Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Invitation
2. Eagle Fly Free
3. You Always Walk Alone
4. Rise And Fall
5. Dr. Stein
6. We Got The Right
7. March Of Time
8. I Want Out
9. Keeper Of The Seven Keys
10. Save Us

Disc 2:

1. Savage
2. Livin' Ain't No Crime
3. Don't Run For Cover
4. Dr. Stein
5. Keeper Of The Seven Keys

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12335 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Running time: 87 minutes

Customer Reviews

No Power Metal, but plain Heavy Metal, and it's Gooooood
Here, in their third studio album, Helloween achieved their creative peak leading to the departure of group leader and guitarist Kai Hansen

I actually disagree with those that simply brand Helloween under the power metal banner. There is a second group that calls Helloween an Iron Maiden covers band. In my opinion, neither are true.

True that you have the twin guitar sound and the highest pitched vocals you'll ever hear (bar a certain Rob Halford) courtesy of a then very young Michael Kiske, but the album retains a very melodic sound throughout the whole record even brushing with glam metal in tracks like I Want Out.

Also, there is no power metal anywhere in sight as there are no orchestrations, multi voiced choruses or thundering keyboards.

What you have here is true, aunthentic and anthemic heavy metal on classic tracks such as Eagle Fly Free, Dr Stein and Rise and Fall.

The title track is a prog metal piece over 10 minutes long saving the the hardest song, Save Us, as a crunching closer to the album, which in itself is a bit weird.

In summary, definitely one of the defining albums of the all dominating heavy metal scene of the late 80s

A Happy Helloween Classic
Here's a metal classic, go buy it!

So on with the review. Unsurprisingly this isn't a huge departure from Keeper I, but rather a refinement in terms of production and musicianship and the songs are more comical (not to say that there wasn't some epically silly moments on Keeper I, though) but I just feel there are more light hearted moments on this one. The production on this album is polished but not to an extreme and it has aged fairly well, most power metal bands would be better off with this sort of production these days. It's an massive improvement other the bands first two albums which although not horribly produced they were a bit murky with the guitars lacking in the clarity of this release and the drums being a bit boxy. Playing wise the whole band shines on this album, as it turns out Ingo is not just rated highly because he's dead (something which happens so frequently, people tend to become twice the player they were when they die) he's a excellent and imaginative speed metal drummer. Markus Grosskopf's bass is at times very technical which can always be a bit worrying and on other albums he has playing slap *shudders* but there's non of that here and just some damn fine bass playing. Michael Kiske an a phenomenal singer who sings impossibly high at times but unlike many power metal singers he doesn't sound ridiculously wimpy when doing so. Kai Hansen and Michael Weikath are easily the finest guitar team Helloween ever had (but you didn't need me to tell you that, did you?) and occupy the position of best guitar players from Germany never to be in the Scorpions (a prestigious award I'm told), with some great speed metal riffs and signature Helloween harmonies. So yeah, this band isn't slacking off.

Anyway, this album is consistently good with a five of these songs being classics for the band and genre and all the others are good, too, hence this album being awesome and one that I did listen too for months on end a few years back and then listening again recently finding it to have lost non of its charm. The best songs here are, of course `Eagle Fly Free' with some what now are absolutely standard power metal lyrics but back in `88 were probably a lot less generic (considering the sub-genre barely existed) but still eagles, rainbows and flying in lyrics is a clear indication that these guys are really, really German, I think the Scorpions did something similar on `Virgin Killer' by having a song about a `mystical dream bird'. Ok, I digress, `Eagle Fly Free' is fantastic, the fastest song on the album and topped off with a brilliantly silly `Everyone! Take a solo!' section. `You Always Walk Alone' is one of the albums humbler tracks but still excellent riffs and memorable melodies. `Rise And Fall' is exceptionally silly but fun (this isn't a My Dying Bride album you are allowed to smile). `Dr. Stein' is one of the bands most famous tracks and it's another keeper (ha, what a hilarious joke....comedy gold!) and another light hearted one, I suppose that's why an album like `The Dark Ride' came as a surprise, (well the title at least because when I heard the album I released it wasn't dark at all) because the band is famously upbeat. `Dr Stein' musically recalls the Ozzy Osbourne classic `Crazy Train' as the "And their time is right" is similar to the "Going off the rails on a crazy train" bit. `March of Time' is another top notch song (see a pattern emerging?) and is the fastest on the album with some lovely shredding and some ball-grabbing high vocals in the chorus. `I Want Out' is probably the bands best know song and Kai's resignation note from the band (I think), it's an instant classic and extremely catchy harmony guitars. The title track is this albums crowning glory, maintaining my complete attention for over thirteen minutes, its really a damn fine epic about keeping the seven keys or something (as previously mentioned I don't profess to know much about the actual concept of this album).

This is a consistently excellent and historically important record, alright Priest, Manowar Maiden and assorted Dio related bands already laid the groundwork for power metal but the Keepers albums were a full realisation of the epic and over the top (quite frequently overblown, wimpy and pompous) sound. But more than that, this is great fun which is an increasingly rare trait in a metal album. This is undoubtedly a career high and the album against which all subsequent Helloween albums are judged.

A fabulous continuation of the first epic album+Bonus tracks
The second part of the groundbreaking Keeper Of The Seven Keys part I! NOW EXPANDED, containing 3 must-have Bonus Tracks and Remastered, providing an improved sound quality to the original release of 1988.

To be fair (without being influenced by the love and respect I have for this album) PartII wasn't as good as the first one, but nevertheless a record containing some of the best known power/speed metal songs ever written! The album continues with the same energy and structure of songs but with more ideas from guitarist Weikath and less of Kai Hansen and a slightly more commercial feel. All in all a wonderful conclusion to the first part.

"Eagle Fly Free" is considered the best power metal song ever written, comprising of dual guitar solos,perfect vocals,a bass and drum solo. "Dr. Stein" is a wonderful, melodic, funny(lyrics) and classic song. "March Of Time" is a technical, also melodic and strong power tune. "I Want Out" is a pop (catchy), heavy metal song that fulfills its purpose. "We Got The Right" is a strong power-ballad were Michael Kiske shines, delivering a breathtaking performance filled with melodic and high-pitched vocals. Finally the title track has some magnificent ideas but it sadly can't surpass the masterpiece "Halloween" of part I (the chorus is a little cheesy).

Musically the album is still characterized by fast double-bass drumming, twin-guitar melodic riffs and solos, outstanding vocals and fantasy lyrics-themes.
The production is slightly better than the first part, as the album sounds tighter and kind of clearer. The band sounds a bit tighter compared to their previous release, but that maybe due to the better production.

Michael Kiske has surely glued in the band and his charismatic voice gives you the chills throughout the whole album (he sings higher than ever, hitting all possible notes with great precision)!

The only minor drawback in this album are the tracks "You Always Walk Alone" and "Rise and Fall" witch cannot by any means be considered bad songs, but just don't seem to fit here...And the other being that most of the song writing was done by Weikath, who is a exceptional songwriter and guitarist but not as good as Hansen.

This is a classic and groundbreaking record in the history shelves of metal, together with part I. A source of inspiration and influence to countless bands to follow.
This is also the last chapter in the Hansen - Helloween (80's) glorious era, from where onwards the band went downhill (in my opinion).

A MUST HAVE for any power/speed,heavy metal and open-minded hard rock fan.

Be sure to check out "Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I" and "I Want Out: Live".