Helloween Walls of Jericho is the first release from German Heavy Metal band from 1985. From the outset I have to preface that I’ve never been the biggest fan of this band (or really this genre) but I’ll be be the first to admit the lads can really play.
After a fairly token intro the music kicks in “Ride the Sky” and BAM! The riff punches you straight in the face. This is fast and very well controlled traditional Heavy Metal in the vein of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden (for lack of anything else to compare it to) but much faster and more technical in the approach to the way the guitar is being played. The vocals are also probably an off-shoot influence of Priest with the high pitched wailing thing being first and foremost in the sound. Some people don’t dig these vocals, and I can totally dig that. In my younger days, I didn’t really either, I was too busy listening to death metal and more mainstream bands but now as an older and more open minded metalhed I can appreciate it. “Reptile” keeps it moving with more of the same and some very cool bass work sitting under the guitar tracks. It becomes clear that Helloween are rather accomplished musicians, which you have to be to play this kind of stuff.
The gloriousness continues with “Phantoms of Death” and “Metal Invaders”. The listener is taken on a Journey of guitar playing that weaves in and out of reality, defying what could previously be done with a guitar. Soaring guitar solos and vocals and twin guitar harmonies top of what is a musically unbelievable album played at break neck speed. It’s also important to note that that at this point Megadeth had not released anything so there was basically nothing on the scene as far as I can recall (With the exception of Yngwie Malmsteen) who was capable of either performing or releasing anything to this standard.
The album is also immaculately produced, which in itself is a feat for a band that is on its first album. Even more amazing is that guitarist Kai Hansen performs all the vocals on this without being a trained singer and when playing live does both at the same time! Later in the album we have the Anthemic “Heavy Metal (Is the Law)” which only cements where the band sits on things. This album is another one of those albums that is near perfect and captures a time in the 1980s when guitar players were battling each other to be the fastest and most intricate they could be.
Wether you are into this style of Heavy Metal or not the only thing I can say is give this a listen. I can’t see any way this could fail to impress anyone who has any awareness of how the guitar or vocals are peformed as instruments. Pure shred bliss!
For more great Heavy Metal reviews, opinions and other stuff be sure to keep checking back on Metalhed.com on a regular basis!