HELLOWEEN's MICHAEL WEIKATH Rules Out 'Part Four' Of 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys' Album Saga: 'That Would Be Very Repetitive'

In a new interview with Brazil's Ibagenscast, HELLOWEEN guitarist Michael Weikath was asked if it's true that he and his bandmates are already thinking about a follow-up to their latest album, "Giants & Monsters", which arrived in August 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). Michael said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, yeah. [We are] thinking about it, even though I won't say anything. And there's going to be a bit of more work going into it, surely. It's not going to be finished just so. I mean, there's lots of additional handy work necessary, yeah, absolutely. But that's true — there's lots of material, yeah."

Weikath was also asked about the possibility of a new chapter in the "Keeper Of The Seven Keys" saga, following the release of the two original albums, 1987's "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part I" and 1988's "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part II", as well as 2005's "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: The Legacy", which was intended as a sequel to the originals. Michael said: "That would be possible, but even though I don't really think so. There was one rumor going on some months ago that [HELLOWEEN singer] Andi [Deris] had said something about a 'Keeper IV' that was just like a joke in the talk of the interview. And with the interviewer he was talking, they were having fun musing, like, 'Okay, or we make the 'Keeper IV'."

Elaborating on why he thinks releasing a new chapter in the "Keeper Of The Seven Keys" saga would not be a good idea at this point in HELLOWEEN's career, Weikath said: "That would be very repetitive, and I can also imagine it wouldn't do much good on one part of the, of the critical fanhood or whatever. There would be many people going, like, 'Ah, they're out of ideas. They don't know album titles' or whatever, and 'Oh, 'IV'? Oh, come on.' And I can imagine that not to be so positive, actually, if you're showing, okay, you don't really have any ideas for new album titles and whatever. And then I think the 'Keeper IV' was already the 'United' [self-titled HELLOWEEN] album [which came out in 2021]. And if you want it that way, even the 'Giants & Monsters' would be like a 'Keeper IV' or 'Keeper V', right? It's just not called that way. Because it's also easily accessible, and the playing time is kind of limited in comparison to longer records we've done."

Weikath continued: "I don't really think that the 'Keeper' saga is a feasible subject for the future. I'd rather come up with new album titles. Otherwise then you end up with, like, 'Keeper VI', 'Keeper VII', and whatever. And it doesn't really change the originality of each track that's being conceived for any new record. So I think new titles would be better. But we can make a poll and everybody says, 'Hey, we want a number four', and then that's a different thing if everybody says so. I just don't imagine that that way."

"Giants & Monsters" was mixed at the legendary Wisseloord Studios (IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, DEF LEPPARD) in Hilversum, Netherlands.

"Helloween" was the first HELLOWEEN album to feature the band's expanded lineup, consisting of returning members, singer Michael Kiske and guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen, along with singer Andi Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf and drummer Daniel Löble.

Upon its release in June 2021, "Helloween" landed in the Top 10 in more than 10 countries, including Germany, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria.

HELLOWEEN released a live album, "Live At Budokan", on December 13, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The effort immortalized HELLOWEEN's September 16, 2023 performance at Tokyo's legendary Nippon Budokan.

The Hansen-led "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part I" was released in May 1987 to critical acclaim. "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part II", featuring more of Weikath's material, followed in August 1988 to an equally rapturous reception.

HELLOWEEN is:

Michael Kiske - vocals
Andi Deris - vocals
Kai Hansen - guitars, vocals
Michael Weikath - guitars
Sascha Gerstner - guitars
Markus Grosskopf - bass
Daniel Löble - drums