Gamma Ray
"To The Metal"
(earMUSIC - Edel Germany GmbH)

Oh yes, the founders of German power metal are back - and what an album it is too! “To The Metal” is their 10th studio album in their 21 year history and as the title suggests, Kai & co have kind've gone back full circle to their metal roots to integrate this into their famed melodic metal song structures. The title track is almost Saxon / Priest like in its grooves along the lines of anthems like 'Denim n Leather' or 'United'. 'All You Need To Know' is a fast n furious power metal track by Dan Zimmerman's relentless drumming albeit with tinges of Accept in a power metal singalong. 'Time To Live' has the choral harmonies that made Kai & Dan's project Freedom Call so famous while Helloween fans will be delighted to know that Michael Kiske (the singer of the million sellers “Keeper Of The Seventh Keys I and II”) teams up again with Hansen to sing a song on the album (see if you can guess which one it is!). The remainder of the tracks show even more diversity and experimentation with 'Mother Angel' having gothic influences and opener 'Empathy' having an almost dance / industrial feel. But don't worry, it's still all very much Gammy Ray with their trademark sound as Kai sez “..our target is to combine the traditional and modern sound without loosing our identity...” - and yeah, I think they've pretty much succeeded in that with "To The Metal"!

-Shan Siva