HELLOWEEN – Giants & Monsters

Helloween hardly need an introduction, but forty years into their career the German legends are still proving why they sit atop the power metal mountain. With 15 gold records, six platinum awards, and over ten million albums sold, the “pumpkins” continue to carve their legacy deeper into heavy metal history. Their self-titled 2021 record reunited the “Magnificent Seven” lineup — with three singers, three guitarists, and a rhythm section for the ages — and quickly hit #1. Now, in 2025, the follow-up Giants & Monsters arrives as both a celebration of their four decades of music and a bold statement that Helloween are still at the peak of their creative powers.

Production & Sound

Produced by long-time collaborators Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, Giants & Monsters is nothing short of a masterclass in modern power metal production. Recorded with meticulous attention to detail — including Dani Löble tracking every song across three different drum kits before deciding on the final tone — the record captures the band’s full dynamic range. The mix, handled at the legendary Wisseloord Studios, is pristine yet powerful, offering both clarity and punch.

Musically, the album balances tradition and reinvention. Opener “Giants on the Run” erupts with classic Helloween fire, powered by Andi Deris’ commanding lead, while “Savior of the World” (sung by Michael Kiske) feels like it could slot right into the Keeper of the Seven Keys era. Kai Hansen’s songwriting adds his signature cosmic flair on tracks like “We Can Be Gods” and “Majestic”, while Sascha Gerstner’s “Universe (Gravity for Hearts)” delivers sweeping, progressive grandeur across its eight-minute runtime. The interplay between the three vocalists remains the band’s not-so-secret weapon: Deris, Kiske, and Hansen trade off leads seamlessly, but it’s their harmonies — equal parts soaring, dramatic, and emotive — that push this album into classic territory.

Ballads like “Into the Sun” showcase emotional depth with orchestration and heartfelt vocal interplay, while hard-driving numbers such as “This Is Tokyo” and “Hand of God” keep the album firmly grounded in melodic aggression. From speed-laden burners to symphonic epics, Giants & Monsters delivers variety without losing cohesion.

Final Notes

Giants & Monsters is everything a Helloween fan could hope for: big riffs, soaring melodies, clever songwriting, and immaculate performances from a band that somehow refuses to slow down even after forty years. It may not dethrone the band’s absolute classics, but as a sequel to their 2021 reunion record, it more than holds its ground and solidifies the “Magnificent Seven” as one of the greatest lineups in heavy metal history.

Bottom line: Giants & Monsters is another triumphant chapter for Helloween, and proof that true power metal giants never fade.

Lineup

• Andi Deris – Vocals
• Michael Kiske – Vocals
• Kai Hansen – Guitar, Vocals
• Michael Weikath – Guitar
• Sascha Gerstner – Guitar
• Markus Grosskopf – Bass
• Daniel Loeble – Drums

Giants & Monsters – Tracklist

1.    Giants On The Run
2.    Savior Of The World
3.    A Little Is A Little Too Much
4.    We Can Be Gods
5.    Into The Sun
6.    This Is Tokyo
7.    Universe (Gravity For Hearts)
8.    Hand Of God
9.    Under The Moonlight
10.    Majestic

Check out the official video for “This is Tokyo” by the mighty Helloween off of their new album: Monsters & Giants