Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I

Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I is the second studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1987. It marks the first appearance of vocalist Michael Kiske, and is considered the album that created the genre of European-style power metal. Kai Hansen stepped away from doing vocal duties as he had difficulties singing and playing the guitar at the same time during the previous tour. It was an album dominated by Hansen, due to an injury to co-guitarist Michael Weikath which prevented him from performing on much of the album. "Future World" was released as a single and a music video was made for "Halloween" but with 8 minutes omitted from the song. The band originally planned to release Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I and Part II as a double album, but their record label refused, insisting that the albums be released separately. In 1993, both albums were released as a double CD set with bonus tracks.

Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I
Studio album by
Helloween
Released23 May 1987
RecordedNovember 1986 - January 1987
StudioHorus Sound Studio, Hannover, Germany
GenrePower metal[1]
Length36:58
LabelNoise
ProducerTommy Newton, Tommy Hansen
Helloween chronology
Walls of Jericho
(1985)		 Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I
(1987)		 Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II
(1988)
Singles from Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I
  1. "Future World"
    Released: 13 April 1987

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Blabbermouth.net10/10[3]
Classic Rock[4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal9/10[5]
Metal Hammer (GER)6/7[6]
Rock Hard9.5/10[7]
Sputnikmusic4.5/5[8]

Loudwire named the album at third in their list "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time" and commented the album is "a tireless LP and perhaps the first genuine power metal album."[9] ThoughtCo also named the album in their list "Essential Power Metal Albums."[10]

Track listing

All songs written by Kai Hansen, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Initiation" 1:20
2."I'm Alive" 3:22
3."A Little Time"Michael Kiske3:59
4."Twilight of the Gods" 4:29
5."A Tale That Wasn't Right"Michael Weikath4:42
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Future World" 4:02
7."Halloween" 13:18
8."Follow the Sign"Kai Hansen, Weikath1:46
Total length:36:58
Expanded edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Victim of Fate" (re-recorded version) 7:00
10."Starlight" (remix)Hansen, Weikath4:15
11."A Little Time" (alternative version)Kiske3:33
12."Halloween" (video edit) 5:02
"Keeper of the Seven Keys, Parts I & II" bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Savage"Kiske3:23
14."Livin' Ain't No Crime"Weikath4:42
  • Tracks 10 and 11 also appear on the "Future World" single.
  • Track 12 also appears on the "Pumpkin Box" single.

Personnel

Helloween

Production
  • Tommy Newton - producer, engineer
  • Tommy Hansen - co-producer, engineer, mixing, emulator
  • Edda & Uwe Karczewski - cover design
  • Limb - sleeve & back cover concept

Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
German Albums Chart[11] 15
Swiss Albums Chart[12] 18
Swedish Albums Chart[13] 42
US Billboard Top 200[14] 104

Covers

The Russian band, Arktida, covered the song "I'm Alive" in a single they titled, "Я живой", Romanized as "Ya zhivoy".

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References
  1. Rivadavia, Eduardo (January 3, 2018). "The Best Metal Album From 40 Subgenres". Loudwire. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  2. Henderson, Alex. "Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1 - Helloween | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  3. Bergman, Keith. "CD Reviews - Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part I". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  4. Berelian, Essi (February 2011). "Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1 & 2". Classic Rock. No. 154. p. 88.
  5. Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
  6. Stratmann, Holger (March 1987). "Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys part I". Metal Hammer (in German).
  7. Trojan, Frank (1987). "Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part I". Rock Hard (in German). No. 21. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  8. Stagno, Mike (September 6, 2006). "Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys part 1". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  9. DiVita, Joe (July 5, 2017). "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time". Loudwire. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  10. Marsicano, Dan. "Essential Power Metal Albums". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  11. "Helloween - Keeper of The Seven Keys Pt. 1 (German Charts)" (in German). charts.de. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  12. "Helloween - Keeper of The Seven Keys Pt. 1 (Swiss Charts)" (in German). hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  13. "Helloween - Keeper of The Seven Keys Pt. 1 (Swedish Charts)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  14. "Helloween - Keeper of The Seven Keys Pt. 1 (US Charts)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
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