Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II

Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II is the third studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1988.^[1][2] The album sold well, and success bloomed all over Europe, Asia, and even the United States. The album went gold in Germany and reached No. 108 in the US.

Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II
Studio album by Helloween
Released	29 August 1988
Recorded	May–June 1988
Studio	Horus Sound Studio, Hanover, Germany
Genre	Power metal
Length	49:23
Label	Noise
Producer	Tommy Newton, Tommy Hansen
Helloween chronology
Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I (1987) Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II (1988) Live in the U.K. (1989)
Singles from Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II
"Dr. Stein" Released: September 1988 "I Want Out" Released: 31 October 1988

Two singles were released from the album, "Dr. Stein" and "I Want Out". "Dr. Stein" has a very long and moody solo, played with a blues tinge, very unlike other solos on the album, as well as an organ solo. "I Want Out" remains the band's best-known song, and has been covered by several metal bands, such as Gamma Ray (which Kai Hansen formed after leaving Helloween itself), Unisonic (co-founded by Michael Kiske, after he left Helloween), HammerFall, LORD and Sonata Arctica. It is their last album to feature Hansen until 2021's self-titled album.

Background

The recording of the album actually lasted for 24 hours a day. Tommy Newton would work during the daytime and Tommy Hansen took over at night. That went on (between May and June 1988), until eventually Tommy Hansen got fired from the project by Karl Walterbach (Noise Records' boss). Newton wanted to continue on his own, so after Tommy Hansens preview mix of 'Eagle Fly Free' he was sent home. Newton had claimed that if he mixed it on his own he could make it sound far more modern.^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Blabbermouth.net	10/10[5]
Classic Rock	[6]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	9/10[7]
Kerrang!	[8]
Metal Hammer (GER)	7/7[9]
Rock Hard	9/10[10]
Sputnikmusic	[11]

Loudwire named the album at first in their list "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time."^[12] The album also ranked in the list "The 10 essential power metal albums" by Metal Hammer^[13] and topped their 2019 list of "25 Greatest power metal albums".^[14]

Track listing

All songs written by Michael Weikath, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Invitation"		1:06
2.	"Eagle Fly Free"		5:08
3.	"You Always Walk Alone"	Michael Kiske	5:08
4.	"Rise and Fall"		4:22
5.	"Dr. Stein"		5:03
6.	"We Got the Right"	Kiske	5:07

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
7.	"March of Time"	Kai Hansen	5:13
8.	"I Want Out"	Hansen	4:39
9.	"Keeper of the Seven Keys"		13:37
Total length:			49:23

CD bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
10.	"Save Us" (CD & cassette bonus track, track 7 on North American releases)	Kai Hansen	5:15

Expanded edition bonus disc

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Savage"	Kiske	3:25
2.	"Livin' Ain't No Crime"		4:42
3.	"Don't Run for Cover"	Kiske	4:45
4.	"Dr Stein" (remix)		5:05
5.	"Keeper of the Seven Keys" (remix)		13:52
Total length:			31:49

"Keeper of the Seven Keys, Parts I & II" bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Don't Run for Cover"	Kiske	4:45
12.	"Dr. Stein" (remix)		5:05
13.	"Keeper of the Seven Keys" (remix)		13:52

• Tracks 1 and 2 also appear on the "Dr. Stein" single
• Track 3 also appears on the "I Want Out" single
• Tracks 4 and 5 also appear on the Treasure Chest compilation

Personnel

Helloween

• Michael Kiske - vocals
• Kai Hansen - guitar, backing vocals
• Michael Weikath - guitar, backing vocals, cover concept
• Markus Grosskopf - bass, fretless bass on "Eagle Fly Free"
• Ingo Schwichtenberg - drums

Production

• Tommy Newton - engineer, mixing for "I Got Confused Productions"
• Tommy Hansen - engineer, mixing of "Invitation"

Charts

Weekly Chart (1988) Peak position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15] 9 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[16] 26 Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[17] 2 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 5 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[19] 27 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[20] 12 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 7 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 6 UK Albums (OCC)[23] 24 US Billboard 200[24] 108

Year-end Chart (1988) Position European Albums (Music & Media)[25] 99 German Albums (GfK Entertainment Charts)[26] 65

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[27]	Gold	250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[19]	Gold	100,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.