Disco de Helloween: “Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1”

Keeper...I is the definitive Helloween record. Every Helloween fan owns it. While previous records had the obligatory Heavy Metal anthems (Heavy Metal Is the Law -- I LOVE that song :)), this one was the first truly unique album the band put out. This is the record that introduces Michael Kiske to the world and what an improvement he was over Kai Hansen's vocals! Things got so much better for Heloween when Kai gave up singing and concentrated on songwriting. Gem, after gem, after gem. One of the songs I play when I'm a bit under the weather is I'm Alive! Wooo! Bye-bye, bad mood!

Come on! Buy! Buy! Buy! Buy!

Oh my, what can you say about this metal classic? i'v listened too it a least a bilion times (i think i lost count around 4 years ago) already and it made me a Great Pumpkin fan. Still, even the fact that this is really a short ride of an album, the music is so fantastic that it's 38(i think?) minute length is not a big problem at all.I remember thinking "who the hell is Helloween?" back when my freind in junior high told me about them, oh well. Anyway, KOTSK #1 was my introduction to them and it is wonderful music, "A Little Time" is always ringing in my head! "Twilight of the Gods" "A tale that Wasn't Right" amd the optmistic "Future World" is all power metal go(o)dness, oh yeah, and did i mention "I'm Alive"? which will inspire you to greater heights? The best song here (and maybe the best song Helloween did in their whole carrer) is Halloween, a 13 minute song about the magic that happens on october 31. Sure, i know a lot here is kinda cheesy, but it kicks major @$$ as well so... Kiske is great, beatiful high pitched melodic vocal delivery delivered with a powerful charisma.You can't say that about other power vocalists like Jeff Tate or Bruce Dickenson,they lack charm.

I first heard of Helloween through some compliation back in 1988. The track 'A little time' was in this compliation and I was instantly drawn to it. I went out a picked this album up and was blown away. At first it seemed that I bought into the thought that these german gents were trying to sound like Iron Maiden with no originality. I'm sure many were turned off by this. But.........there was something about this band. Something that set them apart. These guys were producing something heavy, melodic and positive all wrapped up into a concept album. With the dual guitar attack of Hansen and Weikath, the beautiful bass lines from Grosskopf and the solid double kicking from Schwichtenberg all in place the addition of Kiske on top as the new vocalist set the band on a trip to take on the world. Every song is wonderfully put together and makes you feel happy to be alive. Ofcourse the standout track on the album is the 13 minute epic 'Halloween' which has so many changes it will make your head spin. All of the other tracks are soild as well with many interesting arrangements.

The rest of this review is for the expanded UK 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. There are remakes of two songs 'Victim Of Fate' and 'Starlight' from the 'Walls Of Jericho' album redone and sung by Kiske which are amazing. An edited version of 'Halloween' which is about half as long as the original and an alternate version of 'A Little Time'. 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.

Have you made your choice?

Wow! Now, THIS is an album. And it's only 33 mintues long, too. "Twilight of the Gods" and "Future World" are two completely killer rock songs with great solos and the vocals that every power metal band wishes they had. "A Tale That Wasn't Right" is a great rockin' ballad. "Halloween" is a 13-minute epic of screaming vocals, screaming guitar solos, pounding bass and drums, and it just completely rocks your face off. The intro and outro are good, but I wouldn't exactly review a CD on those merits. The two songs I didn't talk about are good, but just don't stay with me the way the others do. Recommended for fans of: Iron Maiden, Gamma Ray, Judas Priest, or just about any other power metal band.

Helloween, it brings back memories of my teenage room, with Iron Maiden posters over the walls, and a casette deck blasting of in the background. There was a lot of commotion when this was released...it sounded kinda like Iron Maiden....and then again not. This is what I would consider "classic metal" alot of guitar solos, and fast lyrics. This is definately Helloweens best release ever(along with Keeper of the Seven Keys part 2). It sounds much better than the murkysounding Walls of Jericho, and supercedes many many times the lousy Pink Bubbles go Ape.

On Keeper of the Seven Keys part 1, the crisp, fast guitars and the "adventure/sci-fi lyrics", everything on this album is like it is supposed to be, to bring you back to that 80's Metal nostalgia. Followed by an equally masterful Part 2.