Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II - review

Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II - review

Cover image of the reviewed item
Band
Helloween
Style
Power metal
Release date
August 29, 1988
Reviewer
9.0
9.0
Tracklist
Disc I
01. Invitation
02. Eagle Fly Free
03. You Always Walk Alone
04. Rise And Fall
05. Dr. Stein
06. We Got The Right
07. March Of Time
08. I Want Out
09. Keeper Of The Seven Keys
10. Save Us

Disc II [2006 expanded edition]
01. Savage
02. Livin Ain't No Crime
03. Don't Run For Cover
04. Dr. Stein [2002 remix version]
05. Keeper Of The Seven Keys [2002 remix version]
A review by
wrathchild
December 01, 2003
So after the worldwide success of Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I in 1987, Part II was released the following year, and the combination of the two (the band's first wish was to release a double album) gave the band its legend status.

On this album you'll find some of the most known songs of the band, such as Eagle Fly Free, Dr Stein, I want out, and of course Keeper Of The Seven Keys. But all the other tracks are good and have some interest, with great riffs & solos, as well as catchy choruses to sing along. Try March Of Time for example, there's actually no musical reason for such a track to be less famous than I Want Out, it's just that the latter was made a single for the album, like Dr Stein. Oh yeah, there are some funny stuff too, like in Rise And Fall.

The production is a little above Part I, even though some of the youngest listeners might find it a little bit to "80s sounding", but at least we can clearly hear the harmonies between guitars, the perfect bass job by Markus, and this incredible voice of Kiske. Drums are also good, and sometimes there are some keyboards and choirs that really goes with the music.

A special word for the Keeper Of The Seven Keys 13 minutes song, that has the only acoustic parts in the album, and which is really attractive from the beginning to the end, this song has some effects on me, especially the lyrics. The album doesn't need such a track to be great, but this one makes it wonderful.

If you were to pick only one album of all Helloween's releases, this would be Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II for sure!
Written by wrathchild | December 01, 2003

Comments

Comments: 22 Visited by 221 users

Posts: 14
Permalink
09.11.2007 - 21:05

Posts: 14
When I listen to "keeper of the seven keys pt.II" these words come to my mind "it's not a good album", except for the happy "eagle fly free", the funny ·dr. Stein" and the rocker "I want out", the album is quite unfocused and uninspired, sorry, it's not better than "The time of the oath" for an example. 7.0
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Baz Anderson
Staff

Posts: 13290


Permalink
+1
09.11.2007 - 21:09
Baz Anderson
Staff

Posts: 13290


uninspired???? HAHAHAHA!!!!!
back in 1988 this was highly original!!
one of the great albums of all time that influenced so many bands in so many different ways
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Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite

Posts: 40071


Permalink
09.11.2007 - 21:30
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite

Posts: 40071


Written by Baz Anderson on 09.11.2007 at 21:09

uninspired???? HAHAHAHA!!!!!
back in 1988 this was highly original!!
one of the great albums of all time that influenced so many bands in so many different ways

Compared to part 1 you could maybe call it uninspired. But hell, this is classic stuff. Even when it was released thios got highest possible marks (smae for part 1 btw)
----
Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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EvilThrasherella
Account deleted
Permalink
16.11.2007 - 17:12
EvilThrasherella
Account deleted
Personally i like it uhu
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Posts: 18


Permalink
31.12.2007 - 14:51

Posts: 18


i pretty much enjoy this album

all tracks are very good except We Got The Righ - kinda boring IMO
Eagle Fly Free, I Want Out and Keeper Of The Seven Keys are superb!
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Dark_Age
Account deleted
Permalink
29.01.2008 - 15:20
Dark_Age
Account deleted
For me..it's the best Album of All Time...they r just greaaat ...Keeper Of The Seven Keys this song is perfect...
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Posts: 334


Permalink
29.01.2008 - 19:46
Rating: 9

Posts: 334


They've never topped this album and Master of the rings IMO. Dark Ride came close though.
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LeChron James
Helvetesfossen

Posts: 3565


Permalink
30.01.2008 - 06:37
Rating: 9
LeChron James
Helvetesfossen

Posts: 3565


what do you think woulda happened if Keeper 1 and 2 had been released as one album?
----
Kick Ass, Die Young

Less is More
Stay Pure
Stay Poor

Music was my life, music brought me to life and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz in my head that only I can hear.
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Paradox0
Unasuming Madnes

