Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I - Helloween

Do you remember the eighties? Remember those eighties bands... sure you do: bands like Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, Human League and... Helloween. 'Helloween?' you shriek. What in blue blazes is that all about? Well, they were not an eighties band in the way 'eighties bands' are depicted, but they certainly were around at the time. Whereas the aforementioned bands played soft synth pop, Helloween played Metal... Heirs to The Scorpions, Helloween hail from Germany, but whereas The Scorpions play a lighter shade of Metal, Helloween play it fast, they were and are a Thrash Metal Act. Still at it now in 2009, I am reviewing their third album which was originally ...  Read the complete review

Helloween's 'Keeper of the Seven Keys' has nothing of the concept album about it, despite spanning two releases over as many years. While none of the songs are thematically linked, the collection does at least bear a degree of coherence, and with newcomer Michael Kiske wailing high over Kai Hansen's incredible guitars, these albums both carry a distinctive and short-lived sound that would nevertheless be imitated by many bands that followed. The first of the 'Keeper' albums is arguably the weaker by comparison, and is certainly a let-down after the high quality of its meaner predecessor 'Walls of Jericho.' With Kiske's choruses now taking on central ...  Read the complete review