Rock of Nations with Dave Kinchen & Shane McEachern · Rock of Nations with Dave Kinc

#356 #Helloween Brings The Giants & Monsters!

·39 min·3 clips

Danny recalls Ozzy Osbourne cheering him through a window as he practiced drums backstage.

This episode of Rock of Nations features an interview with Daniel Löble, the drummer for the German power metal band Helloween. Hosts Dave Kinchen and Shane McEachern speak with Löble about the band's new album, "Giants and Monsters," and the recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne. Löble reflects on his personal encounters with Ozzy Osbourne, recalling shared concert bills and a backstage memory of Ozzy cheering him on while riding an exercise bike. He discusses the profound musical influence of Black Sabbath and drummer Bill Ward, whose jazz-influenced, heavy grooves impacted his own playing. The conversation details the collaborative songwriting process for "Giants and Monsters," where band members swapped ideas, leading to a unified and ego-free creative environment. Löble explains the technically demanding recording process, which involved creating three distinct drum versions—heavy metal, rock, and a "stadium rock" setup with a massive 28-inch "Big Bertha" bass drum—for many songs. A specific challenge arose during the recording of "Hand of God," where initial creative disagreements with a songwriter were resolved by Löble crafting a drum loop with his hands on a table. He identifies "Universe" as his favorite track from the new album, describing it as a showcase of all Helloween's musical trademarks. Löble distinguishes between his artistic mindset during recording and his entertainer role for live performances, naming "Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part III" and "Occasion Avenue" as particularly difficult songs to replicate on tour. He characterizes the band's longtime producer, Charlie Bauerfeind, as a meticulous "pedantic badass" who pushes him to his limits. The drummer expresses admiration for the passion of drummers like Lars Ulrich, regardless of technical perfection. Löble laments a cultural shift where the goal for many is becoming a social media star rather than experiencing the collaborative energy of being in a band. The episode has a conversational and reflective tone, blending nostalgic anecdotes with detailed shop talk about music creation. Listeners interested in the craft of drumming, behind-the-scenes album production, and classic heavy metal legacy will enjoy this episode. Those seeking highly structured debate or non-musical topics might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A warm Helloween interview about grief, drum choices, and why the rehearsal room still matters.

The conversation stays grounded in grief, rehearsal-room craft, and the way a drum part can reshape a song. Daniel Loble returns to the same core idea with useful restraint: when the drums change, the track changes with them.

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Why you'd press play

If you want Helloween craft talk with drummer Daniel Loble on Ozzy, Giants and Monsters, and rehearsal-room energy, press play.

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