Kentish Town's Forum is bustling with melodic metal adherents keen to catch German power metal icons Helloween back in the capital after three years. Support is from fellow countrymen Rage, who maintain a strong metal profile on the continent but are a less frequently uttered name on the British Isles. Formed thirty years ago, this trio fuses heavy metal with power and some speed metal to create distinct headbanging tracks palatable to the hordes of attendees who are unfamiliar with these Germans but provide a solid ovation at the conclusion of each track. The likes of 'Black in Mind', 'End of All Days' and 'Don't Fear the Winter' boast clean and catchy melodies complimented with thrash-influenced rhythms and heaviness. The final song of the night is 'Higher than the Sky' that sees an inclusion of excepts of LynardSkynard's'Sweet Home Alabama' and Dio's'Holy Diver', securing a rapturous response throughout the venue. This is a fantastic way to whet the appetite for the headliners.
An intro tape of the instrumental 'Walls of Jericho' guides the venue's attention to the stage and Helloween appear, armed with the classic double bass drum-led'Eagle Fly Free' – a decision the fans heartily agree on. This is immediately followed by another live staple, namely 'Dr Stein' with significant portions of people singing along to each word with the chorus elevating the volume even further. There is plenty of movement on the spacious stage as the Germans interact with each other playfully, often pulling humorous faces and mirroring their music's tongue-in-cheek nature.
Last year saw these Germans release 'My God Given Right' and the title track is the first of the album to be represented tonight, much more contemporary in sound but still harnessing key Helloween guitar leads. Their sound draws influence from classic metal such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest but with a healthy does of double bass drum work (that would help define the power metal sound) and quirky guitar work that is uniquely their own. Surprisingly, 'The Time of the Oath' is heavily represented tonight with selections including 'Steel Tormentor', 'Power' and 'Forever and One (Neverland)'making the cut. 'Mr Torture' and 'Where the Rain Grows' are particular highlights of the night and prove that Helloween's worthy albums are not confined to the '80s exclusively. DaniLöble provides a drum solo to vary the pace of the set but it feels like the audience is overall unenthused by it and is eager for more songs.
With such a lengthy back catalogue, it is impossible for Helloween to satisfy all of the punters but they make a valiant effort with their usual inclusion of a medley; the opening of 'Halloween' truly increases the heartbeat of the venue before it soon gives way to 'Sole Survivor' then 'I Can', followed by the energetic 'Are You Metal?' before concluding with the end of'The Keeper of the Seven Keys', the crowd wild with ovation yet again. With the final song up next, the audience know which song is glaringly missing from the setlist and surely enough, the Germans unveil their beloved 'I Want Out', voices from the fans filling the venue as this melodic tune concludes the set excellently.
Helloween may be past thirty years but the experience they have accrued ensures they put on a thoroughly entertaining and enthusiastic performance, cementing their position as one of the best power metal bands in existence and their live shows are opportunities not to be missed.
FUTURE GIGS
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