Band:	Helloween
Album:	Walls Of Jericho
Style:	Power metal, Speed metal
Release date:	1985

01. Walls Of Jericho
02. Ride The Sky
03. Reptile
04. Guardians
05. Phantoms Of Death
06. Metal Invaders
07. Gorgar
08. Heavy Metal (Is The Law)
09. How Many Tears

Disc I [2006 Expanded Edition]
01. Starlight [1987 reissue bonus]
02. Murderer [1987 reissue bonus]
03. Warrior [1987 reissue bonus]
04. Victim Of Fate [1987 reissue bonus]
05. Cry For Freedom [1987 reissue bonus]
06. Walls Of Jericho
07. Ride The Sky
08. Reptile
09. Guardians
10. Phantoms Of Death
11. Metal Invaders
12. Gorgar
13. Heavy Metal (Is The Law)
14. How Many Tears
15. Judas [1987 reissue bonus]

Disc II [2006 Expanded Edition]
01. Murderer [remix]
02. Ride The Sky [remix]
03. Intro / Ride The Sky [live]
04. Guardians [live]
05. Oernst Of Life
06. Metal Invaders
07. Surprise Track

The Helloween debut. An album overshadowed by their classics, the Keepers duo. So when you ask people, what were the first and classic metal albums, few recognize this little gem. Even it take me some time to discover it because of that. The other problem is that the production isn't very good. But if you get the remastered album, the problem is fixed. Then, people see Helloween as a power metal band with high pitched vocals. And Kai Hansen nasal vocals are probably not too tolerable. It took me some listens to love his voice. And it's overall much faster than any other Helloween album.

But enough comparisons. Walls Of Jericho is simply the best classic Helloween album. It's also the best speed metal album. Most people say Painkiller, but this is faster, catchier and ages better. I loved Painkiller, but later I was just tired of the riffs or the vocals. But this album, even if it's simple, you can never be tired of it. After a couple of listens, you will have in your mind every melody and every solo.

So well, this is speed proto-power metal, fast, catchy, and, with the remaster, it even sounds good. It ages well, which is, to me, the main problem of many speed metal albums. So what about the songs? Since I'm reviewing the remastered edition, which has the Helloween EP, the Walls Of Jericho album, and Judas. This also has some bonus tracks as well that don't deserve my time. As a Helloween fan, they may be nice, but let's stick to the core of the album.

There are no bad songs. Some things keep this album from being perfect. Those are: Victim of Fate; Cry for Freedom; Reptile; Gorgar. Now, maybe without these tracks the album would be worse. Anyway, the problem is, that the first two just are half fucking killer, probably they are the most vicious moments on the album, but come on, the middle part of Victim of Fate is just silly. As the beginning of Cry for Freedom. Not that I like acoustic intros or interludes, but those two are unnecessary. The others two are classic Helloween silly tracks. They aren't as fast as the rest of the album, which probably make it more tolerable, but they are still a bit mediocre compared with the total killing spree that the other tracks offer. Oh, and the Gorgar solo just rules.

Highlight are probably everything but my personal favorite is Judas. The main riff it's just totally killer. Oh, and even Guardians is a very good song, with fantasy power metal lyrics, but Rhapsody will later make a cover of it. Strange, how can a mediocre band make a better performance from the master of the genre? But even though many bands may sound better, or have better voices, it was the amazing songwriting what made them the legends they are now. So, if you like metal, get this album now. Remember: Heavy metal is the law!

PS: As a minor note, I don't worship Kai Hansen, since I love modern Helloween as much as classic Helloween. But anyway, he's still a metal god.