| Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Helloween |
| Cover: | Keeper_of_the_Seven_Keys_Part_1.jpg |
| Released: | 23 May 1987 |
| Recorded: | November 1986 – January 1987 |
| Studio: | Horus Sound Studio, Hanover, Germany |
| Genre: | Power metal[1] |
| Length: | 36:58 |
| Label: | Noise |
| Producer: | Tommy Newton, Tommy Hansen |
| Prev Title: | Walls of Jericho |
| Prev Year: | 1985 |
| Next Year: | 1988 |
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 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.
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."[2] ThoughtCo also named the album in their list "Essential Power Metal Albums."[3]
All songs written by Kai Hansen, except where noted.
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[4] | 10 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[5] | 58 |
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".