Helloween – Walls of Jericho (1985): The Birth of Speed & Power Metal
When discussing the origins of European power metal, few albums carry the historical weight of Walls of Jericho (1985) by Helloween. Released during the explosive era of mid-80s metal, this debut full-length album combined the speed of thrash metal with soaring melodies and fantasy-inspired themes, helping define what would later become the power metal genre.
Released on November 18, 1985 through Noise Records, Walls of Jericho showcased blistering guitar work, aggressive vocals, and relentless drumming. The album features guitarist Kai Hansen on vocals before the arrival of Michael Kiske, giving the record a raw, speed-metal intensity that stands apart from later Helloween releases.
Today, the album is widely regarded as one of the most influential metal releases of the 1980s.
Album Overview
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Artist: Helloween
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Album: Walls of Jericho
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Release Date: November 18, 1985
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Genre: Speed Metal, Power Metal
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Label: Noise Records
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Producer: Harris Johns & Helloween
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Recording Studio: Musiclab Studio, Berlin, Germany
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Length: 39:45
The album expanded on the sound introduced in the band's earlier self-titled EP, pushing the speed and aggression even further. Its fast tempos and melodic guitar harmonies became a blueprint for future European power metal bands.
Tracklist
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Walls of Jericho / Ride the Sky
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Reptile
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Guardians
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Phantoms of Death
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Metal Invaders
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Gorgar
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Heavy Metal (Is the Law)
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How Many Tears
Track Highlights
Ride the Sky
One of the album’s most famous tracks, driven by intense double-bass drumming and a legendary guitar riff.
Metal Invaders
A speed metal anthem celebrating the power and rebellion of heavy metal culture.
How Many Tears
The longest and most epic track on the album, closing the record with progressive structures and dramatic guitar passages.
Album Credits
Band Members
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Kai Hansen – vocals, rhythm & lead guitar
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Michael Weikath – lead guitar
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Markus Grosskopf – bass
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Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums
Production Team
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Producer: Harris Johns & Helloween
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Engineer: Harris Johns
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Studio: Musiclab Studio, Berlin
Cover Art Design and Visual Concept
The album cover for Walls of Jericho was created by artist Johannes Eichenseer, known for several classic metal covers of the era.
Cover Description
The artwork depicts a massive demonic creature smashing through a towering wall while wielding a heavy metal guitar like a weapon. Flames and destruction surround the scene, visually representing the unstoppable force of heavy metal music breaking through barriers.
The visual style reflects classic 1980s metal aesthetics:
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Dark fantasy imagery
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Apocalyptic destruction
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Bold red and orange color palette
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Comic-book-like illustration style
The cover became iconic among early power metal fans and perfectly captures the album’s aggressive energy.
Fun Facts About Walls of Jericho
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The album is often considered one of the first true European power metal albums.
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Vocalist Kai Hansen later stepped down from singing duties to focus on guitar.
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The band later recruited Michael Kiske, who debuted on Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I.
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The album combines elements of speed metal, thrash metal, and classic heavy metal.
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Several songs from the album remain staples in Helloween’s live performances.
Did You Know?
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The opening track Ride the Sky was originally influenced by the song “Speed King” by Deep Purple.
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Drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg was nicknamed “Mr. Smile” because of his constant cheerful attitude.
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Early versions of the album were sometimes sold bundled with the band’s debut EP.
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The album helped inspire later European power metal bands like Blind Guardian and Gamma Ray.
Commercial Performance and Reception
Although Walls of Jericho was not a major commercial hit at the time of release, it gradually gained cult status in the metal underground.
Estimated Sales
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Over 300,000 copies worldwide over the decades through original and reissue releases.
Critical Reception
Modern critics and metal historians now praise the album as a pioneering release.
Average Ratings
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Metal Archives: ~85%
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AllMusic: 4/5
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Classic metal fan communities frequently rank it among the best speed metal albums ever released.
Cultural Legacy
Walls of Jericho laid the groundwork for the global power metal movement that would explode in the late 1980s and 1990s. Its fast riffs, melodic leads, and epic themes influenced countless bands across Europe and beyond.
Just two years later, Helloween would evolve their sound further with the legendary albums Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I and Part II, solidifying their role as pioneers of power metal.
Today, Walls of Jericho remains a must-hear record for fans of speed metal, traditional heavy metal, and the early evolution of melodic metal.
Helloween – The Complete Guide to the Legendary German Power Metal Band
Introduction to Helloween
Helloween is one of the most influential bands in the history of power metal. Formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1984, the band helped define the genre with fast guitar riffs, melodic vocals, fantasy themes, and technical musicianship.
Their groundbreaking albums in the late 1980s created the blueprint for modern European power metal and influenced hundreds of bands across the world.
With a career spanning over four decades, Helloween remains a cornerstone of heavy metal and continues touring and releasing music.
