Keeper Of The Seven Keys -The Legacy / Helloween (2005)

Disc 1

1. The King For A 1000 Years

2. The Invisible Man

3. Born On Judgment Day

4. Pleasure Drone

5. Mrs. God

6. Silent Rain

Disc 2

7. Occasion Avenue

8. Light The Universe (Feat. Candice Night)

9. Do You Know What You Are Fighting For

10. Come Alive

11. The Shade In The Shadows

12. Get It Up

13. My Life For One More Day

"Chameleon" was a controversial album due to less metal music style. "The Dark Ride" brought another controversy by heavy and modern sound production. However, the controversy that this album brought was completely different degree. This album was clowned with the name of "Keeper". I saw both positive and negative reviews. I listened to the records many many times. I am finally writing the review for this album.

Your valuation of this album largely depends on how you take the word "Keeper". I guess the band used this name because they had confidence in the line-up. In fact, this line-up still continues today and became the longest one they ever had in their career. I am pretty sure that the band knew this album would bring such controversy. Therefore, they emphasized that this is not Part 3. This is a new chapter. The name, "Keeper", means more in message that they are sending in this album than music style. They said that they divided this album in two discs because each disc has different meaning. They both start with progressive songs that are over 10 minutes. This album is really difficult to comprehend, and you must listen to the album many times. 

My conclusion of this album is that I really like it. It really shows that how this line-up is tight and strong. Their composition skill and arrangement skill are way above head of their followers. The first tracks in both discs are progressive and complicated yet very dramatic and attract listeners. They also have good fast power metal tunes such as tracks 3, 6, 11, and 13. Tracks 2, 5, 10, and 12 are good Helloween style pop metal tunes. Track 8 is a beautiful ballad featuring Candice Night from Blackmore's Night. Track 4 and 9 are very cool metal songs as well.

I think most of negative reviews come from comparing this album with "Keepers Part I and II". But, I have to say this album should be sung by Andi and cannot imagine Kiske singing, so this is not really comparable with those two albums. I am not saying this album is better than "Part I and II" but surely one of my favorite Helloween albums. 

☆☆☆☆

Majestic / Gamma Ray (2005)

1. My Temple

2. Fight

3. Strange World

4. Hell Is Thy Home

5. Blood Religion

6. Condemned To Hell

7. Spiritual Dictator

8. Majesty

9. How Long

10. Revelation

Helloween was the first metal band that I listened. Since I bought "Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I", I have been a fan until this day. "Keeper Part I" was pretty much Kai Hansen's record, and I love all of the songs in the album. And then I listened to "Helloween/Walls of Jericho/Judas" and learned that he used to be the main singer of the band. However, soon after I bought the "Keeper" album, I found out that Kai was no longer a member of the band and started his own band "Gamma Ray". My friend had the best album "Blast From The Past", so I borrowed and listened to the record. I was happy that he was still making awesome songs with his band.

I am not the biggest fan of Gamma Ray. I have only three records "Blast From The Past", "Land Of The Free", and "Majestic". However, I bought this album right after it was released. I was in the U.S. at that time and could not find this album, so I had to order online. Soon after I bought the album, it became one of my favorite album.

This is one of the greatest German Metal/Power Metal album. I really like this because it has catchy melody that Kai is really good at and aggression that he had in early years of Helloween. Some riffs reminded me of "Walls Of Jericho" era, yet it became more catchy and mellow than "Walls Of Jericho". 

☆☆☆☆☆

Generations / Journey (2005)

1. Fain In The Heartland

2. The Place In Your Heart

3. A Better Life

4. Every Generation

5. Butterfly (She Flies Alone)

6. Believe

7. Knowing That You Love Me

8. Out Of Harms Way

9. In Self-Defense

10. Better Together

11. Gone Crazy

12. Beyond The Clouds

13. It's Never Too Late

The departure of Steve Perry was a great loss for the band. Nevertheless, they proved that their music is still unchanged and strong with their new singer Steve Augeri and the last album. "Arrival" went beyond my expectation, I was really looking forward to the new album when the band announced that they would release one.

