Helloween – Keeper Of The Seven Keys - Part II

Absolutely perfect addition and what a great record. I’ve had a couple different pressings, and this one is far away the best

I have always loved this CD. Every track is strong, but the while the mastering on the original CD is not great, this is even worse. I initially thought this was a much better, fuller sounding version. I even initially posted a favorable review. All of the Helloween remasters seemed to sound great and better than the originals, until I realized something is missing. The sound is very compressed. See below.

(Note that the black-bordered slipcase pictured here no longer comes with this title).

When I first listened to the CD, it seemed fuller with more low end. It seemed great...at first. I started to wonder why I began listening to the remaster less and less. Then I dug out the original CD. I realized how instruments that jumped out on the original now just all blend together on the remaster. Drum hits that popped out before are softened and now in the background along with every other peak, making for a very generic modernized sound. The definition and clarity are gone.

Feel can be hard to describe or pinpoint, but the feel and excitement of great albums like this are destroyed by this kind of mastering that has become the norm for new albums and reissues alike. That feeling that made you pump your fist to the original will eventually (or instantly) disappear with this version.

It makes no difference how loud or full the CD sounds compared to the original. When they eliminate all of the peaks, the music overall loses its power. All of the accents are gone. There's no attack. This album was all about attack.

Unfortunately, the record companies (and sometimes the artists) simply want their discs to be as loud as possible. The only way to do that is to compress the music by lowering the peaks and bringing up the valleys.

It's easy to think initially "it's bigger, fuller and louder" but over time you'll wonder why you just don't enjoy it quite as much anymore. The punch is taken out and gone. Parts of songs that used to be loud compared to other parts are relatively reduced in volume and there's no longer those big contrasts.

If you don't believe it can be that bad, for a great example and side by side comparison, search YouTube for two videos titled "Loudness War is killing music" and "The Loudness War: Iron Maiden (Part 2)". (Neither are my videos). You'll see and hear what I'm talking about. One compares Dire Straits' Money for Nothing from the original CD vs. the remastered CD and the other compares Iron Maiden's Wasted Years from the original CD vs. the remaster. It is the exact same effect as on this remaster.

Here's some other compressed remasters I've wasted money on that should be avoided. I listened to these for a long time before I realized what was missing from the music. This is by no means a complete list. More remasters these days are overly compressed than not. Simply, these are some of the ones that I own and am really glad I never ditched the original CD's.

A awesome edition. The sound is crystal clear and everything comes across perfectly. I would even say that this edition sounds better than the EU edition.

Great sounding record and the music is awesome. Happy to own one. Get one if you see one.

The printing quality is low too. Not much detail low contrast and sharpness.
The real joke is the label print quality on side B.
Its a shame, maybe the worst quality print i ever came across.

Fantastic album and a great follow up to Keeper I. This pressing sounds quite thin and not very robust sound quality. I don't have an original to compare it to. Dual table with 2M red.

Hmmm, while it lacks low end and might be a little flat, but it does not sound fatiguing when you turn it up. Also my copy has minimal surface noise. Unfortunately, I have never listened to either the 1988 CD or LP, so there is nothing to compare it to. IMO it sounds better than most modern metal recordings. And to put things into perspective, it sounds better than ...And Justice for All. :)

Update: I have bought used Japanese Edition CD of this album (VI-5196, 1992,https://discogs.librosgratis.biz/release/2585563-Helloween-Keeper-Of-The-Seven-Keys-Part-II).
I realize it is highly subjective and error prone, but performing level matched comparison, to my ears the CD has more lower end and it is slightly more dynamic.

My two cents....

It's a pleasure to have this copy on cassette, and it sounds really good !!!

I am listening to this vinyl release for the first time.
Having read all the negative reviews i just wonder if we listen to the same 2015 pressing?
When i compare this vinyl to my old cd from 1988, which i just did, eveyrthing sounds great.
Yes, you have to crank up the volume, but that's why you have a volume knob on your amplifier. Than it all sounds great.

Another excellent Noise records re-release.

Nice reissue including Save Us and bonus tracks, I found it years ago at a reasonable price nowdays its a lil bit expensive