Testimonies 'N' Testaments: Interview with Michael Kiske from Helloween

Welcome to Testimonies 'N' Testaments, hosted by TNT, bringing you insights from Sydney bands Visualis and Ethereal Realm. In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome the legendary power metal vocalist Michael Kiske from the German powerhouse band Helloween to our media crew.

TNT chats with Michael about everything from the weather down under, the band’s upcoming album Giants & Monsters, Helloween’s enduring love affair with Japan, insights into the band’s artwork, and the dynamics between Helloween’s multiple vocalists.

This is an interview no passionate Helloween or power metal fan should miss!

About Giants & Monsters
Confident and bursting with vigor, the septet presents what probably is the most versatile album of their career. Already the opener “GIANTS ON THE RUN” flips the switch from the very first riff and impressively marks the terrain with the power voices of Andi Deris and Kai Hansen. No trace of restraint – the track takes a breath, takes off and unleashes a roar that leaves no doubt about the blazing pulse of the ten new songs. On this album, the experience and musical enthusiasm of a band that can do anything and everything blazes its way: Heavy, speed, rock, ballad – plain, intricate or progressive. With five strong songwriters and seven world-class musicians, creative limits are set aside once and for all on “GIANTS & MONSTERS”.

Musically rather straightforward and a veritable hit, “A LITTLE IS A LITTLE TOO MUCH” gives Andi Deris and Michael Kiske the space their monumental voices need for an intimate story. “Basically, it’s about the famous straw that breaks the camel’s back. During the writing process, however, I remembered an experience I had at the age of 15 and the lyrics ended up being pretty erotic – about little things that can quickly put an end to a big thing”, grins Deris. “THIS IS TOKYO” is another personal track. “I’ve always wanted to write this song. Japan plays a very special role in my life because I had my first big successes there with Pink Cream 69, and they have always treated me incredibly well. I wanted to create a tribute to Japan and finally had the right idea for the lyrics. Because ‘Tokyo’ sounds better in a chorus than ‘Japan’, the city stands for a whole country that is very important to me.”

“GIANTS & MONSTERS” will be released on August 29, 2025, as CD Jewelcase, CD Digipak (incl. bonus track), Earbook (incl. bonus CD), 2-LP Gatefold (in various colors) and 2-LP Picture (incl. bonus track) and digital.

Artist Line-Up:
Michael Kiske - Vocals
Andi Deris - Vocals
Kai Hansen - Guitar, Vocals
Michael Weikath - Guitars
Sascha Gerstner - Guitars
Markus Grosskopf - Bass
Dani Löble - Drums

FOLLOW HELLOWEEN
FACEBOOK:   / helloweenofficial  
INSTAGRAM:   / helloweenofficial  
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4pQN0...
YOUTUBE:    / helloweenorg  
WEBSITE: https://www.helloween.org/

SOUNDTRACK
Taken From Helloween Album "Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2"
Credits: Arranged By [Songs] – Helloween
Design Concept [Front Cover Concept By] – Michael Weikath
Design [Cover Design By] – Edda Karczewski, Uwe Karczewski
Engineer – Tommy Hansen, Tommy Newton
Management – Sanctuary Music Ltd.
Mixed By – Tommy Hansen (tracks: 1), Tommy Newton (tracks: 2 to 10)
Companies, Etc
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Modern Music (12)
Copyright © – Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
Copyright © – Wintrup
Copyright © – Maldoror (4)
Published By – Maldoror (4)
Published By – Wintrup Music
Recorded At – Horus Sound Studio
Mixed At – Horus Sound Studio
Made By – MPO
Glass Mastered At – Deluxe, Blackburn
Pressed By – Deluxe, Blackburn
Notes:
Manufactured between 2003-2006 when Deluxe (7) was the owner of the Blackburn manufacturing plant.

Recorded and mixed at Horus Sound Studio, Hannover, May/June 1988.

From back cover:
℗ 1987 The copyright in these sound recordings is owned by Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
© 1987 Sanctuary Sanctuary Records Group Ltd. Noise is a label of Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.

From disc:
℗ 1988 Modern Music
© 1988 Wintrup/Maldoror
Made in France by MPO

Source: Discogs.com