LIVE FROM THE PIT: Helloween and Beast In Black

Power metal giants Helloween celebrate their 40th anniversary with a European tour, joined by heavy quintet Beast In Black. Now, that’s how you throw a birthday party, and we were invited. As for the cherry on the (birthday) cake, Helloween were promoting their 19th full studio album: ‘Giants & Monsters’, which launched on August 27th 2025. With a repertoire this massive and a two hours set, we were gifted a stadium-worthy show.

Theatrical outfits, monster fights and glorious songs: there is no better way to get ready in the lead-up to THE goth holiday! Beast In Black did not miss the mark. After a strong Bloodstock set in 2024, the globally acclaimed and two times platinum album certified band came back on our grounds to support Helloween on their 40th anniversary tour. Here is the Beast In Black recipe: a melody that makes you want to go on an epic quest, some magnificent guit’hair’ography moves (yes, that’s a word) and an otherworldly singer reaching notes so high only werewolves can hear them. That is exactly what we got with hits like ‘Blind and Frozen’, One Night In Tokyo, the eponym ‘Beast In Black’, or the Diablo IV x Berserk collaboration anthem ‘Enter The Behelit’, from which OOR had the honour of receiving a limited-edition vinyl. Yannis Papadopoulos (vocalist) blessed us with a headline tour announcement: Beast In Black will be back in London on October 26th 2026 at the O2 Forum Kentish Town for the release of their upcoming 4th album. Papadopoulos ended the set with a special shout out to Helloween for bringing them on tour, leading into their final song, ‘No Surrender’.

A chanting crowd welcomed the pumpkin kings as the lights went down. The stage was filled with screens and lights, giving us a spectacular show, which started with a video of old album covers celebrating 40 years in the industry. As each musician stepped onto the stage, followed by vocalists Michael Kiske and Andi Deris, the crowd got wilder and wilder, finally erupting in applause and screams when the first notes of ‘March Of Time’ filled the room.

We were treated to an array of old and new songs and everything in between, accompanied by a striking light and video show, interaction from all band-members, splendid riffs, powerful beats and breathtaking vocals. And with a great sound, you could hear all of it intensely from any part of the floor. Some of the fans present that night (myself included) might have not been born for a good part of the band’s career, but we can say for sure that Mr Kiske and Deris sound as good as they did in the early days of Helloween. ‘Ride The Sky’, sung by guitarist Kai Hansen, hit us like a slap with an intense vocal performance that summoned an army of crowd surfers. The set was also balanced with power ballads like ‘Into The Sun’, showing once again how diverse metal can be. By the way, have you ever seen a pumpkin-man having a boiling bubble bath in a cauldron? No? Well, that’s just a normal sight at a Helloween gig.

After ‘Universe’, which Deris said was his personal favourite from the new album, and yet another fan favourite ‘Hell Was Made In Heaven’, the “interval special” started. Dani Löble’ impressive drum solo literally shook the crowd to its core. Even the drum-kit itself was something else: everything you think belongs on a drum, double it, and you’ll get the fastest kicks in town. Whilst being a rock show staple, the drum solo also gave a well deserved rest to a non-stop chanting crowd, who was as ready as ever for ‘I Want Out’, the band’s most played song on Spotify. Seeing all the fans singing together on a hit like this really is what makes metal special. ‘Heavy Metal (Is The Law)’ and, of course, ‘Halloween’ were a perfect end to the main set, followed by a 4-songs encore, including ‘A Little Is a Little Too Much’ and we can tell you a lot of Helloween is definitely not enough! 

Well, that was one fricking hell of a birthday party! It was one of those shows that leaves you a bit empty (but in the best way), because how can you go back to reality after a soul-altering experience like this? We highly recommend checking out Beast In Black’s 2026 headline tour, which is already on sale, they can only get better and bigger. We hope to see Helloween back on tour soon again. A show like this deserves an even bigger venue, dare we say a stadium, or at least a festival’s main stage.

Words and photos: Claire Cabanac