Customer Reviews

Keeper Of The Seven Keys, Pt. 2 (Bonus Tracks) (2CD)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Who can rightfully debate this is one of the finest power metal albums ever made? A fantastic and underrated offering from Germany's Helloween. I agree with (most) of the others that this album bests part I. Whether or not you buy into Helloween's over-the-top histrionics depends on how much your tolerance for more progressive Iron Maiden (think _7th Son of a 7th Son_). Helloween is very similar to Maiden in many ways, including the magnificent high pipes of Michael Kiske and the dual guitar attack of Kai Hansen and Michael Weikath. They are more thrash-y than Maiden (thank god they don't try to constantly ape the infamous Maiden gallop beat most of the time). And as the other reviewer stated, there is cheese. Cheese GALORE. Thats part of the point though, I think, especially when you look at songs like the satirical "Dr. Stein" (which has a LOT more going on lyrically than meets the eye) and "Rise and Fall" with its madcap accordion swatches, are both absolutely hilarious. EMBRACE THE CHEESE. You have to keep that in mind with the more ridiculous and deliberately anthemic songs, like "We Got The Right" or "Eagle Fly Free", which will either make you want to stand on top of a mountain with an American flag and shout to heaven, or cringe horribly at the sheer magnitude of their pomposity. On a whole its a lot more fun and entertaining than most of the bands they are compared to. For more serious fantasy-oriented headbanging, check out the fantastic "I Want Out" (IMHO their finest moment). The epic "Keeper of the Seven Keys" drags a little, I think, but its interesting compositionally and ends with a nice touch of acoustics to fade out the album.

This album is even better than KOTSK Pt. I and it features more of Michael Weikath's songwriting than on previous releases. The album couldn't have started better than with "Invitation\Eagle Fly Free". "Eagle Fly Free" is my second favourite Helloween song after "Gorgar". "Eagle Fly Free" is an absolute classic song, it really doesn't get much better. Other highlights on this album include "I Want Out", the zany "Dr. Stein", Michael Kiske's "We got the Right" and of course the epic 13 minute "Keeper of the Seven Keys". These are the highlights, but the rest of the album is not filler. There are no bad tracks on this one. The musicianship is incredible. Check out "Eagle Fly Free" which features a drum solo and a bass solo in addition to guitar solos. Michale Kiske's vocals are flawless and it never ceases to amaze me how he soars from note to note so effortlessly and accurately. In summary, this album is an absolute classic and anyone who is into power metal should get their hands on this one.

I just recently got in to the heavy metal, progressive metal scene and was told by one of my friends to get a helloween CD. One of the best purchases I ever made. They have the most amazing bass lines ever! Bass really comes out loud and clear on this album along with part one as well. Not to mention sick solos that get you super pumped up. The singer goes along great with the sound of the music as well. I reccomend this CD to anybody. In my top 5 without a question. Just get it you wont regret it.

No one wants to read a really long review, so I'll jump to it.

Eagle Fly Free: Great chorus & solos 9/10
You Always Walk Alone: Rather slow, lacks passion 7/10
Rise And Fall: Funny as hell...but admittedly strange 8.5/10
Dr. Stein: Fun lyrics and a great grove. One of the best 10/10
We Got The Right: Good song, but fails to inspire 7.5/10
Save Us: Great chorus! 'please savvvvvvvvvvvve us!' 9/10
March of Time: Simply rockin'! From start to finish! 10/10
I Want Out: Very pop-like, but since when is that a problem? 9/10
Keeper of the Seven Keys: 13-minute melodic trip that should be the best song here but falls short of a couple. Still great. 9/10

As you can see this album has tons of great songs. Is should also note that vocals are truly amazing and the solos are very impressive (esp. on Eagle Fly Free). This is a great album. Up there with the best of Iron Maiden...

Is incredible the fact that a simple CD that from outside looks like any other can provoque so much pleasure to the ears. If you heard it you know what I mean. If you like Metal and you haven't listened to the Keepers 2 you better do it soon because there is something missing in your life. In the few years that Hansen and Weikath worked together the world recieved some of the best music ever written. What else? Well here you have a good singer.
"Daaaaaamn!!!!!!!" that's what everybody say when they listen to Kiske's almost supernatural voice by the first time. If there is (in this case there was) a singer in the metal world that can stand next to Dickenson and tell him something like : "I'm in your league" then that's Kiske. And the drummer... AHHHHH Ingo. Metal could've been even better with you playing for more years.RIP!!!
Helloween's Keepers of the Seven Keys Pt 2 is one of the ten best Metal albums (Of any kind of Metal) of all time. This CD makes the bands that are popular today here in United States and that call themselves "metal" or "hard-rock" or however the hell they call themselves (Korn, Linkin Park, System of a Down, etc) sound like a performance created by 5 year old kindergarden kids. If you haven't heard this Masterpiece do yourself a huge favor (And I mean HUUUUUUGE) and buy this album.

What else can be said about this masterpiece?? If you don't own it already, you need it now!! What are you waiting for????

I Began listening to Helloween back in 1995. I Bought Keeper 1 and loved it so much. Then a friend of mine said, "well, there's part two"...no kidding??!!, i thought it was just a name!!...
Great, that's what i thought when i heard this one. just great. Eagle Fly Free it's beautiful and powerfull, the best song on the album.

But there's this one little thing... Rise and Fall...what was that??..

When I began to like metal I decided that I had to try the band Helloween.For a strange reason I picked this Album even though I had never heard the band before and I didn't know how important they were.I only heard a recomendation that said that the band was awesome. So I picked the CD and I thought ''This one''. Guess what happened. It had the same effect that it has with every single Metal fan. It blew me away.I mean... hey all the tracks are a freaking work of art.The lyrics,the guitars,the vocals,the percussion...everything is awesome.It still can impress anyone and it was released 15 years ago!!! . Every single track is extraordinary.The invitation is cool. ''Eagle Fly Free'' is a super classic. ''You always walk alone'' is really good. ''Rise And Fall'' is super funny with great lyrics and solo. ''Dr Stein'' is one of my favorite 10 songs in all my Metal collection(Trust me.My collection is big)and is ...there's no words. ''We got the right'' another great song. ''Save Us'' is another classic.one of the best(If not the best)vocals in Metal history.''March of time'' is another great song.Great guitars too(Like in every single song). ''I want out'' is one of the gran gran gran...fathers of the classics and Kai Hansen last song in Helloween. ''Keeper of the seven Keys'' is a freacking ass kicker song that gives you 14 minutes of pleasure. THIS ALBUM KICKS ASSES AND ANYONE THAT LIKES METAL LOVES IT

I think this album surpases the one before it by just a little bit. Songs like Eagle Fly Free, I Want Out, and March of Time are classics. Too bad that this is last good Helloween album. If you want to get into this band, I suggest starting with part 1. Then moving to part 2. Skip everything else after this release. Some other good bands to check out would be Freedom Call, Gamma Ray, Heavenly, and Insania (all with similar style).

First it's needed to realize that music was recorded somewhere between 1986-1988 and then if you are in real music and art you will find out that even today 2003 this album is more than excelent and why-?1,extremely technical musicians 2,excelent lyrics 3,best singer on the planet 3,players with life knowledge regardles in that time their early age 4,huge feelings and excelent melodic parts with heavy riffs and beauty combine together.They changed the time and even today this album is unbeatable bu NO ONE!by all aspects and positions this is BEST music album on THE Earth!!!!!!!!!
No one else has chance even get close to them!