Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2

Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2

Track Listings

1. Invitation

2. Eagle Fly Free

3. You Always Walk Alone

4. Rise and Fall

5. Dr. Stein

6. We Got the Right

7. Save Us

8. March of Time

9. I Want Out

10. Keeper of the Seven Keys

Tracks:

Invitation
Eagle Fly Free
You Always Walk Alone
Rise And Fall
Dr. Stein
We Got The Right
March Of Time
I Want Out
Keeper Of The Seven Keys
Save Us

Tracks:

Savage (B-Side Taken From Dr. Stein EP)
Livin Ain't No Crime (B-Side Taken From Dr. Stein EP)
Don't Run For Cover (B-Side Taken From I Want Out EP)
Dr. Stein (Remix From Treasure Chest)
Keeper Of The Seven Keys (Remix From Treasure Chest)

Customer Reviews:

A fabulous continuation of the first epic album + Bonus tracks.......2007-07-19

The second part of the groundbreaking Keeper Of The Seven Keys part I! NOW EXPANDED, containing 3 mast-have Bonus Tracks and Remastered, providing an improved sound quality to the original relish 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 reefs 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 relish, 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".

All-Time Classic Power Metal Album.......2007-01-15

When you hear the term "power metal", or more specifically "European Power Metal", Helloween has to be one of the first bands that come to mind, largely due to the impact of this particular album (and its companion piece Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1). Both albums completely reestablished both the band's sound as well as the whole idea of what power metal was all about. This is due largely to Kai Hansen adopting a more epic approach to his songwriting (as opposed to the Judas Priest style thrashers on Walls of Jericho) as well as the addition of vocalist Michael Kiske, who brought a powerful yet melodic aspect to Helloween's sound.

I don't think the impact of the Keeper albums can be overstated. In the years since they were originally released, their sound has been adopted, adapted, and flat out imitated by countless bands. Without Helloween, there would be no Blind Guardian, no Rhapsody, no Edguy, at least not as we now know them. Listen to songs like Eagle Fly Free, I Want Out, Save Us, and the epic title track, and you hear the foundations for the next two decades of power metal. Heck, just about every song on this album has been covered countless times by a whole host of artists.

That said, why on earth has it taken 20 freaking years to get remastered versions of the Keeper albums? In an age where even the most recent bands keep reissuing their albums, we had to go way to long without a sonically improved Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II. Well, Sanctuary finally got around to the job last year, and they certainly did it right. In addition to digitally remastered sound, you get a second CD containing 5 bonus tracks. The remixed versions of existing songs don't add much, but adding the b-sides Savage, Livin' Ain't No Crime, and Don't Run For Cover was a nice touch. You also get expanded liner notes, photos, etc. plus a nifty slipcase for the disc.

This is what a remastered version of a classic album is supposed to look and sound like. If you're already a Helloween fan, it's time to replace your old version. If you're a power metal fan and for whatever reason haven't heard Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II, you need to order this album now. It truly belongs in every power metal fan's collection.

Average customer rating:

like Dangerfield...........they get no respect.....
A magical valuable gem 5/5 stars
damn good
Full metal racket
..............And The Magic Continues........somewhere between 4 & 5 stars

Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2
Helloween
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1
Walls of Jericho
Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy
The Dark Ride
Glory to the Brave

ASIN: B000002WCJ
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Invitation
Eagle Fly Free
You Always Walk Alone
Rise And Fall
Dr. Stein
We Got The Right
Save Us
March Of Time
I Want Out
Keeper Of The Seven Keys

Customer Reviews:

like Dangerfield...........they get no respect............2007-02-23

what a masterful performance, from one metal's most underappreciated acts. these guys are so talented, and so unheralded, that it's a crime. they are every bit the equal of groups like Maiden, Priest, Saxon and others, and never really received any fanfare. this release is a gem, and a must own for any metal fan. i'm ashamed i waited so long to write a review for this cd, as i have owned it since it was released. part 1 is very good as well. they are about even, but i give this one the nod. from track 1, "the invitation", it rolls along beautifully, and impresses throughout. the performances are impressive, and inspiring. the production, very good. a must have for any collection. take my word for it, you will enjoy this gem. trust me. peace.

