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Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1

Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1 Audio CD

A fair review of the Helloween "Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Helloween reviews here, or go back to the Helloween tabs.

Band: Helloween
Title: Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1
Rating:

Release Date: 2006-08-08
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Initation 2: I'm Alive 3: Little Time 4: Twilight of the Gods 5: Tale That Wasn't Right 6: Future World 7: Halloween 8: Follow the Sign 9: Victim Fo Fate [Single B-Side] 10: Starlight [Remix] 11: Little Time [Alternative Version] 12: Halloween [Video Edit]

Green Andy Reviews: Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1
99). I first heard this band on a 10-song compilation cassette called THRASH METAL that my mom bought for me at K-Mart ($3. They're not exactly thrash, but I wasn't arguing, half because I was too young to know what the genre was, and half because the song ("I'm Alive") was freaking amazing. That feelgood power metal anthem is a bright spot on this album, but it's not the only one. Usually referred to as Helloween's best album (and miles ahead of the follow-up, Part 2), this record established the band as major players, or at least medium-level players, in the European power metal arena. In fact, some particularly rabid fans have suggested this album is the official beginning of power metal. But take that with a grain of salt.

If there's a storyline here, I'm not really getting it. Singer Michael Kiske's lyrics stay consistently in the fantasy realm, but what sticks with you much more are his Halford-esque melodic shriekings, perhaps best displayed in "A Little Time". But Helloween don't have any of the menace or malevolence of Judas Priest; their music is all medieval valor and gothic wonder. The dual soloing from guitarists Kai Hansen and Michael Weikath is stellar, and this album contains what I imagine ought to be the band's theme song, the epic-length "Halloween".

Occasionally the group's melodies are a little overwrought, such as on "Future World", whose chorus crosses the line from pompous into outright hilarious. Still, if you're going to enjoy power metal, you have to have a higher-than-normal level of patience for higher-than-normal levels of grandiosity. Later groups like Iced Earth, Hammerfall and Tad Morose have all had the same indulgences, but none of them have made a record as consistently thrilling as this one. Buy this and prepare to pretend you're riding a horse on top of a mountain, fighting a dragon.

Ooh sexy kiske hubba hubba hubba!!!
Im a 40 year old man who has never been with a woman in his entire life because I hate women and I need me a man which is none other than michael f. . ing kiske. He's not only a sexy singer to me but he's got such a sexy body and I am so curious about the size of his johnny I would put it on some hotdog buns with some ketchup and mustard and eat it all up. I want to spinkle some whip cream with sprinkles and don't forget the cherries on top of that fine looking body of his ooh yeah and last but not leat I wanna eat the dingleberries out of his bunghole hoooorah!!! When I was 16 I was kinda spoiled and selfish I wanted kiske on my sweet 16th birthday party but my father got me a brand new hummer instead and I was furious and I ran to my bedroom crying and wacking off to kiske's posters all over my room til I trembled in sweat and fell asleep.

I LOVE YOU KISKE!!!

MARRY ME KISKE!!!

I WANT BABY KISKE'S!!! .

One of the best albums of all time...
Every song is killer, and Michael Kiske had one of the best voices you will every hear!. This is one heck of an album.

Helloween's Power Metal Classic-Part One!
The addition of new member Michael Kiske provided the band with the strong vocalist they needed (Guitarist Hansen himself did the vocals in the band's '85 debut "Walls Of Jericho"). Helloween is one of the definitive groups of the power metal movement and this 1987 album proves it! The band showed immense artistic and songwriting growth with this sophomore release. The rest of the band stayed the same as on the debut with the rhythm/lead guitar duo of Kai Hansen/Michael Weikath, bassist Markus Grosskopf, and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg.

Guitarist Hansen was the band leader at this point and wrote six out of the eight original songs. "Initiation" is a dark introduction theme where the power chords are augmented by a choir-aah keyboard effect; it lasts about a minute and a half. I'm Alive" quickly follows and it's a vintage power metal composition with the fast dual bass drumming, the operatic vocals of Kiske, and the neo-classical shredding solos. The more mid-paced third cut "A Little Time" is probably the most popular song and it was written by Kiske. In the middle there's a psychedelic section with some strange sound effects and you can also hear a lot of clocks ticking at the same time before going back to the chorus without warning. "Twilight Of The Gods" is another straightforward power metal number with the usual fast staccato rhythm guitar attack. I liked the chorus with great background vocals giving off an epic feel, but the ballad "A Tale That Wasn't Right" is a gem that Weikath wrote! The lead guitar parts played by him here give off a Blackmore vibe. Kiske gives one of his best vocal performances of the album! But wait, another highlight comes now called "Future World" with an incredibly catchy chorus. Very good trade-off solos in the middle too!
"Halloween" is the epic composition that clocks at about 13:18. Amazingly, it was written by Hansen himself! As expected, it is a multi-part song with the only thing lacking is a dull moment! Some parts are quiet; others are intense while the soloing goes from very melodic to really aggressive. If I had to choose what the best part is, then I'd probably go with the chorus: Aaaahh. . . it's Halloween!!!!Aaaahhh. . . It's Halloween!!! Tonight!!! Yes indeed!!! Love that chorus!! There's also another good section with the lyric "We're calling you" with a four chord descending pattern that kind of reminds me of that last repeating chord pattern in Rainbow's version of "Still I'm Sad" from the "On Stage" LP. Finishing off the album is the short instrumental interlude "Follow The Sign" written by Hansen/Weikath with an eastern inspired solo.

Bonus Tracks:
"Victim Of Fate" is a re-recording of a tune originally sung by Hansen (now with Kiske on vocals) taken from the "Dr. Stein" EP. "Starlight" is a remix of the original now also featuring Kiske's vocals instead while the remaining two "A Little Time" and "Halloween" are less interesting since they are just edited versions of the originals.

If you are a fan of power metal, then I'd say this is a classic in that field that you should get!
Thanks for taking the time to read!
Later.

You can see a complete list of all Helloween discography, or go back to the Helloween tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.