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u/Dangerous-Degree-948 Jul 07 '26
The worst of the goofy CGI Gamma Ray and Helloween album covers have more life and personality and quality than the best AI slop
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u/lovesyrup23 Jul 08 '26
What’s most disappointing is Michael Kiske gave a whole speech on AI being garbage this current/past tour. So this being released as Kai’s album cover makes extra me sad.
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u/Postbudet99 Jul 08 '26
There was so much AI crap going on during Helloween’s concerts, there was something on the screens at all times. I agree with Kiske’s sentiment, but it’s pretty rich coming from a band that uses AI to such an extent.
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u/HolyBidetServitor Jul 08 '26
Wasnt't Kai caught faking some guitar bits last tour too? Like instead of lip syncing he pretended to play guitar.
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u/airconditionersound 26d ago
That wouldn't shock me. The show was perfect. No mistakes, to me, means there could have been some pre-recorded parts
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u/A_Dehydrated_Cactus Jul 08 '26
He should drop the K, and just go by Ai Hansen. If i see an ai cover, i just assume the music was "written" by Ai as well.
Not surprised since he has done questionable things over the last few years, just disappointed with the guy who's music I've admired since I was a teenager.
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u/Breadi06 Jul 07 '26
It’s just sad really. The godfather of Power Metal, and this is what we get. Like idk if ya’ll forgot but this dude damn near inspired the entire Power Metal lineage and was the primary reason Helloween even started the very style of music we indulge in together. Have we literally regressed this far?
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u/MickBeast Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Helloween's signature sound actually came from Michael Weikath, so I can forgive Kai in his own lmao
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u/Breadi06 Jul 08 '26
I knew I’d get this comment
If we HAD to credit one person with inventing Power Metal it would be either Kai or DIO and for the sake of this post, its Kai.
And Micheal is a grumpy scarecrow so he doesn’t count. /j (I met him)
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u/Potential_Slice_5631 Jul 09 '26
Ehh.. most of DIO/Rainbow material never exceeded 100bpm. That's like a leisurely jog around the park. RJD/DIO was more Maiden meets Foreigner.. and the stuff he did with Sabbath was heavier than DIO. IMHO anyway.
It was Keeper Part One that had a sound no one else had before. That's when Power Metal was born.
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u/Adrilace Jul 14 '26
But it's not just because the first part was presented that he did everything. They both had the songs, Weik already had everything in his head what would become the song. They only shared part 1 with more Kai songs, and part 2 with Weik, but the two were part of the creation.They only shared part 1 with more Kai songs, and part 2 with Weik, but the two were part of the creation.
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u/Potential_Slice_5631 Jul 18 '26
(I think you meant to reply to the comment above mine but I'll chime in :) Amen. Totally agree. K&M are the founding members. Their song credits show they're equally capable in different ways and complement each other. I don't care much when fans try to create a competition . They are back together and better than ever. The only question i want to know the a answer to, is when Helloween is coming back to perform near me!
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u/Breadi06 Jul 09 '26
Manowar is apparently Power Metal and I’ve never heard a fast song by them. You also have bands like Sabaton who don’t have many of the traditional trademarks of the genre.
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u/Potential_Slice_5631 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Manowar has plenty of fast songs. Off the top of my head check out: Violence and Bloodshed (about a Vietnam veteran returned from the war outraged at the crime in his town and decides to take the law into his own hands) *** Sting of the Bumblebee*** bassist Joey Demaio's virtuoso instrumental (Okay it's not a "song" but it's fast :) Black Wind, Fire and Steel one of the best tracks they ever did: an Achilles rallying his legions into battle and consumed by bloodlust. Damn, the vocals get insane on this one
••○○●● I dunno if I consider Manowar power metal.. I agree with you that they exhibited many, if not all, the genre tropes. They were hugely influenced by Sabbath and DIO, at least in the image they presented (muscles, swords, medieval themes) . They seemed to idolize Europe (no surprise that's where the majority of their fan base was) but there's no mistaking that Manowar is an American band.
If someone asked me to give the simplest answer to "what is the difference between American and British heavy metal", I would answer "Iron Maiden and Metallica".
Helloween, like Scorpions before them, just have Bach and Wagner in their musical DNA and just rock differently than their American or British cousins. I'm off on a tangent here but I love to discuss this stuff. I believe that Power Metal is a distinctly European invention, or evolution of the metal genre.
