Gamma Ray – To The Metal

GAMMA RAY
TO THE METAL
Released January 29, 2010 (earMUSIC)

Track List:
01. Empathy
02. All You Need To Know
03. Time To Live
04. To The Metal
05. Rise
06. Mother Angel
07. Shine Forever
08. Deadlands
09. Chasing Shadows
10. No Need To Cry
Collector’s Edition Bonus Tracks:
11. Wannabees
12. To The Metal (demo version)
Japanese Bonus Tracks:
11. One Life
12. Wannabees
Special Edition Bonus DVD:
01. The Making Of To The Metal

Band:
Kai Hansen – vocals and guitar
Henjo Richter – guitar and keyboards
Dirk Schlachter – bass and vocals
Dan Zimmermann – drums

Additional Musicians:
Michael Kiske – vocals (2)

Production:
Produced and engineered by Dirk Schlachter and Kai Hansen.

Review:
Gamma Ray have experienced a bit of writer’s block during the course of their last couple of albums. They appear to have lost their inspiration, their desire and passion for music — from the fans perspective it’s as if Kai Hansen and Co. are simply going through the motions.

  On Gamma Ray‘s latest album To The Metal things begin in familiar fashion where we see Hansen and the boys blatantly borrow from the ‘Metal Gods’ Judas Priest. A note to Kai Hansen, there’s only one band aside from Judas Priest who can sound like Priest, and that is Primal Fear. There’s no room for another, thank you very much.

  Things however improve about a quarter way through To The Metal when the beast is unleashed. It’s like Gamma Ray dug really deep and came out with material that was on par with their late 90’s glory years.
Talk about going back in time as Hansen welcomes back Helloween cohort Michael Kiske on album standout “All You Need To Know”. A couple of others that are a notch above the rest are “Chasing Shadows” and “Shine Forever” which are some of the best songs that Gamma Ray has done in close to a decade.

  To The Metal is a return to form for Gamma Ray who appear to be back on track. The band is loose, having a lot of fun, and it shows.

  www.gammaray.org – www.myspace.com/gammaraytothemetal – www.ear-music.net

Reviewed by Ruben Mosqueda for Sleaze Roxx, March 2010.

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