Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy

Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy is a double-album epic centered on fast twin guitars, dramatic keyboards and Andi Deris’s singing. Bearing the name of the classic Keeper, it shows rich narrative and abundant development in the long pieces while firmly keeping a power-metal immediacy in the short ones. From the grandeur of the opening long piece “The King for a 1000 Years,” over thirteen minutes, and the playfulness of the humorous “Mrs. God” to the drama of “The Invisible Man” and the lyricism of “Light the Universe,” which features Candice Night, the songs are astonishingly wide-ranging, while a long piece like “Occasion Avenue” adds depth. Its appeal is that, even within a grand scale, Helloween’s brightness and accessible choruses are always alive. It beautifully binds a deep respect for the past classic and the sure character of the present-day band. Inheriting tradition yet not ending as a mere rehash, it is an ambitious, engaging epic.