A magical valuable gem 5/5 stars.......2006-12-25

This album & others has the blend of the perfect melody and metal music pretty sweet. This band should have alot more support from true metal fans. It was better that michael kiske joined in to replace kai hansen as a Frontman vocalist he is an awesome guitar expert but his vocals is what turnes me off. My favorite songs were DR. STEIN/I WANT OUT/EAGLE FLY FREE/ALWAYS WALK ALONE. Their metal sounds very happy in a very creative playing style and they are not like any other bands out there. They are the gods of power metal who brought power metal into this world and they are a like a metal version of pink floyd with guitar speed.

damn good .......2006-07-27

okay first of all i wantt o start by saying how the hell can you call this band a ripoff of iron maiden i am betting all the people who say that are iron maiden fans damnit i think iron maiden is soo overrated to the point you are not metal if you dont like no love iron maiden what the hell helloween are a great band and are more imporant to me than iron maiden !! keeper of the seven keys part 1 and 2 features helloweens best lineup ever. i want out is the one song that got me into power metal. i highly recommend to any REAL metal fan. and also iron maiden takes themselves way way too serisou. helloween start that humor in power metal look at edguy who take that helloween type of humor and put it into their music. i mean do you always want sersiou grim lryics ?

Full metal racket.......2006-06-29

Michael Kiske is the lead throat on this album, really in some ways the start of a new era for Helloween after The Walls of Jericho and Keys Pt I. The music writing team is firing on all cylinders with Kiske, Kai Hansen and band leader Michael Weikath all coming up with a number of gems for the listener.

Wrapped in cool cover art and very much steeped in a genre they helped define, this album sees the band stretching out musically, while staying true to their formula of 'high speed megagoth', to quote another reviewer.

Songs span the aspirational in Eagle Fly Free, the bemusing metal of Rise and Fall and the quirkiness of Dr Stein. Bolstered by the histrionic Save Us and the Kai Hansen soul baring tune of I Want Out, this is an album with much to offer the fan of this style of metal. And that style is balls to the wall, fast paced metal, sort of a prototype for all later power metal and also with one foot in the speed metal genre. The songs are at times fairly simple, despite everything happening at a million miles per hour but in this case that speed works well. The songs for the most part stretch out to five minutes or so, except for the last track which is a 13+ minute opus. Very well placed at the end of the disc, as putting it earlier may well of sapped the energy from the album as a whole.

Helloween were on a creative and commercial high point here as this album garnered the band many many fans around the traps. Highly recommended.

..............And The Magic Continues........somewhere between 4 & 5 stars.......2006-05-18

Released only a year apart from its predecessor 'Part 1', 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 2' finds Helloween at the top of their game and in the middle of creating a genre later known as power metal. With the same line-up as 'Part 1' (consisting of Kiske on vocals, Hansen and Weikath on guitar, Grosskopf on bass and Schwichtenberg behind the kit) Helloween continue their concept of good vs. evil, anti-war protests and freedom for all with extremely inspirational lyrics....not to mention well crafted songs.
Kiske displays a powerful and innovative voice. With greater vocal ability and more confidence he flows through each song wonderfully....never holding back. The dual guitar shredding from Hansen and Weikath bring speed, power and melody to its highest point clearly separating themselves from comparisions to shall I say.........Iron Maiden. Grosskopf's bass lines are a bit relaxed yet still mature and experimental. And bringing up the rear is the solid thumping of Schwichtenberg.
The production of the album is a bit better than 'Part 1'. The sound is bigger with a commerical feel to it that 'Part 1' lacked. In ways I enjoy the pop-friendly songs (Dr. Stein, I Want Out) but at the same time I don't. It seemed a bit cheesy at certain points. Especially during the worst (in my opinion) Helloween track from that period. The silly sounding 'Rise And Fall' stands out as the weakest song from both albums. Leading me to believe "What were they thinking". But the weakest points are few and far between.
With stand-out tracks like 'You Always Walk Alone', 'We Got The Right' and the extremely confident sounding 'Eagle Fly Free', not to mention the deeper, heavier tracks like 'March Of Time', 'Save Us' and the 13+ minute epic 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys' Helloween has made a permanent stamp on the face of metal.
Yet it is still hard to believe this band was falling apart while creating the 'Keeper' albums. Internal fueding and bad record contracts lead to the exit of founder Kai Hansen just mere weeks after the release of 'Part 2'. The chemistry was perfect but unstable and couldn't last. Helloween would never again sound this incredible.
The rest of this review is for the 2 disc UK expanded edition which I highly recommend. Having the original is great but this remastered edition clearly rocks. Everything has come to life from the old recording sessions and everything sounds so incredible. Along with that there are extra tracks here for the hardcore fans of the band. 'Savage' a great Kiske-penned track is an upbeat number with great lyrics and an awesome arrangement. Another b-side called ' Livin' Ani't No Crime' is equally satisfying. Then there is 'Don't Run For Cover' a somewhat poppy but also very enjoyable track. Each one of these b-sides have awesome riffs and could have easily been put on either 'Keeper' album. Two remixed versions of 'Dr. Stein' and 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys' taken from the 'Treasure Chest' compliation round off the second disc.
Whether you are new to the band or an old fan such as myself this expanded edition is the way to go. Hands down worth the extra $$$ for the import. Buy it for the sound,for the extra tracks and for the booklet filled with pics and notes about the recording sessions. It's hard to believe these albums are almost 20 years old and they still sound fantastic. And although I'm not a fan of power metal in general I am a proud fan of Helloween.

