It’s hard to believe that German power metal pioneers, Helloween are celebrating 40 years!! The band has had its’ share of member line up changes (not uncommon). It’s fascinating their previous self-titled and latest album, Giants & Monsters have all seven band members (so many opinions, so many options).

Giants On The Run: You can count on Helloween’s opener to be energized & uptempo. The verses are dynamic. The chorus is instant ear candy. Musically, this is one of the more interesting tracks on the album. The band wisely revisits the ultra-slick intro riff with single-note riffing & trills harmonized to close out the song.

Savior Of The World: ’Savior’ is really cooking with the double bass drums. There are moments during the chorus which reach the stratosphere. Singer, Michael Kiske’s range remains beyond impressive!

A Little Is A Little Too Much: Here we’ve got a mid tempo rocker. The theme provided by keyboardist, Matthias Elmer is creative & sets the tone. The chorus and guitar solos are excellent!

We Can Be Gods: The electric guitars are the focal point as this song has a raw sound (especially in the beginning). Don’t fret, the chorus is extremely catchy. The interlude with the harmonized pedaling guitars lead us into a a trade off solo section that’s savage \m/

Into The Sun: The album slows down with Into The Sun. Piano & clean guitars pave the way for this ballad. Kiske and Andi Denis both lend their emotive voices.

This Is Tokyo: Here we’ve got the biggest anthem on the album. The chorus has rich back up vocals and is contagious. The tension in the bridge adds variety to the song. Melodic guitars shine throughout this track. Contrasting melodic & dark sequences are offered during the solo section.

Universal: This is a song with an excellent balance of speed & melody. There are moments in this song that capture the fire of Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2. The muted guitar harmonies come to mind. What an explosive solo section replete with speed picking & legato! The chorus is simplistic yet fits the song perfectly.

Reigning Phoenix: We get a sample of the chorus to start this selection. The guitar mirrors the vocal line. While the first verse is both quiet and moody, the second offers some furious down picking. Another solid chorus and guitar solo.

Majestic: Our final track is arguably, the most musical and progressive on this release. What a clever build up with electronics and bass guitar. More elements are added until the band is in full gear for the verse. The steady verses intertwined with the bombastic choruses provides us with how special this song will be. At the 5 1/2 minute mark the band choose a synchronized pattern with snare drums, bass and guitars. It’s a unique way to lead us into the solo section. There is some tasteful bending along with some flashy alternate picking. Much like Universe, Majestic exceeds eight minutes. Still, it left me as a listener wanting more…

Helloween continue to prove that they can write hard-charging songs with melody and taste. These Germans still have it!