Walls of Jericho

Released in 1985, Walls of Jericho is the definitive debut of Helloween and a foundational text for European power metal. While the band is globally famous for the Michael Kiske era, this album features founding guitarist Kai Hansen on lead vocals. Hansen's delivery is significantly more aggressive and 'street' than Kiske's, giving the album a speed metal edge that borders on thrash. Recorded for Noise Records, the production is famously raw, emphasizing the frantic double-bass drumming of Ingo Schwichtenberg and the pioneering twin-guitar interplay between Hansen and Michael Weikath. The album is historically significant for moving beyond the NWOBHM influence into a faster, more melodic territory that would influence thousands of bands across the continent. It remains a fan favorite for its unbridled energy and the epic songwriting found on tracks like 'How Many Tears'.