Average customer rating:

like Dangerfield...........they get no respect.....
A magical valuable gem 5/5 stars
damn good
Full metal racket
..............And The Magic Continues........somewhere between 4 & 5 stars

Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2
Helloween
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1
Walls of Jericho
Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy
The Dark Ride
Glory to the Brave

ASIN: B0000070UK

Tracks:

Invitation
Eagle Fly Free
You Always Walk Alone
Rise and Fall
Dr. Stein
We Got the Right
Save Us
March of Time
I Want Out
Keeper of the Seven Keys

Customer Reviews:

like Dangerfield...........they get no respect............2007-02-23

A magical valuable gem 5/5 stars.......2006-12-25

damn good .......2006-07-27

Full metal racket.......2006-06-29

..............And The Magic Continues........somewhere between 4 & 5 stars.......2006-05-18

Average customer rating:

Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000RZGF1G
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Average customer rating:

A fabulous continuation of the first epic album + Bonus tracks
All-time classic power metal album

Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2
Helloween
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1
The Time of the Oath
Chameleon

ASIN: B000C4A1G2
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Tracks:

Invitation
Eagle Fly Free
You Always Walk Alone
Rise and Fall
Dr. Stein
We Got the Right
Save Us
March of Time
I Want Out
Keeper of the Seven Keys

Album Description

2 CD set. Recorded at Horus Sound Studio, Hannover, Germany from May to June 1988. Castle. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

A fabulous continuation of the first epic album + Bonus tracks.......2007-07-19

All-time classic power metal album.......2007-01-15

Average customer rating:

All-time classic power metal album
The third phase in the evolution of Helloween.

Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 2

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000E40P4I
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Album Description

Forged in the early 80's from several Hamburg bands, Helloween began their monumental rise through the metal ranks via several songs released on a Noise Records Death Metal sampler. From here a deal was struck and their first release proper came in the shape of a now rare 5 track mini album in 1985. Later the same year came the album Walls Of Jericho, however, it was the addition of vocalist Michael Kiske for the opus Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I that shook the metal world to its core. This album and the following Keepers II became the albums that would define the Power Metal genre and provide Helloween with the momentum that still resonates to this day. If Keepers I set the benchmark, the following years Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II would exceed it and become the biggest selling album in the band's recording history. Released in 1988, the Metal fans and press would be unanimous in their enthusiasm taking the band to even greater heights. This 2-disc deluxe expanded edition adds five bonus tracks of single b-sides and remixed versions of the single, 'Dr. Stein' and 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys'.

Customer Reviews:

All-time classic power metal album.......2007-01-15

The third phase in the evolution of Helloween........2006-07-22

This was the third studio album released by the band from Germany, and their finest work to date. 1988 was a great year to be a metal fan. This album contains the most memorable of any of the Helloween songs, including Eagle Fly Free, I Want Out, and Dr. Stein. In total, nine tracks on the original CD, including the second song of 13+ minutes, the title track "Keeper of the Seven Keys".
This new edition comes with Part 3 of the CD interview in the remastered artwork, a new slipcover, and a new Bonus CD. Here are the track listings for both CD's:
Disc One:
Invitation
Eagle Fly Free
You Always Walk Alone
Rise And Fall
Dr. Stein
We Got The Right
March Of Time
I Want Out
Keeper Of The Seven Keys
Save Us
CD 2 (Bonus Tracks)
Savage (Singe B-Side)
Livin' Ain't No Crime (Single B-Side)
Don't Run For Cover (Single B-Side)
Dr. Stein (Remix)
Keeper Of The Seven Keys (Remix)

New listeners, buy this, old listener buy this. Highly recommended from the Rock and Roll High Command.