Helloween - Better Than Raw (1998)

While Helloween have generally been seen as the kings of power metal for some time now, I haven't been in complete adoration of them, but at the same, I do like them, and this album is a most enjoyable, almost fun listen. It's fast and breezy, with varying topics, including one,  "Lavdate Dominvm", which is sung completely in Latin, and seems to be a dig at TV evangelists (then again, Wikipedia says it's a tribute to the band's fans in Roman Catholic countries), while "Hey Lord!" is a call to God of some sort. Helloween are going religious.
I also must mention the cover. I've read it's inspired by The Smurfs, with the mad lady and the pumpkins replacing the little blue critters. Now, I can't stand the Smurfs, so that is enough to impress in my books.

***1/2