Search - Helloween :: Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 2

Full metal racket

Paul Lawrence | Australia | 06/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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.

"

Like Dangerfield...........they get no respect.....

Matthew L. Glass | chico, ca. | 02/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."