Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2

Infobox Album |
Name = Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2
Type = studio
Artist = Helloween


Released = 1988
Recorded = May – June 1988 at Horus Sound studio, Hannover, Germany
Genre = Power metal
Length = 54:33 (w/o bonus tracks)
1:26:21 (w/ bonus tracks)
Label = Noise
Producer = Tommy Hansen
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:mucyxdgbjolg link]
Last album = "Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1" (1987)
This album = "Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2" (1988)
Next album = "Live in the UK" (1989)

"Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2" is the third studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1988. The album capitalized on the success of "Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1" and picks up where it left off. Michael Weikath starts to come back into the picture as one of the premier songwriters in the band writing some of the most popular tracks to date. The album is one of the most influential power metal albums of all time, and many say that it really shows off the band's talent during this period. Success bloomed all over Europe, Asia and even the United States. The album went gold in Germany [ [http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank.html Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold/Platin-Datenbank ] ] and reached #108 in the US.

The album starts off with a short instrumental "Invitation". The second track, "Eagle Fly Free" (a typical power metal track with melodic vocals and an anthemic chorus), became a trademark of the band after this album. "You Always Walk Alone" is a song written by Michael Kiske, then a new member of the band. "Rise And Fall" is more a classic metal-sounding song played at breakneck speed and comical lyrics. "We Got The Right" is the sole power ballad of the album. "Save Us'" and "March of Time" were written by founder Kai Hansen.

The album contains two singles, which are "Dr. Stein" and "I Want Out". "Dr. Stein" has a very long and moody solo, played with a blues tinge, very unlike other solos in the album as well as an organ solo. "I Want Out" remains one of the band's most popular songs, and has been covered by Gamma Ray, Hammerfall, LORD and Sonata Arctica. This song was written by Kai Hansen, and it's rumored to have to do with how he felt about Helloween, that maybe the band wasn't his anymore.Fact|date=March 2008 The song's glam metal leanings are evident with the lyrical theme and music, as well as the promotional video.Fact|date=March 2008 The title track is the longest song of the album.

The album was re-released in 1993 as a double-CD with Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1. It included the bonus tracks "Don't Run for Cover", "Living Ain't No Crime", and "Savage".

Track listing

All songs are written and arranged by Helloween.

# "Invitation" (Weikath) – 1:06
# "Eagle Fly Free" (Weikath) – 5:08
# "You Always Walk Alone" (Kiske) – 5:08
# "Rise and Fall" (Weikath) – 4:22
# "Dr. Stein" (Weikath) – 5:03
# "We Got the Right" (Kiske) – 5:07
# "Save Us" (Hansen) – 5:12
# "March of Time" (Hansen) – 5:13
# "I Want Out" (Hansen) – 4:39
# "Keeper of the Seven Keys" (Weikath) – 13:38

"Save Us" is moved to track 10 on the Expanded Edition and the Noise Records re-release of 1993.

Expanded edition bonus tracks (disc 2)

# "Savage" – 3:25
# "Livin' Ain't No Crime" – 4:42
# "Don't Run for Cover" – 4:45
# "Dr Stein (Remix)" – 5:05
# "Keeper of the Seven Keys (Remix)" – 13:52

*M - 1,2 also appears on the Dr. Stein.
*M - 3 also appears on the I Want Out.
*M - 4,5 also appears on the Treasure Chest

Credits

*Michael Kiske - vocals
*Kai Hansen - guitar
*Michael Weikath - guitar, keyboards
*Markus Grosskopf - bass guitar
*Ingo Schwichtenberg - drums

*Engineered by Tommy Hansen and Tommy Newton
*Mixed by Tommy Newton for "I Got Confused Productions"

Chart Positions

Album - Billboard (North America)

References