Helloween - Giants and Monsters

Angry Metal Guy 70

Steel was there 3000 years ago when Helloween dropped their debut EP in 1985 A.D. It was a rough, oddball dose of high-energy metal full of goofy charm. It wasn’t until their Walls of Jericho debut hit later that same year that jaws were really put on the floor. It was fast, frantic, over-the-top, and most importantly, insanely hooky. In a time when Metallica and Slayer were burning America down with angry macho man thrash, these crazy Krauts showed that metal could be fast, fun, and tongue-in-cheek. The Keeper albums cemented Helloween as a major force and defined the parameters of what would become Euro-power metal, and the rest is metal history. The band had ups and downs in the decades that followed, losing founder Kai Hansen and vocal titan Michael Kiske along the way. 2021s self-titled release had the novel concept of reuniting the band with Hansen and Kiske, and along with current frontman Andi Deris, they delivered a 3-pronged vocal attack. It worked way better than expected, and Helloween was a fun romp that flashed moments of long-forgotten power glory. Because I’m a cynical, jaded ape, I honestly didn’t expect the 3-way pumpkin bump to continue beyond a one-album stand, but here we are a few years later with Giants and Monsters, and all 3 vocalists are still hanging around. But can lightning strike the pumpKings twice?

Strangely enough, yes! Giants and Monsters is a strange collection of styles, and it’s only a power metal album about 30% of the time. It plays out more like an Avantasia album than something you’d expect from Helloween, but it works nonetheless. There’s a looseness to the writing, suggesting that the group has become more comfortable working together, and as a result, you get a wide-ranging set of songs covering everything from classic power metal to hair metal and stadium rock. Opener “Giants on the Run” is the perfect introduction as it’s stylistically close to the classic Kiske-era Helloween. It’s got that power metal energy and cheesy, cheery charm. The Pumpkin Pi Boys kill it vocally, and there’s a satisfying chorus. Kai has an especially cool vocal segment, and there’s even a spot where someone (probably Kai) does a dramatically raspy King Diamond-esque thing. “Savior of the World” lets Michael Kiske do his thing on a power-centric song that reeks of the Keepers era and has that big, soaring chorus Helloweenies live for. It’s hard charging and gourd, clean fun. After this happily familiar opening salvo, the band toys with hair rock in the vein of Kissin’ Dynamite (“A Little is a Little Too Much”) and dramatic power balladery (“Into the Sun”), and things just keep coming up plumpkin pumpkin!

There are some big standouts that really make the case for this power trio thing being the squash serum the band needed. “We Can Be Gods” is a super sticky power rocker that sits between Keepers and the Deris age. “Hand of God” is the progeny of albums like Better Than Raw and The Dark Ride, and it dabbles in Gothy-electronica before clubbing with you a winning chorus. “Universe (Gravity of Hearts)” is an 8-minute power metal bomb dropped at just the right time. The proven formula of soaring vocals over speedy riffs and pounding drums still holds up when the writing is sound, and here it works an iron charm. They make a similar statement on the 8-minute closer “Majestic,” blending their power metal roots with 80s-centric anthemic heavy metal. The guitar work across this track is stellar, and all 3 singers prove their worth. There are no duds present, and every song has its weird charms and endearing quirks. At 52 minutes, Giants and Monsters avoids feeling long despite the presence of multiple 8-minute epics. That’s no easy feat, but these tricky calabash wranglers pull it off with smart track ordering and a great ebb and flow.

On an album with 3 notable vocalists, the big star is the diverse and consistently sharp songcrafting. The absence of throwaway tracks is a win, and the way the album rolls from strength to strength is impressive for a band this long in the tooth. Naturally, Michael Kiske impresses, though he doesn’t often employ his roof-raising, higher-register wails. Andi Deris carries a lot of water and does a great job. His voice is tailor-made for the more rock-centric moments, but he shows his versatility. Some of my favorite moments belong to Kai Hansen, probably due to chronic nostalgia for the early days of Helloween. He can’t do the crazy things he once did vocally, but it’s very comforting hearing him, and he picks his spots well. Guitarists Michael Weikath, Sascha Gerstner, and Mr. Hansen travel through genres and styles, creating a captivating tapestry of leads and harmonies. The solo work across the board is impressive, and they show some balls and grit on the faster cuts.

I expected Giants and Monsters to be a comedown from Helloween, but Giants is actually a stronger, more refined album overall. Maybe the age of the Great Pumpkin really has come back around. Two strong albums back-to-back don’t lie, so something is up in the patch. The power of 3 has bound them and, in the darkness, ripened them. May their newfound youth be fertile and enduring.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 234 kbps
Label: Reigning Phoenix
Websites: helloween.org | facebook.com/helloweenofficial | instagram.com/helloweenofficial
Releases Worldwide: August 29th, 2025

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