The History of Helloween
Formation and Early Years (1984–1986)
Helloween was formed in Hamburg, Germany by guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg.
Their first recording was the Helloween EP (1985), released through Noise Records. The EP showcased the band’s fast speed-metal style combined with melodic elements.
Their debut full-length album Walls of Jericho (1985) pushed the sound further, becoming a cult classic in speed metal.
The Keeper Era – Birth of Power Metal (1987–1988)
The arrival of vocalist Michael Kiske changed the band dramatically. His powerful, high-pitched vocals allowed the band to move toward a more melodic and epic sound.
This resulted in the legendary albums:
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Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I (1987)
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Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II (1988)
These albums are widely considered the foundation of power metal and remain among the most influential metal releases ever.
The Difficult Years (1990–1993)
Internal conflicts led to major changes:
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Kai Hansen left the band in 1989
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Drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg sadly passed away in 1995 after leaving the band earlier due to health issues
The albums Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991) and Chameleon (1993) experimented with new styles but received mixed reactions from fans.
The Deris Era and Revival (1994–2016)
The band rebounded after recruiting vocalist Andi Deris.
Key albums from this period include:
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Master of the Rings (1994)
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The Time of the Oath (1996)
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Better Than Raw (1998)
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The Dark Ride (2000)
These releases restored Helloween’s reputation and reestablished them as a leading power metal band.
The Reunion Era (2017–Present)
In 2017, former members Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen returned for the Pumpkins United Tour, creating a seven-member lineup.
The reunion album Helloween (2021) became one of the band’s most successful releases in decades.
Helloween Band Members
Current Members
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Andi Deris – lead vocals (1994–present)
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Michael Kiske – lead vocals (1986–1993, 2017–present)
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Kai Hansen – guitars, vocals (1984–1989, 2017–present)
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Michael Weikath – guitars (1984–present)
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Sascha Gerstner – guitars (2002–present)
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Markus Grosskopf – bass (1984–present)
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Daniel LΓΆble – drums (2005–present)
Former Members
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Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums
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Roland Grapow – guitars
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Uli Kusch – drums
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Tommy Hansen – producer and collaborator (not a band member but very influential)
Helloween Discography
Studio Albums
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Walls of Jericho (1985)
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Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I (1987)
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Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II (1988)
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Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991)
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Chameleon (1993)
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Master of the Rings (1994)
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The Time of the Oath (1996)
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Better Than Raw (1998)
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The Dark Ride (2000)
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Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003)
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Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005)
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Gambling with the Devil (2007)
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7 Sinners (2010)
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Straight Out of Hell (2013)
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My God-Given Right (2015)
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Helloween (2021)
Most Successful Helloween Albums
Some of the band’s best-selling and most critically acclaimed albums include:
Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II (1988)
Considered one of the greatest power metal albums ever released.
Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I (1987)
The album that established Helloween’s signature melodic metal sound.
The Time of the Oath (1996)
A commercial and critical success that revived the band’s career.
Helloween (2021)
The reunion album featuring multiple vocalists became a major global success.
Most Popular Helloween Songs
Some of the band’s most famous tracks include:
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I Want Out
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Eagle Fly Free
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Future World
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Dr. Stein
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Halloween
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Ride the Sky
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Power
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If I Could Fly
These songs remain staples in the band’s live performances.
Fun Facts About Helloween
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The band’s name combines “Halloween” and “Hell”.
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Helloween helped establish the European power metal sound.
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Their mascot Jack O’Lantern pumpkin appears on many album covers.
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The song “Halloween” runs over 13 minutes long.
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Their albums heavily influenced bands like Blind Guardian, Stratovarius, and Sonata Arctica.
Trivia About the Band
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The Keeper of the Seven Keys storyline became one of metal’s most famous fantasy themes.
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The band survived multiple lineup changes but kept founding members Weikath and Grosskopf throughout their entire career.
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The Pumpkins United Tour (2017–2018) was one of the most successful tours in their history.
Did You Know?
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The album Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II was originally planned as a double album with Part I.
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Guitarist Kai Hansen later formed the legendary power metal band Gamma Ray.
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Helloween’s music helped shape the sound of modern power metal festivals across Europe.
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Their mascot pumpkin is one of the most recognizable symbols in heavy metal.
The Legacy of Helloween
Helloween is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of power metal. Their melodic songwriting, fantasy themes, and technical musicianship influenced generations of bands.
With over 40 years of history, millions of albums sold, and a loyal global fanbase, Helloween continues to be one of the most respected names in heavy metal.
Download Helloween Albums from Amazon Music
Helloween Full Discography by Labels
More Albums:
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I (1987)
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II (1988)
Helloween - Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991)
Helloween - Master of the Rings (1994)
Helloween - The Time of the Oath (1996)
Helloween - Better Than Raw (1998)
Helloween - Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003)