GAMMA RAY „“Land of the Free II””

Music: Power Metal
Country: Germany
Web site: www.gamma-ray.com
Cool Songs: Into the Storm, Insurrection, When the World

Power metal progenitors, HELLOWEEN have never been the same since losing Kai Hansen. Hansen not only provided the group’s magnificent voice, he also supplied one-half of their guitars. When he left the HELLOWEEN camp, he took that trademark voice and guitar sound to GAMMA RAY. Because of his skill and name recognition, Hansen has vaunted the GAMMA RAY brand to the top of the power metal scene. A career highlight for GAMMA RAY came in 1995 when the group released “Land of the Free,” which became a fan favorite. Thirteen years later, the group has created the sequel.

The first standout aspect of “Land of the Free II” is the production. The album’s opener “Into the Storm” gives the listener a sneak peak of the album’s hefty sound. Swirling storm winds guide the listener into the track. Guitars churn in the distance before rising like a tidal wave into the forefront of the mix. The bass serves as a stagehand, pulling up the curtain for the crowd to behold GAMMA RAY’s majestic, speed metal instrumentation. Dirk Schlachter’s ample bass lick gives a large backdrop; a backdrop listeners will feel on their furniture and well as their personage.

Equally tangible is the guitar sound. Hansen and Richter combine melodious leads with catchy chops. The main guitar rhythms found in each track have a classic metal feel, like listening to MAIDEN, PRIEST, or…well, HELLOWEEN. For instance, “From the Ashes” features a guitar style that cries out MAIDEN, while “Leaving Hell” sounds like Glen Tipton and K.K. Downing at their heaviest. Hansen shows off his speed picking ability on “To Mother Earth.” “Real World” proves Hansen still looks back to his days in HELLOWEEN for inspiration. This track could have been a B-side to “The Keeper of the Seven Keys.”

Depending on an individual’s taste, power metal choruses can relate a cheese ball perception or instill grandiose splendor. I’ll be the first to point out cheesy, pretentiousness, but with “Land of the Free II,” the grand choruses mostly promote martial themes that I find inspiring. The eleven-plus-minute epic “Insurrection” is the strongest track on the album, bringing the album to a powerful climax. This track is full of galloping guitar breaks, chugging verses, and emotional tempo changes. Here Hansen attests to his vocal skills. After twenty-plus years, he can still nail a vocal high of nosebleed elevations.

“Land of the Free” is an album that should appeal to most fans of the power metal scene. The instrumentation, especially the killer guitar riffs are attributes listeners should be able to latch onto right from the first note. Clocking in at over sixty minutes, it may take a few listens to absorb fully every aspect of the album. Due to its length, one might not listen to the album in full, but that leaves more to discover upon the next listen. Look for “Land of the Free II” as one of power metal’s most important releases of 2008!

note: 8/10

Tracklist

1. Into the Storm
2. From the Ashes
3. Rising Again
4. To Mother Earth
5. Rain
6. Leaving Hell
7. Empress
8. When the World
9. Opportunity
10. Real World
11. Hear Me Calling
12. Insurrection
Total Playing Time: 65:18

Line-up

Kai Hansen – Vocals & Guitar
Henjo Richter – Guitar, Keyboards
Dirk Schlächter – Bass
Dan Zimmermann – Drums