Eight years have passed, that they are not few, since the brilliant return of Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen to the breast of Helloweenone of the most shocking meetings that are remembered in the international sphere of Heavy Metal. Since then, synergies and complicity among the seven members of the monumental German band, precursor of vivacity and melodic profusion of the European Power Metal, have only eased and grow, to the point of having coined ‘Giants & Monsters’an album, second of this formation ‘Pumpkins United’, which will see the light through Reigning Phoenix Music he August 29 With many ballots to mark an era, a turning point in the long trajectory of more than 40 years of the band. We had the honor of traveling to the emblematic Exchange resort studios On the outskirts of Amsterdam (Netherlands) and bring you exclusively the first conclusions.
By Jason Cenador.
Photo: Franz Schepers
Traffic in Netherlands at the beginning of Easter holidays can be a headache. The roads were full and it took a little longer than expected to arrive at the legendary Wisseloord studies located in Hilversum, near Amsterdam, in a pleasant urbanization. After crossing the terracite of the cafeteria that gives its gardens, we enter a place with a lot of history in which the magic that can only detach a place where historical discs have been registered, where they have stepped on some of the largest rock and metal bands in the world. From Iron Maiden Judas Priest going through Def Leppard, The Police, Queensryche o Manowarall have paraded through a machine room in which jewels well known by all have been made. We show it to you in the Reel under these lines.
“The best 2025 metal album? Probably yes”
Helloween is also part of that elite club, and the new album they have cooked with the production of Charlie Bauerfeind And the genius Dennis Ward He is up to the best of his career. We say it taxatively, without hyperbolizing and without hesitation. Only one listening, a privileged listening in front of a sound table with more commands and buttons than a spacecraft, was enough to elevate to ‘Giants & Monsters’ to the category of Honor Registration.
Jason Cenador with Michael Kiske and Andi Deris
If the homonym ‘Helloween’ launched in 2021 gave a good account of the splendid state of form and the good harmony among all the members of the German band, this new work goes much further and exceeds its ribbon with past slack.
In it, we find pieces of true epic goldsmith and powermetalera as the initial “Giants on the Run”With Andi deris in his best moment in a vocal way daring even with guttural, and Kai Hansen always splendid; The impressive “We Can Be God”of powerful and overwhelming guitar courtesy of the virtuous triumvirate formed by Hansen himself, Michael Weikath and Sascha Grestner; The great “Universe (Gravity for Hearts)”with a Michael Kiske for whose throat it seems that time has not passed since those mythical ‘Keeper of the Seven Keys’; or the conclusive “Majestic”wide, huge and instrumentally stunning.
From the frantic speed of “Saviour of the World”overflowing and the height of the great hymns of its past stage, to the accompaniment of the surprising, emotional and deep ballad “Into the Sun”Helloween has marked the one that is probably the best metal album of this 2025. The profusion of keyboard arrangements, the perfect vocal coexistence between Michael Kiske, Andi deris and, to a lesser extent, Kai Hansen, and the amazing brilliance and vitality that does not remain an apex of fierce and metal muscle to the plaque.
Jason Cenador and Michael Weikath
It seems inevitable to enjoy and squeeze the wave relieved of the rocker and shameless “A Little Is a Little too Much”vibrate with accessible “This Is Tokyo”with winks at melodic hard rock and the novelty era of the group; segregate adrenaline in bolbotones to the sound of the defined and powerful “Hand of God” and let the unusually accessible and bright “Under the Moonlight”.
The feeling when listening is completed was of some disbelief, of fascination and abstraction that only a higher category album can achieve. But we had to return to the earthly world, land, and chop something in the bar of studies, which was about to close, before undertaking an interview with two of Helloween exponents that you can read exclusively in future heavy numbers, in which we will tell you all the details and impressions of the protagonists of ‘Giants & Monsters’. The best 2025 metal album? Probably yes. Stay very attentive!
Commemorative exhibitor of the recording of ‘Subwhere Back in Time’ by Iron Maiden
Tracklist de ‘Giants & Monsters’ and vocalists in each song:
1. Giants On the Run – Deris & Hansen
2. Savior of the World – Kiske
3. A Little Is a Little Too Much – Deris & Kiske
4. We Can Be Gods – Hansen & Kiske & Deris
5. Into the Sun – Deris & Kiske
6. This Is Tokyo – Deris & Kiske
7. Universe (Gravity for Hearts) – Kiske
8. Hand of God – Neighbor
9. Under the Moonlight – Kiske
10. Majestic – Hansen & Kiske & Deris
Helloween is in concert next November 15 in The Leganés cover (Madrid)presenting his new album and commemorating his 40th anniversary In a unique show in our country. Tickets are on sale in This link.
Do not miss the special article by celebrating the four decades of the mythical German band in La Heavy 471April number that continues for sale with Ghost on cover in kiosks for only € 5 and in Our online store for € 6, shipping included!
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