Item: Giants And Monsters
Rating: 9.5
Author: Katerina Stepanikova

Giants And Monsters

Artist: Helloween

Genre: Power Metal

Record Label: Reigning Phoenix Music

Release Date: 29 August 2025

Not many bands can say they have shaped power metal to the shape millions of people know and love, but that is not the case for Helloween, which has taken over the stages of Germany forty years ago, not knowing it would become one of the most important bands of the worldwide metal scene. And for this big occasion, the band joined forces with the producers Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward to release a new album long four years, titled Giants And Monsters, as well as prepare for a big tour across Europe and the United Kingdom.

From the beginning of ‘Giants On The Run’, the listeners are met with the familiar and heartfelt sound of Helloween’s music, that combines Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen and Sascha Gerstner’s powerful riffs, Daniel Löble’s stand-out drums, Markus Grosskopf’s leading bass and the unique triple lead vocals of Andi Deris, Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen, that are alternating throughout Giants and Monsters. The song serves as a perfect introduction to the ten-track long release, as it not only has catchy lyrics, but also a memorable bridge and solos.

Setting up the bar high from the start, the German giants only managed to keep the expectations higher with ‘Savioor Of The World’ and ‘A Little Is A Little Too Much’. While ‘Savior Of The World’ offers that energetic melody and Kiske’s staple high-pitched vocals, so well known to anyone who listens to the band, ‘A Little Is A Little Too Much’ dives into another side of power-metal, as it might sound less upbeat, but still serves unforgiving solos and a modulation, that is sure to bring tears into anyone’s eyes. The song also uses piano for its majority, bringing back another classic component of the band’s signature style.

Right after the two journeys to the past, Helloween places one of the best tracks of the whole album, ‘We Can Be Gods’. Being special not only for bringing all three vocalists – Kiske, Hansen and Deris together as the only song on Giants And Monsters, but also for its wild, yet mesmerising nature, as the riffs are intricately arranged in a harmonious symphony of guitars that are layered together. Not only that, but the drums are also a stand-out on this one as they aggressively make their way through the strong but delicate thread of the melody. “To live and let live is the only way out for us. I know it ain’t easy, but it’s worth a try. We can’t live too much, high and above. We can be gods sometime in life.” Carrying the chorus in a three-man harmony adds so much importance and depth to the song; it is easy to get lost in playing it on repeat and memorising word by word, which is prone to happening.

After the emotional charge, the band comes with a slower-paced song that is even more emotional, as it offers Deris and Kiske’s vocals intertwined into a spectacular performance, followed by an intriguing solo that only elevates the atmosphere of the release. Changing right into the band’s tribute to Japan, ‘This Is Tokyo’ is an uplifting song that brings new elements to the band’s sound. Deris expressed the personal significance this song holds for him: “I’ve always wanted to write this song. Japan plays a special role in my life because I had my first big successes there. I wanted to create a tribute to Japan for a while now and finally found the right lyrics. Because ‘Tokyo’ sounds better than ‘Japan,’ the city stands for a whole country that is very important to me.”

‘Universe (Gravity Of Hearts)’, ‘Hand Of God’, ‘Under The Moonlight’ and ‘Majestic’, the last four songs of Giants and Monsters, are interestingly different from each other. While ‘Universe (Gravity Of Hearts)’ and ‘Under The Moonlight’ offer another exciting insight into the world of pure power metal, although boasting differences such as riffs and tempo, ‘Hand Of God’ and ‘Majestic’ take a more modern approach to the music with the help of synths and different soundscapes. ‘Majestic’ also offers an extensive guitar solo that is not to be missed, as it is the most impressive solo of all of them on the album, closing out the album pompously.

Helloween came back with full force, loads of inspiration and three majestic voices to create what is one of the greatest albums of the year. Even after forty years, the band still has its charm, sharpness and wit, and pushes forward to break music barriers, while staying true to the music that shaped its success, creating an interesting and modernised approach to the genre that has been around since the band was formed.