David Halbe 
In my mind this album will always have that King Diamond meets Iron Maiden feel. High tempos and strong choruses woven into passages that have no set length. This was a musical exploration, a testing of limits and the setting of boundaries.
Helloween is a German metal band formed in 1984. Since its inception, the group has released a whopping 16 studio albums, 3 live recordings and 3 successful EPs. Helloween has sold more than ten million records worldwide!
Many argue they are one of the most influential European heavy metal groups of all time. An extreme musical juggernaut who is often considered the godfather of modern power metal.
I’ve recently started re-listening to the band’s back catalogue, and I believe the band’s classic line-up featuring vocalist Michael Kiske is the best. This is more than exemplified in the group’s second full length effort, Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I.
Released in 1987, this is the album that put European ‘Power Metal’ on the map. In my mind this album will always have that King Diamond meets Iron Maiden feel. High tempos and strong choruses woven into passages that have no set length. This was a musical exploration, a testing of limits and the setting of boundaries. Highlight Tracks for me are: “I’m Alive”, Twilight Of The Gods”, “Future World” and the epic masterpiece, “Helloween”.
I think the definition of a ‘Classic Album’ is a recording that you find yourself listening to again and again. It’s a set of songs that never seem to get stale. They are timeless in a way that cannot be measured. Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I has that kind of appeal. It was the first step that made this moniker a classic. The uplifting raw energy that became power metal! \m/
Helloween (1987):
- Michael Kiske – Vocals
- Kai Hansen – Guitars
- Michael Weikath – Guitars, Keyboards
- Markus Grosskopf – Bass
- Ingo Schwichtenberg – Drums
