Although the biggest -- and most successful -- {\heavy metal} concept album of the '80s will always be {$Queensr˙che}'s {^Operation: Mindcrime}, other bands also took stabs at penning a thematic full-length work. Next to {^Mindcrime}, the two most renowned "conceptual metal" releases would have to be {$Iron Maiden}'s {^Seventh Son of a Seventh Son} as well as {$Helloween}'s {^Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. I}. And while the first two aforementioned releases usually get most of the attention, {$Helloween}'s release should get credit for being the first -- pre-dating both by a year. Interestingly though, {$Helloween}'s sound is a hybrid of both {$Queensr˙che} and {$Iron Maiden}. Singer {$Michael Kiske} sounds very similar to both {$Bruce Dickinson} and {$Geoff Tate} (as he has the whole {\operatic} falsetto thing down pat), while guitarists {$Michael Weikath} and {$Kai Hansen} follow the same dual guitar harmony approach as the other two acts. Such tracks as {&"I'm Alive"} and {&"Future World"} prove to be standouts, but it's the epic {&"Halloween"} that steals the show -- as it received countless airings on {#Headbangers Ball} back in the day (and please heed this advice -- if you haven't seen this inadvertently hilarious video, be sure to start scanning {/youtube.com} or {@VH-1 Classic}). Reissued as an expanded edition in 2006, four extra tracks are featured -- including a "video edit" version of {&"Halloween."} ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide