gape in awe at the burning sun
A tangled mesh, insane, divine
Near infinite mighty source
Of a day not bound to end

Spends his days on a cloud it seems
Go and nudge him, ask what it’s like
He’d smile and turn, as if tantalized
Concealing something, ain’t there for real

His illusions make him see his wildest dreams come true
Quite the helmsman, his hands clenched on some steering wheel and

Gape in awe at the burning sun
A tangled mesh, insane, divine
Near infinite mighty source
Of a day not bound to end

[Solo]

Gape in awe at the burning sun
A tangled mesh, insane, divine
Near infinite mighty source
Of a day not bound to end

Gape in awe at the burning sun
A tangled mesh, insane, divine
Near infinite mighty source
Of a day not bound
A day not bound
A day not bound to end

6. Waiting For The Thunder

[music: Deris, lyrics: Deris]

Sometimes I’m tough and bold
Just sometimes I am frightened
Sometimes I’m dull and cold
But sometimes so enlightened
I made some old mistakes but still did what I wanted
Sometimes the right you turned into wrong
I did it again
I don’t give a damn

Here I am
Waiting for the thunder
Waiting for the pain
Waiting for the rain you’re bringing
Here I go
Waiting for the thunder
I am not a saint
Put on your war paint
And kill me

Sometimes I have to leave
Knowing sometimes I got stranded
Sometimes I want to fight
Though many times I was branded
Whatever life may bring I just try to keep my head up
Sometimes you have no choice but to kill
A man as I am
I don’t give a damn

Here I am
Waiting for the thunder
Waiting for the fate
I am not afraid to face you
Here I go
Waiting for the thunder
Waiting for the flame
Play your lousy game and kill me
And kill me
And kill me
Come and kill me
Come and kill me right now

Here I am
Waiting for the thunder
Waiting for the pain
Waiting for the rain you’re bringing
Here I go
Waiting for the thunder
I am not a a saint
Put on your war paint
And kill me

Here I am
Waiting for the thunder
Waiting for the fate
I am not afraid to face you
Here I go
Waiting for the thunder
Waiting for the flame
Play your lousy game and kill me

7. Hold Me In Your Arms

[music: Gerstner, lyrics: Gerstner]

I need your guarding hand to guide
Me through this sand of time
Then I know, I’ll be alright
Like a child that never cries

I’m aware of all your rules
But you know that I will run
No matter where I’ll follow you
Don’t make me go

Take me, take me
Hold me in your arms
Save me, save me
All I need is your love

Maybe you will leave the light on
While I walk into your dream
I can’t remember where you came from
(See) the breadcrumbs in the snow

I’m aware of all your rules
But you know that I will run
No matter where I’ll follow you
Don’t make me go

Take me, take me
Hold me in your arms
Save me, save me
All I need is your love

Take me, take me
Hold me in your arms
Save me, save me
All I need is your love

Take me, take me
Hold me in your arms (hold me in your arms)
Save me, save me
All I need is your love (all I need is your love)

Wake me, wake me
Hold me in your arms
Don’t break me, don’t break me
I just need a place in your heart

Take me, take me (please take me)
Hold me in your arms (hold me in your arms)
Save me, save me
All I need is your love

I need your guarding hand, my bride
‘Til the end of my whole life

8. Wanna Be God

[music: Deris, lyrics: Deris]

He’s a man looking down on the people
He’s a prick you got to really call evil
Cannot be stopped, you cannot change his mind
Shots have been lethal
What he eyes is just there for the taking
What he takes will soon be forsaken
He is rich so he’ll never die
If money can buy
He says

I don’t wanna be an angel
I wanna be god
Mine the key to hell and heaven
I wanna be god
He said – I wanna be god

When a man is just out for the power
All his life, every day, every hour
He should be in the psychiatry
Brainsick and sour
It’s a ghost living just for the money
It’s a cripple with a heart of a mummy
In a game for eternal fame
A contagious fever
He says

I don’t wanna be an angel
I wanna be god
Mine the key to hell and heaven
I wanna be god
I am high, mighty and awed
He said
I wanna be god

