HELLOWEEN – “Best Time” (Official Music Video)

Return of a Power Metal Institution

Helloween’s self-titled 2021 album arrived as a genuine event in heavy music. It was immediately embraced by fans and critics, shot to No. 1 in Germany and Spain, reached the Top 5 in seven countries, and appeared inside the Top 15 of album charts 15 times worldwide. The record’s success reaffirmed the band’s enduring appeal and the vitality of modern power metal. Out of its 12 tracks, the buoyant single Best Time quickly emerged as a celebration piece, a sing-along built for crowds and late-night catharsis, and has since logged millions of streams.

Anthem of Optimism

Cast as the album’s party-starter, Best Time leans into themes of hope, renewal and uncomplicated joy. Its hook is as plainspoken as it is unshakeable, the kind of chorus that resonates on first listen and only grows with repetition. That directness is key to the song’s mood. Rather than chase grandeur, it foregrounds the simple thrill of moving forward, of seeing neon lights and feeling, as the lyric puts it, “alright.” It is a statement of intent from a veteran band enjoying their moment and inviting listeners along.

From Neo-Noir Spark to Guitar-Driven Surge

Guitarist and songwriter Sascha Gerstner sketched the initial blueprint with an “’80s neo noir” sensibility. As he explains, the central riff began life as a synth figure before being refashioned for guitars, keeping its sleek, neon-lit silhouette but translating it into the band’s twin-axe vocabulary. Frontman Andi Deris immediately connected with the song’s core line and collaborated on its final shape. The result is a tight, radio-bright construction that still bears the craftsmanship of classic Helloween.

Sonically, the track balances hard-charging rhythm guitars with glossy melodic accents. Harmonized leads flicker at the edges, the rhythm section pushes an up-tempo groove with clean precision, and a discreet layer of keys nods to the song’s synth-born origin without overwhelming the attack. The chorus blossoms through stacked vocals, with the band’s trademark interplay between powerful leads and backing harmonies giving the hook an air-punch lift. It is power metal engineered for maximum daylight, trimmed of excess and tuned for exhilaration.

Voices in Peak Form

Helloween’s multi-vocal identity is a defining strength throughout the album, and Best Time harnesses that dynamic with focus. Deris delivers the verses with crisp intent, while the choruses burst into broader, collective harmonies that recall the band’s classic lineage. The performance prioritizes clarity and momentum, keeping the phrases uncluttered so the chorus lands with absolute impact. It is the sound of seasoned singers choosing economy over ornament, and finding the sweet spot between grit and uplift.

A Bright, Cinematic Ride on Screen

The official video extends the song’s glow into a vivid visual narrative. Directed by Martin Häusler (who previously steered the band’s “Skyfall” clip), it unfolds as a stylized 3D road movie threaded with performance energy. Live material integrates the group into the frame, blurring the line between a night drive and a stage rush. The concept is built around motion, light and memory, suiting a track about leaving the past in the rearview.

Canadian vocalist Alissa White-Gluz makes a welcome guest appearance, reflecting on shared festival bills and South American touring in years prior. Her cameo underscores the video’s spirit of community, a nod to the camaraderie that accumulates over decades of international stages.

From Studio Euphoria to Tour Adrenaline

Best Time also became a timely bridge from isolation back to live music. The United Forces World Tour 2022/23 launched on May 4 in Manchester, reuniting Helloween with their global audience and pairing them with Swedish heavy hitters HammerFall. It is a package built for full-tilt arenas, a double dose of melodic firepower arriving after a prolonged live drought. On stage, the single functions as both release valve and rallying cry, a succinct reset that primes the setlist’s deeper dives.

Physical Edition and Studio Extras

To mark the single’s spotlight moment, the band issued a collector-minded vinyl release on May 27, 2022. True to the song’s vintage-leaning DNA, the package foregrounds classic aesthetics and studio nuance.

Format: 12-inch vinyl, limited to 2,000 copies, issued in three color variants.
Artwork: An ’80s-inspired cover by cartoonist and longtime Helloween fan Marcos Moura.
Studio Variant: An alternative, exclusive vocal mix prepared by longtime producer Charlie Bauerfeind, offering a different angle on the song’s layered harmonies.
Merch Option: A bundle edition pairing the vinyl single with a t-shirt for collectors.

Why It Connects

Best Time captures Helloween at a moment of renewed alignment, folding decades of melodic metal craft into three-plus minutes of unguarded positivity. It speaks to the band’s history without leaning on nostalgia, and it meets the present with clear-eyed, high-voltage confidence. As a single and as a video, it is the right song at the right time: lean, luminous, and built to be sung back at full volume.