Helloween’s Unarmed does the anniversary / best-of album one better by not just compiling songs from other albums, but by seeing the band re-record some of their favorite tracks with their current line-up... and give the lot the "unplugged" treatment that can range from acoustic ballad to funky lounge, to pure acoustic double bass drumming beneath undistorted electric guitar.

The track list is pretty well-chosen (although something from the Helloween / Walls of Jericho album would have been nice), the variety of styles keeps the album fresh, and like any Helloween album, Unarmed is fun.

However... "unarmed." You’d think they would have also unarmed the Auto-Tune on Andi Deris’ voice. Especially considering it’s an "acoustic" record, the digital, treacly sheen on so much of the album’s vocals sounds particularly abhorrent, which drags the album down in a major way. Too bad. (6/10)