Helloween
Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 1

I am writing this review to put into perspective, at least partially, "Keeper of The Seven Keys Part 1".

Don't get me wrong; this is a great album, and it was the first metal record I bought (thus I have a special connection with it); but I find it very difficult to consider it an "absolute masterpiece", perhaps because I hate Kiske's voice, perhaps simply because Happy metal isn't for me.

After a very well-crafted Intro, "I'M Alive" kicks in, which I can easily define as the best song ever written by Helloween: it is powerful, immediate, and, above all, it doesn't contain the childishness and carefreeness of the following "A Little Time" and the sixth track "Future World", undeniably exciting and beautiful songs, but they leave nothing after listening. Of a completely different mold are "Twilight of the Gods" and "Helloween", the former very similar to I'M Alive while the latter, perhaps a bit too long, consists of numerous solos and various melodies.

A special mention goes to "A Tale that Wasn't Right" for being the worst ballad I have ever heard: it's clichéd, boring, repetitive and, fill in the blank (the great epic ballads of Blind Guardian are light years away). Scandalous, furthermore, is the scarcity of tracks (6!) compared to the price (20€!)

In conclusion, if you love Helloween, you must buy it immediately; if you mainly listen to Black or Death, don't buy it under any circumstances! You might end up facing: appendage paralysis (all of them!), abnormal gastritis, coma, death!

To all those who do not belong to these two categories: grab it if it's on sale!

Rating: 3.5

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