At the beginning, it was a dramatic opening with track 1 and 2. These two songs really reassured me how Steve Augeri matched with this band. Then, it goes to track 3, and I posed for a moment. The voice did not sound like Steve Augeri. I checked the notes in the jacket, and Deen Castronovo was credited as a lead singer for the song. I realized each members took lead vocals in at least one song. This album was very irregular. But, I really liked track 3 as well (surprisingly, he did pretty good job on track 13 too). However, the problem was from track 4. After that, the melody lines were not very attractive. The melody has always been their core essence of the sound, but it is very weak in this album. The ballad, track 7, was not bad, yet the album is restrained overall. 

The only relief is that Neal Schon's guitar play keeps high tension in this album. But, this album taught me that how vocal melody lines were important for this band. If this is a new band, I would be pretty impressed, but in this band's standard, I have to rank this album low...

☆☆

Angel Of Retribution / Judas Priest (2005)

1. Judas Rising

2. Deal With The Devil

3. Revolution

4. Worth Fighting For

5. Demonizer

6. Wheels Of Fire

7. Angel

8. Hellrider

9. Eulogy

10. Lochness

In 2003, the news of the reunion of Judas Priest and Rob Halford ran through the world. Luckily, I was able to see their concert at Ozzfest 2004. It was truly a greatest hits live. I could not deny that they were all getting old, but they played with all of their heart. It was astonishing live. When it was announced that they were making a new album, I was half excited and half worried. Halford and the band both wandered off from the music that fans expect them during 90's. Can they still make pure metal? Soon after the release, I learned that my fear was needless.

From track 1, they made a strong statement with the message and music of the song. Judas Priest has returned!! This album really summarized their whole career, they put out what fans really expected. 

1. Judas Rising

A powerful opening number. It is not fast but has a strong message in music and lyrics.

2. Deal With The Devil

One of my favorites in this album. Obviously, his high tone voice is not as strong as it used to be. No one can fight against their age (Bruce Dickinson is very exceptional). But, he still has strong mid-range voice.

3. Revolution

The lead single. A nice mid-tempo song that reminds me of songs from "British Steel" or "Screaming For Vengeance". 

4. Worth Fighting For

This song has the mood of their earlier career in 70's.

5. Demonizer

I was bit surprised with this song. This song can be in "Demolition" or "Jugulator". But, the guitar solo is very straightforward metal.

6. Wheels Of Fire

This is another song has the feeling of their early 80's albums. 

7. Angel

In their career in 70's, ballad songs were essence of this band. They made another great ballad song. This song is really dramatic and moving. The arrangement is very similar to the acoustic version of "Diamond And Rust".

8. Hellrider

As they have created monsters in their songs, they created another one. This is another killer tune that is comparable to songs such as "Painkiller" or "Night Crawler". 

9. Eulogy

This is a song that flows into the next song. It is very dark yet dramatic.

10. Lochness

The most progressive song they ever have written. I think this song really summarized their career. This song has such big scale. It is dramatic, dark, and sometimes even mysterious. This is a kind of song they have never done before.

Overall, they did everything that they were expected as "Judas Priest". However, the great point of this album is that it is not just nostalgia. They still have enthusiasm as musician and strong will to challenge themselves as musician.

☆☆☆☆☆ 

Aeronautics / Masterplan (2005)

1. Crimson Rider

2. Back For My Life

3. Wounds

4. I'm Not Afraid

5. Headbanger's Ball Room

6. After This War

7. Into The Arena

8. Dark From The Dying

9. Falling Sparrow

10. Back In The Burn

The last album was a high quality metal album, but the most of the songs were written before they had a permanent vocal. Therefore, they did not write songs anticipating Jorn singing, so this album is the first one they made as a band. Jorn's strength lies on low to mid-range voice. This album features his voice well. 

As I mentioned before, what makes this band unique and not a typical power metal band is Jorn's voice. The lead single, track 2, is a heavy and slow yet very dramatic and features Jorn's voice well. The only typical melodic power metal song, track 3, sounds bit strange in this album even though the song itself is good. I think the highlight of this album is track 4. It is very powerful, and the minor melody really matches with Jorn's voice. The same thing can applies to tracks 6 and 9. When Jorn sings minor melody, it sounds much more sad than other singers. The progressive number, track 10, is very dramatic and cool as well.

This album does not have as much impact as the last album, but they featured Jorn's voice better this time, and the band became tighter this time.

☆☆☆☆