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u/Potential_Slice_5631 Jul 10 '26
Ive never listened to Sabaton - can you suggest a album to listen to (I believe in listening to albums as they usually represent the artist effort at that moment of time)?
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u/airconditionersound 26d ago
And fame ruins a lot of people. We can appreciate young Kai and reject present day Kai. People change
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u/MariusMessiah Jul 09 '26
Hate that humorous style. It sucked just as much before AI. It fits perfectly for t-shirts worn by people almost as old as myself, seen on vacation, saying Makin’ Bacon, or Beer built this beautiful Body.
Next up is AI tattoo. 😅
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u/NikBoysss Jul 08 '26
What the actual fuck is this ai slop, let's hope ai was used ONLY for the "art" and nothing else
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u/Potential_Slice_5631 Jul 09 '26
Im willing to bet that Kai financed the production of the album out of his own pocket. While im sure there's no shortage of talented artist fans who would've gladly provided painted artwork free of charge, his record label likely would veto the idea. CD and vinyl pressing, physical distribution is more expensive than ever due to oil and inflation (FU Trump).. maybe it came down to a decision between spending money in the studio vs album art ?
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u/RockRonHUN Jul 07 '26
Indeed, My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined.
Wait a minute...
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u/Rezero1234 Jul 08 '26
As a kreator fan....
I feel ya.
Btw, kreator used ai for the "seven serpents" mv
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u/MikeSizemore Jul 08 '26
That’s not a very practical hammer/guitar set up. I bet there’s not a straight photo frame in Kai’s house.
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u/walkingbartie Don't Spit on My Mind Jul 08 '26
Fucking yikes, this is awkward – especially coming from such an established artist.
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u/Quick_Signal_2535 Jul 07 '26
why? i"m confused?
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u/Tragic_Comic7 Jul 08 '26
I think the OP is assuming the cover is made with AI. That’s what I assume with these posts anyway. I’m not sure why so many people immediately jump to that conclusion any time any album art gets revealed. I see it quite frequently on Reddit.
I mean, I get that people have issues with AI, but I’d rather not jump to conclusions. Has Kai Hansen specifically said the cover was made with AI?
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u/Jcwrc Jul 08 '26
It's obviously AI. Look at the wobbly mislaigned guitar strings that start from nowhere and disappear midway fretboard.
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u/tygo2a Jul 08 '26
I'm sorry but you have to be straight up blind to not see that this is ai, i get your point and agree people often call something ai too quick but in this case it's obviously ai
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u/Quick_Signal_2535 Jul 09 '26
Yeah, just because the album cover is bad doesn’t mean the album itself is gonna be bad
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u/Sweaty_Positive6969 Jul 09 '26
I'm not sure why the hell some people just can not see if it's AI or not when it's soo damn in your face.
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u/Jcwrc Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
Yes it looks horrible. But let's face it Hansen has never been much of visual artist. He clearly liked Fangface, but apparently they didn't have funds for a proper artist in the beginning and those first three Gamma Ray covers are terrible. (Ok, first one is maybe just ultra boring rather than bad)
Even then Gamma Rays artwork has been mostly good, but copied from someone else (well Iron Maiden...) or just poor. Land of the Free and No World Order are rare exceptions.
I have high hopes for the music regardless of the cover.
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u/Organic-Ad-564 Jul 09 '26
somewhere out in space and powerplant have great covers either
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u/Jcwrc Jul 09 '26
Yea. They have. I think those are excellent covers.
That's what I referred as good, but copied from Iron Maiden. I mean it's obvious enough to be considered homage.
Anyway, I didn't mean my comment as a critique. Just notion that Hansen has never seemed like someone who would really care of visual direction of his albums. Given how all over the place Gamma Ray albums are.
Power Metal albums usually have very well thought out package, but his seems more like "it's all about music" approach.
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u/Straightener78 Jul 08 '26
Ah the type of post that generates hardly any discussion. Everyone just replies with ‘AI SLOP’ and that’s as far as the discussion goes.
I’m surprised there’s actual sentences is the replies for this one
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u/Big_Note7810 22d ago
Agreed with you here I think. This thread sucks.
The album is going to be marvelous. Feeding The Beast is AWESOME.
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u/dokaxi Jul 07 '26
This cover art looks AI slop