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.

Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I
Studio album by
Helloween
Released23 May 1987
RecordedNovember 1986 – January 1987
StudioHorus Sound Studio, Hanover, 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

Background

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 illness of 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.

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]
Sputnikmusic[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"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 9, 13, and 14 also appears on "Dr. Stein" single.
  • Track 10 is a remix from the Treasure Chest compilation album of a re-recorded version of a song from the "Helloween" EP that was featured on the "Future World" single.
  • Track 11 also appear on the "Future World" single.
  • Track 12 also appears on the Pumpkin Box compilation album.

Personnel

Helloween

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

Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[11] 10
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[12] 15
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[13] 58
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 42
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 18
US Billboard 200[16] 104

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[17] Gold 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover version

Russian band Arktida covered the song "I'm Alive" in a single they titled "Я живой", romanized as "Ya zhivoy". The song was also covered by Luca Turilli and included in their single for "Demonheart".

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. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  13. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  14. "Swedishcharts.com – Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  15. "Swisscharts.com – Helloween – Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  16. "Helloween Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  17. "Original German Gold record Award from Helloween "Keeper of the Seven Keys"".
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