HEAVENS GATE
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Band Info

Heaven's Gate, are a German band that sadly have been not released any material since 1999 due to the band being split up. The musical style is hard rock nothing too heavy but enough to get the juices flowing. I personally consider them to be what Bon Jovi could have been had they been a touch harder. Heaven's Gate started releasing albums in 1989 but prior to this date from 1982-1989 they were releasing records as a band called Steeltower and then Carrion. Heaven's Gate, take their influences musically from bands such as Helloween and this is very apparent in many of their songs. Livin' in Hysteria is the second album the band released, two years after the first album giving this one a 91' release date.

Heaven's Gate Are

Thomas Rettke - vocals
Sascha Paeth - guitars
Bonny Bilski - guitars
Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - bass
Thorsten Müller - drums

Track Listing

1. Livin' in Hysteria (4:36)
2. We Got the Time (4:31)
3. The Never-Ending Fire (5:27)
4. Empty Way to Nowhere (4:49)
5. Fredless (2:18)
6. Can't Stop Rockin' (5:20)
7. Flashes (3:21)
8. Best Days of My Life (5:50)
9. We Want It All (3:53)
10. Gate of Heaven (4:35)

*Total Running Time: 43:40

Livin in Hysteria

Livin' in Hysteria
The album title track starts things off with great flair. The meaning of the song isn't entirely clear perhaps down to somewhat poorly written lyrics. Musically and vocally the song is a real treat. Whilst it is a bonafide hard rock track it is very much like an eighties style rock song complete with whiny lead guitar. The track is pretty fast and full of intensity. This is in part where the album is intriguing because although it had a 1991 release the album musically fits with the very early eighties style of hard rock. Livin' in Hysteria also has a treat in store a little past halfway through where there is a full on electric guitar medley that would make Ywngwie Malmsteen proud.

We Got the Time
Both this song as well as "Best Days of My Life" are quite unique because In Germany the videos were shown in all the schools because of their anti-drugs messages. The track is another very up tempo track with a racy drum beat and guitar accompaniment. Nice clear vocals and better lyrics give the song great clarity. The song plods along just nicely.

The Never-Ending Fire
As soon as this track starts you know its a little different from the rest. There is a sound of wind swirling and you hear a warrior talking. This track is more of a stab at power metal in its very early form and it would fit perfectly on a Manowar album. The song is very anthemic and sounds like a bit of a warriors chant type song as they go off to battle. This is hardly surprising with lyrics such as this.

In the beginning of the medieval centuries
Ten warriors of steel had been on
The path of glory to save the ruined land
From an evil beast...

On their way back home, after a dreadful
Fight, they're chanting for the victims
They're lost in the war...

But the fire still burns...

Forever they're fighting
On their way for the "HOLY SWORD"
Together they're crying
For the victims they've lost in the war

Even though it is a slight change in musical style the band pull it off and do a fantastic job.

Empty Way to Nowhere
This track has one of the catchiest chorus' on the album. The track is about other people's views of those into heavy metal, stereotypically evil, greasy, blah,blah and are on the empty way to nowhere. The song is a sort of response to that concept about living life according to rock and so what, it's not exactly how you see it.

Fredless
Two minutes and eighteen seconds of pap. It is instrumental garbage which is just guitar play. If it was the sort of catchy melodies that Axel Rudi Pell does then i would like it but it just sounds so naff. Where is that skip button again?

We Can't Stop Rockin'
Bit of a contradiction since the band have broken up, but i get the point. If heavy metal had like a theme song, one that represents it as an entity, this would be a worthy contender. The song is awesome and very addictive. You cannot listen to this on your ipod because you tend to walk through shopping precincts punching your fist in the hair screeching "We can't stop rockin" The song is full of chants, screeches and yells, mind blowing stuff.

Flashes
Not a bad song but not quite as keen on this one. It does not have the appeal of the other tracks because with all the others there is always a catchy tune there but that is missing from this track. It is more of a stocking filler track.

Best Days of my Life
This takes the album into unknown territory with a nice ballad. This track is great in every way. Even the vocals are very lush. The lead singer is better than many of the bands of the era and i reckon that his voice shares some similarities to Axel Rose from Guns N' Roses. This is a ballad of the upmost quality.

We Want It All
Oh yes i like this, plenty of feedback head banging whiny guitar and heavy rock bliss. There is heaps of fast sweeping guitar playing and a very appealing tune. This is what rock is all about. The track reminds me a little of bands like kiss and Motley Crue but more appealing.

Gate of Heaven
If any of you are familiar with the artist Dio, as in Ronnie James Dio, his solos stuff after Black Sabbath, this track is like that. Think of tracks like Rainbow in The Dark, and Holy Diver this is along those sorts of lines. A fantastic finish to the album and the note holding at the end of the song is really cool.

In a nutshell

The types of folk that will like this album are those that like bands such as Dio, Helloween, Heart, Cinderella etc. The album is full of traditional metal music, some of the finest examples of hard rock you will ever hear. I cannot find fault the album is exceptional. It is hard enough to get you going but not too hard so as to induce a migraine. It is all very appealing stuff because the tunes are very pleasing to hear and make the songs stick in your head for hours. If you are a person that enjoys rock music put your faith in me on this album, it ticks all the right boxes and is lights you up when you listen to it., there is something about the tunes in the songs that makes them ingratiate themselves on you.

Where to get it

The album is actually discontinued and you cannot get it anywhere in the United Kingdom....period. Luckily enough on Amazon there are one or two places in Germany etc still selling the album.