HELLOWEEN — Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II (review)

HELLOWEEN — Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II album cover Album · 1988 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Stephen
The first part of "Keeper of The Seven Keys" series had put Helloween on the map a year earlier and this second part which was released in 1988 only established Helloween even firmer as the household name of power metal genre. Singer Michael Kiske is one of the respectable talent in the industry whom has a high range pipe reminiscent of early Geoff Tate or Rob Halford, and he's only 20-years old back then, provided a lot of throat stretching screams throughout the songs.

The album was opened with an intense melody of "Eagle Fly Free" which is one of their superb song that defines European power metal, and in my opinion, this is the best song of the album. "Rise And Fall" has a funny bridge and great chorus and "Dr.Stein" is one of their classic tune with a commercial composition and also one of my fave. The mastermind of the band, Kai Hansen, which later departed the band to form Gamma Ray, is on fire, spawning three consecutive sensational songs with an aggressive tempo yet still melodic, "Save Us", "March of Time", and "I Want Out". The latter song received a heavy MTV rotation and was rumored to be an expressive statement of Hansen that he had done his time in Helloween and the band didn't want him there anymore. The title track spanned over 13 minutes and regarded as one of their classic song that's regularly included in the setlist, and also served as one of the prog/power metal arrangement pioneer.

There's no doubt that the first two releases of "Keeper of The Seven Keys" are their masterpiece and nothing from their newer catalogue can top this. I rated this album slightly better than the first one and a must buy if you like speedy songs, high-pitch screamers, fast-picking solos, and heavenly melodies.
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