9. Straight Out Of Hell

[music: Grosskopf, lyrics: Grosskopf]

Straight out of hell I waste my life not for tomorrow
Straight out of hell I‘m only livin‘ for today
I roll the dice I know that something strange is coming
I‘m cold as ice I always take it as it comes

Ain‘t no eternity, ain‘t no salvation
In this damnation we will burn

Straight out of hell, straight out of hell
There‘s no tomorrow there is no farewell
Straight out of hell, straight out of hell

I‘m gonna lose it but it feels so well
I‘m straight out of hell

No ace to play I live my life with no protection
The price I pay my act of grace will be denied
This road to hell and I won‘t find no resurrection
Cause I will sell my dirty soul to rock n‘ roll

Ain‘t no eternity, ain‘t no salvation
In this damnation we will burn

Straight out of hell, straight out of hell
There‘s no tomorrow there is no farewell
Straight out of hell, straight out of hell
I‘m gonna lose it but it feels so well
Straight out of hell

So sad and lonely I go down
No helping hand no soul around
I lost my faith so long ago
A million tears are gonna flow

Straight out of hell, straight out of hell
There‘s no tomorrow there is no farewell
Straight out of hell, straight out of hell
I‘m gonna lose it but it feels so well
Straight out of hell, straight out of hell
There‘s no tomorrow there is no farewell
Straight out of hell, straight out of hell
I‘m gonna lose it but it feels so well
I’m straight out of hell

10. Asshole

[music: Gerstner, lyrics: Gerstner]

I, never saw you goin straight
You, lying right into my face
High, my expectations were for faith
You, you’re driving me insane

No one came that far, without abilities
You’re the greatest of them all
You lie you steal you betray you don’t feel

You’re an asshole
Typical human being
You’re a sucker
Sucking out energy
Asshole
Typical human being
You motherfucker
Stupid shit you make me flee

I, I’m sick of your stupid ego
No, you are not the only one
You, your manipulation stops here
No, right now we are not friends

No one came that far, without abilities
You’re the greatest of them all
You lie you steal you betray
You don’t feel

You’re an asshole
Typical human being
You’re a sucker
Sucking out energy
Asshole
Typical human being
You motherfucker
Sucking out energy
Asshole
Typical human being
You motherfucker
Stupid shit you make me flee

You’re an asshole
Typical human being
You’re a sucker
Sucking out energy
Asshole
Typical human being
You motherfucker
Stupid shit you make me flee

Asshole
Typical human being
You motherfucker
Stupid shit you make me flee
Asshole!

11. Years

[music: Weikath, lyrics: Weikath]

I see you beg for truth
Here‘s some news I can convey
All your life‘s in your own hands
Flat or steep you define yourself

Take a stance towards life that will keep you strong so you‘re in control
Free your mind and choose from the good things that come your way

See the years passing by
Add your part, fade and die
We‘re all in this scheme to thrive
In a quest to persevere
Don‘t submit to your fears
Even you‘ll see the light

I just heard, you made the call
Untold myths and pains resolved
Time has shown, no time left to tell
Keep your life, you just saved yourself

Build up strength so life can‘t turn awkward, avoid the pigeonholes
Free your mind to choose from the good things that come your way

12. Make Fire Catch The Fly

[music: Deris, lyrics: Deris]

Never again
I told myself
I’ll play with fire
Never again
I’ll come too close
To this desire
My melted wings have just healed
When my facetted eyes are bound in fascination
Never say never say
Never again
Never again

Alright
It’s my last flight
Must go on and on
Until I die
Tonight
Into the light
Must go on and on
One last sigh
Make fire catch the fly

Never again
But just tonight
I heed the calling
This could be the end
I won’t regret then when I’m falling
My melted wings have just healed
But my little mind is bound in fascination
Never say never say
Never again
Never again

Alright
It’s my last flight
Must go on and on
Till I die
Tonight
Into the light
Must go on and on
One last sigh
Make fire catch the fly

13. Church Breaks Down

[music: Gerstner, lyrics: Gerstner]

