Artist: Helloween
Label: Noise Records
Release Date: 1988
Rating: 5 Skulls
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Title: Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II Artist: Helloween Label: Noise Records Release Date: 1988
Rating: 5 Skulls |
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Reviewed by Moloch (12/10/02):
There is no finer power metal record than Helloween's Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II. The first time I heard this band it was 1988. I was watching the ol' MTV Headbanger's Ball (God rest its soul). Their video for "I Want Out" came ripping onto the screen, and henceforth engendering a 14-year (and still going strong!) love affair with this band. Before that, to me, metal was mostly Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Exodus, Testament: thrashier, speed metal stuff. Yes, I listened to Iron Maiden at the time, but Helloween had a more uplifting sound where Iron Maiden always had that dark tinge of the occult running through it.Helloween, how you changed my metal life. Melody! Melody! Melody! It was wonderful to hear. I couldn't stop singing "I Want Out" with it's catchy refrain "I want out - to live my life and to be freeeeee!" When I hear Michael Kiske hold onto that last note into the end of the song, it's just as amazing as the first time I heard it. But that was only one song. I needed more.
As soon as I could I got over to the Music Outlet (in Enfield, CT to give it a little plug. Shop there. It rules.) and looked for Helloween in the tape rack. I picked up Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II, brought it home and put it in my little boom box. The intro, "Invitation" began, and little did I know I was witnessing was to become a trend: symphonic instrumental intros that are now practically a requirement for every power metal band all over the world. It was glorious and triumphant sounding, and I couldn't wait until an actual song began. When it finally did, it was the wonderfully rousing "Eagle Fly Free," and I thought it was great. Not only is Michael Kiske an amazing vocalist, creating catchy chorus after catchy chorus, for the first time I began to appreciate something else about metal: Solos. I can hum every guitar solo note for note from the early albums straight through to the often misunderstood Pink Bubbles Go Ape. But Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II is my favorite to hum along to. I was used to the shredding solos of American metal; these solos were different, they were filled with harmony and melody. What I especially love is when Kai Hansen and Michael Weikath solo together. When they do so it creates such an upswing in mood that I find truly spectacular. Kai Hansen and Michael Weikath were the best guitar duo this side of Adrian Smith and Dave Murray. Not to mention, while I didn't notice it in my youth, now that I'm older I realize how great of a bassist Markus Grosskopf is.
While everyone in this band is so great at what they do, there's another reason to point out why this is, for me, the single most important album in the world of melodic metal. There are no duds on this record. Not even close to one. The fast songs like "Eagle Fly Free," or "March of Time," the slower paced songs such as "You Always Walk Alone" and "We Got The Right," even the epic "Keeper of the Seven Keys" which clocks in at 13:38. The only reason I would even consider skipping a song is out of a frenzy to decide which song to listen to first.
What's still more amazing is that there wasn't just one brain behind this band, as most bands have. On this album alone Weikath wrote four songs, Hansen wrote two songs and Kiske wrote two songs. Three great songwriters in one band; it seems to be the formula which makes for "super" bands, just look at Iron Maiden.
Going back over my review, yes, I listened to Maiden at the time, but there was something much more accessible in Helloween's melodies to me. After comparing the bands, while Maiden has had a much more successful career and has put out more quality albums, Michael Kiske's vocal performances on the Keeper duo destroy anything that Bruce Dickenson has ever done. Michael Kiske is one of the greatest heavy metal singers ever. Period. Probably my favorite. I say this because it is more than his voice, it's the way he sings, the way he was able to construct melody and rhythm. Just because you have a great voice doesn't' mean you can sing, and vice versa. Kiske is capable of doing both. And hell, a lot of people don't even think Dickenson is the best singer Iron Maiden itself has even had.
It's really a shame that this glory days line up couldn't have stayed together longer because while Gamma Ray is a great band, and Helloween's past few albums have been very good showings, none of these guys will ever be able to top what they did when they all worked together. Also, if you think I'm full of it regarding how amazing and influential this album is, I'd have to say that currently it's probably one of the most influential albums of the day. Think I'm fooling around? I'd have to say that there are more bands around who try to mimic the early Helloween sound that any other I can think of. I mean, if you really think about it, there's practically an entire genre of music built around this band. Look at Limb Music for instance, where would any of those bands be if Helloween never existed?
In closing, I'd like to dedicate this review to the memory of Ingo Schwichtenberg, Helloween's drummer from 1984-1993. He had many problems, which eventually led to his suicide in 1995. The more I listen to the albums he played on the more I realize what a great drummer he was, and from what I've read, a good person as well.
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