Posts: 592
Permalink
25.02.2008 - 21:24
Rating: 8
Paradox0
Unasuming Madnes

Posts: 592
I have mixed feelings for this album. The first 6 tracks where pretty bland and uninspiring, but everything after that is incredible (even the bonus tracks). As crude as this may sound, I held in quite a load just to listen through all of the title track the 1st time (quite a testament of a song, no?)
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Powerslavex
Alexskywalker

Posts: 777


Permalink
07.10.2008 - 23:45
Rating: 9
Powerslavex
Alexskywalker

Posts: 777


the best helloween album Keeper Of The Seven Keys great song a 9 for me
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Elio
Red Nightmare

Posts: 4920


Permalink
08.10.2008 - 22:30
Rating: 9
Elio
Red Nightmare

Posts: 4920


Best power metal album ever IMO.
----
IntoPlighT said: "Slipknot is 15 years old how the fuck is that Nu metal?"

BEST. QUOTE. EVER.
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Mountain King
K i K o

Posts: 1361


Permalink
04.02.2009 - 02:42
Rating: 10
Mountain King
K i K o

Posts: 1361


Amazing piece of art! Ingo is there on drums, in Eagle Fly Free he leaves a lifetime mark on all future drummers and Kiske is here too. I think every Metal fan should own this album! Every single one...
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Mountain King
K i K o

Posts: 1361


Permalink
06.02.2009 - 21:43
Rating: 10
Mountain King
K i K o

Posts: 1361


Written by Paradox0 on 25.02.2008 at 21:24

I have mixed feelings for this album. The first 6 tracks where pretty bland and uninspiring, but everything after that is incredible (even the bonus tracks). As crude as this may sound, I held in quite a load just to listen through all of the title track the 1st time (quite a testament of a song, no?)

Are u sure Eagle Fly Free is not inspiring??? well as far as i know it inspired my brother to play drums
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Posts: 85


Permalink
12.02.2009 - 12:28
Rating: 10

Posts: 85


I read the other day, "Epicness began with Eagle Fly Free, everything after is a copycat"

This song is amazing. The drums are legendary. The chorus is ... well catchy. Guitars, Bass, Vocals.....
----
Nothing is real
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Posts: 1331


Permalink
12.02.2009 - 17:21

Posts: 1331


This was one of the first records I had and I played it very much through the years.
It' s a classsic and I don't think it's uninspired at all allthough Walls Of Jericho is better stuff IMO.
----
RIP: Frank Vandenbroucke (6 nov 1974 - 12 oct 2009)

Written by Bad English on 05.04.2014 at 15:05

but spoil thius film is like spoil porn and say porn ends whit cum shot ...
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Posts: 21
Permalink
24.04.2009 - 17:16
Rating: 9

Posts: 21
I like more this album than Keeper I , it's one of the greatest power metal albums.
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Posts: 44


Permalink
02.05.2010 - 23:29

Posts: 44


Simply A.MA.Z.I.N.G!!! When i first listened to this album, i said ''Such old and crappy sound...Dark ride is ten times better than this'' But i was COMPLETELY WRONG. All the tracks here are written and sung amazingly!
This is how helloween should truly be! singing happy and vivid power metal all the time~~~
I consider this a must for any power metal fan ^_^
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Deadmeat
Necrobutcher

Posts: 2437


Permalink
15.05.2011 - 12:46
Rating: 9
Deadmeat
Necrobutcher

Posts: 2437


Great album. i like helloween a lot. they were one of my first heavy metal bands. "I want out" is one of my first metal songs and i can't stop loving it. it is the best of the album along with march of time (as the reviewer said) but i dont like that much the 13min song. on keeper1 i liked a lot more the long song but not this time...
----
Υou've sold your human essence to the cold world of dead and empty things... You're SOLD!
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Posts: 84


Permalink
01.12.2011 - 14:45

Posts: 84


I will definitely buy both Part I and Part II. Good Review. Great Band. \Helloween/
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Gr Gr Gr Gr Gr
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Posts: 3
Permalink
13.03.2016 - 03:36

Posts: 3
Helloween IS Power Metal , and this album is the QUINtESSENTIAL POWER METAL FOR ALL TO ENJOY !!!
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Bad English
Tage Westerlund

Posts: 64426


Permalink
29.10.2016 - 20:30
Bad English
Tage Westerlund

Posts: 64426


Written by aluun on 13.03.2016 at 03:36

Helloween IS Power Metal , and this album is the QUINtESSENTIAL POWER METAL FOR ALL TO ENJOY !!!

yes since this album it is PM but before it was speed !!! (not so good as Blind Guardian btw )
----
I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 941
Permalink
17.02.2026 - 20:28
Rating: 8

Posts: 941
For sure, a true Power Metal gem. It has some of the most iconic songs of the genre.
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