Germany produced Helloween, one of the pioneering bands of European power metal. The group formed in Hamburg and helped establish the genre's fast tempos, melodic guitar harmonies, high vocals, and uplifting or fantastical themes.
Helloween's albums Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I and Part II were especially influential. Their style combined the speed of traditional metal with memorable melodies and extended song structures, influencing later bands across Europe and beyond.
Sweden, Finland, and Austria also developed important metal scenes, but Helloween is German. The band is sometimes grouped with speed metal because of its rapid playing, yet its melodic songwriting and vocal approach made it a central influence on power metal.