No one ever knows how evolution goes
The earth is still a plate with emptiness of goals
No matter what you do a priest will suppress your knowledge
The time that passes by makes us recognize
That cross and robe are made not for paradise
Just some odd relics of old worlds dusty mankind

Oh lord is there anyone
Who knows the truth
Of the future and the past
What must we believe
With all our faith
Evolution happens now!
The church breaks down
When science strikes
They played a game
Left crosses in flames

The church breaks down
When science strikes
Deceived us all
Left crosses in flames

Da Vinci was a man back in 1502
A genius on his own who already knew
There must be something more than just the bible
Heretical disease! They called everyone a thief
Who didn’t walk the road that put him on his knees
To pray and glorify their holy waters

Oh lord is there anyone
Who knows the truth
Of the future and the past
What must we believe
With all our faith
Evolution happens now!
The church breaks down
When science strikes
They played a game
Left crosses in flames
The church breaks down
When science strikes
Deceived us all
Left crosses in flames
Left crosses in flames

Dies Irae – di meliora (day of wrath – heaven send us better times)
Dies Irae – di meliora (day of wrath – heaven send us better times)

The church breaks down
When science strikes
They played a game
Left crosses in flames
The church breaks down
When science strikes
Deceived us all
Left crosses in flames
The church breaks down
When science strikes
They played a game
Left crosses in flames
The church breaks down, down down
The church breaks down, down down
Left crosses in flames
Left crosses in flames

14. Another Shot Of Life

[Limited Edition Bonus Track]

[music: Grosskopf, lyrics: Grosskopf]

I am no stranger to darkness
I am no stranger to pain
I had to suffer ’til I went insane
Learning from pain and from heartaches
How to forgive and forget
Never give up ’cause life goes on again

Pushed all around I can’t take it no more
Don’t tell me how to behave
Won’t hide away I can make it for sure
I will survive, I will live my own life

Shot of life
I will take another shot of life
I take my pride – there‘s no price too high for me
Shot of life
I will take another
Shot of life
Shot of life
‘Til I find my destiny

If you feel strange and emotional
Carrying the weight of the world
Open your soul and let the spirit in

It’s not the end of the rainbow
It’s not the end of the line
Your time will come and you will rise again

Pushed all around I can’t take it no more
Don’t tell me how to behave
Won’t hide away I can make it for sure
I will survive, I will live my own life

Shot of life
I will take another shot of life
I take my pride – there‘s no price too high for me
Shot of life
I will take another
Shot of life
Shot of life
‘Til I find my destiny

Shot of life [4x]
I’m leaving all my pain away
My sorrows are not here to stay
Tomorrow comes another day
Another hope, another try

Shot of life
I will take another shot of life
I take my pride – there‘s no price too high for me
Shot of life
I will take another
Shot of life
Shot of life
‘Til I find my destiny

Shot of life …

15. Burning Sun (Hammond Version Dedicated To Jon Lord)

[Limited Edition Bonus Track]

16. No Eternity

[Japanese Limited Edition Bonus Track]

[music: Grosskopf, lyrics: Grosskopf]

Takin‘ my time ain‘t too easy today
No time to live ain‘t no time for dying
No time to talk cause I have to move on
No time for love ain‘t no time for crying
No time to waste not a minute to wait
No time to care because time is money
Time‘s so expensive we can not afford
Only hellfire waits

Sometimes I don‘t care at all tonight I‘m breaking free
Seems like it is my last facility

Time is losing all it‘s pride
We live as if we hide
Away from all our joy and glory
Time is losing all it‘s pride
We live as if there‘s no eternity

Time´s running out it can happen so fast
We’re gonna perish in big haste at last
No turning back cause I can‘t turn the page
Farewell my friend ain´t so long

Sometimes I don‘t care at all tonight I‘m breaking free
Seems like it is my last facility

Time is losing all it‘s pride
We live as if we hide
Away from all our joy and glory
Time is losing all it‘s pride
We live as if there‘s no eternity

Time is losing all it‘s pride
We live as if we hide
Away from all our joy and glory
Time is losing all it‘s pride
We live as if there‘s no eternity

No eternity
No eternity