German power metal band. They are considered one of the founders of power metal, and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1 and Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 are considered among the masterpieces of the genre. The musicians first performed under this name in 1984. The only members left in the band from that moment until now are Michael Weikath and Markus Grosskopf. Since 1989 the line-up has changed several times. Due to the change of vocalists, the history of the band is usually distinguished as the “Hansen era”, the “Kiske era”, the “Deris era” and the “Pumpkins United” era