Helloween is a pioneering German power metal band formed in Hamburg in 1984 by musicians from Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell, and Powerfool. Recognized as one of the most influential European heavy metal acts of the 1980s, Helloween helped shape the power metal genre and are often called its founding fathers. The group’s current seven-piece lineup reunites key figures from their classic Keeper of the Seven Keys era, featuring Kai Hansen, Michael Weikath, Michael Kiske, Markus Grosskopf, alongside Andi Deris, Sascha Gerstner, and Daniel Loble. Over their career, Helloween has released sixteen studio albums and achieved global success, earning multiple gold and platinum awards while selling over ten million records. The band is celebrated as one of the "big four" of German power metal, standing alongside Grave Digger, Rage, and Running Wild, and is also considered a cornerstone of the worldwide genre alongside Blind Guardian, Sabaton, and DragonForce.