Introduction to Fun

While dark and intense music serves a cathartic purpose, it is often missing a crucial element that moves people to action. Many bands are so serious and self-absorbed that they become out of touch with what music is all about. They need to remember that the spirit of FUN infused into the fabric of music creates a longer lasting impression. Yes, you can have great fun with dark music. And, even greater fun with music that is joyful in nature. Fun music need not be cheesy or wimpy. There is much joy to be had in strength and ability.

Germany is home to Gamma Ray, one of the many fun and immensely talented power metal bands that have emerged from Europe. They share a kinship of good vibes with bands like Blind Guardian, Helloween, Hammerfall, Stratovarius, and others. Their awesome technical skill, compositional brilliance, and tongue-in-cheek attitude create a lasting impression. I have heard many stories about how approachable and personable the members of these bands are to their fans, and it shows in the way they produce their music.

Gamma Ray has created "Blast From The Past," a wonderfully fun release for year 2000. At first glance it appears to be a greatest hits package. Closer inspection reveals that it is so much more than that. First, the band polled it's fans and chose 3 songs from each of the 6 studio albums spanning their 10 year history. Rather than simply remaster the old recordings, Gamma Ray chose to record brand new studio versions of 14 classic songs. Six songs from the last two studio albums, "Somewhere Out In Space" and "Powerplant" were remastered from the originals. The result is a release that has something for all fans, and is a great way to introduce people to the music of Gamma Ray.

This release is a winner on all counts. First, it is a two CD package at an almost single CD price. The packaging is outstanding, including a great folding layout, superb cover art, a well-styled booklet, and impressive production throughout. You can tell that Gamma Ray took this very seriously, and had a great time making it. It is one of the most fun releases I have experienced in the last few years.

The band is sounding better than ever, settling into a nice groove with the line-up from the past two studio albums. Leading the charge on vocals and guitar is Kai Hansen, the core of Gamma Ray, and it's principal songwriter. In addition to being a great composer, Kai is one of the guitar gods, and has a fine voice with excellent range. He can croon and scream. Ably supporting Kai on guitar and keyboards is Henjo Richter. The solid rhythm section consists of Dirk Schlächter on drums, and Dan Zimmermann on drums. All musicians are outstanding, and produce an infectious, joyful kind of power metal to be played very loudly.

Please note that I choose not to comment about whether or not it is sacreligeous, as some fans have claimed, to record new versions of these songs. I will review the album based on it's own merit, and you can be the judge. Just remember to have some fun, okay?

Kai Hansen says, "enjoy the 'best Gamma Ray album ever' and have a joyful metalennium!" So, with the spirit of fun, let's listen to and analyze the 20 tracks that are presented on the two CD "Blast From The Past."

CD 1 Track Review

01. Welcome (0:57) Keyboard fanfare and band bombast welcomes the listener on board. Kai Hansen's guitar scales in the background to give us a taste of what's in store.

02. Lust For Life (5:25) Powered by Kai's fast guitar picking and the band's thunder, this song's chorus proclaims, "Loud and proud, we're gonna say it now, Live - Life - Easy. Live - Life - Easy." An awesome start for the first CD!

03. Heaven Can Wait (4:29) A classic power metal track with a great life affirming chorus, "Heaven can wait 'til another day, 'cause there ain't no reason to leave. The world is a stage where we all can play, another fine reason to live, and heaven can wait, let it wait." By now we get Kai's point, and he punctuates it with a superb guitar solo. Solid rhythm and harmony from the band backs the tune.

04. Heading For Tomorrow (15:00) This is an awesome opus, and the best track on CD1. It showcases the band's varied abilities including multiple time changes, classic riffing, heavenly sing along chorus, powerful lead vocals, keyboard flourishes, thumping bass, and rock-solid drumming. Kai pulls off a fine solo, emotionally fitting for the song's sentiment, "God bless the children, freedom is their word. Freedom, freedom 'til they learn to obey. Don't fear the liars, reason is their name. Reason, reason, play a silly game. Where will the children go tomorrow?"

05. Changes (5:28) Here is a super track, beginning with a sexy guitar groove. Kai is in fine voice, singing "Changes - all around me, all inside my head. Changes - changing face, still remaining mad. Changes - an all day routine." And, Mr. Hansen supplies a great guitar solo.

06. One With The World (4:48) This begins with lofty, bombastic drumming and bumblebee riffs. The rest of the track is traditional Gamma Ray; loud, fast, and with moaning guitars. A tasty guitar solo appears in the midst of the riffage. We can feel along with Kai that "when I'm one with the world I am one with my mind."

07. Dream Healer (7:34) Galloping riffs and drums set the tone for this masterpiece. Then Kai questions, "Who will creep inside your mind at night, who makes your wildest dream arise? Who makes you see what you can't see, while you're awake but in your dreams?" A great chorus, searing guitar solo, throbbing bass lines, and super vocals from Kai mark this track.

08. Tribute To The Past (4:46) Classic GR power metal with a godly chorus, "Far beyond the rising sun - I ride the winds of fate. Prepared to go where my heart belongs - back to the past again." Excellent speed riffing and solid rhythms move this track along at a frenetic pace.

09. Last Before The Storm (4:56) Another Gamma Ray classic backed by solid drumming and buzzing guitar riffs. A blistering guitar solo and dual guitar interplay are highlights. Kai shows us his various vocal styles as the song warns of a cloudy future, "We're the last before the storm, watching the sun going down on us. We wish we had never been born, to be the last before the storm."

10. Heal Me (7:34) This begins with a gentle guitar before breaking into a great rocking ballad. A piano backs Hansen as he sings of what we are familiar with, "Oh won't you come to heal me - hear me. Heal me! Heal me! Heal me!" Kai supplies some convincing screaming vocals, contrasted with nice crooning, and the band, as usual is flawless. Keyboard backing adds to the atmosphere of the song. And of course, there's the scorching guitar solo and twin guitar harmony.

This is a fine CD to begin the first half of the "Blast From The Past" package. That's a great way to spend 60 minutes! Let's see what the next hour brings on CD 2.

CD 2 Track Review

01. Rebellion In Dreamland (8:46) Soft vocals and guitar strumming begin a track that breaks into another classic metal tune. Fearless singing, great chorus, solid backing, and those buzzing guitars identify this as pure Gamma Ray. Kai and the choir gloriously sing, "Here in dreamland we will not obey the masters ... and the earth still turns but I'm on my way, he is on the way, as my heart still yearns, ... I'm on my way, now he is on the way, and I cry for more. Yes I'm on my way, now he is on the way, gonna find the secret wall." Amid the buzzing riffs, our beloved Kai breaks into two sizzling guitar solos.

02. Man On A Mission (5:43) Kai Hansen is a man with a mission and tells us about it, Gamma Ray style, with a lighting guitar solo and chorus in the sky. Characteristic speedy riffs move this tune along as Kai sings, "What we need right now, is a miracle on earth. Let out hearts cry out, so our voices can be heard. Let us walk away together, from the never ending rain, 'til the sun will shine for all of us again."

03. Land Of The Free (4:36) Kai's former bandmate in Helloween, Michael Kiske, provides backing vocals for this song. Heavy riffage and solid backing set the pace, slowing a moment, and then blasting off. This is another fun sing-along tune with lyrics like, "High above at the edge of the world, we're searching for glory and peace, when the time has come, you will see, our return to the land of the free." Guitar wizardry, vocal brilliance, and dual guitar shredding are the highlights.

04. The Silence (6:28) Here is a welcome guest appearance by past Gamma Ray members, Uwe Wessel on bass guitar, and Mathias Burchadt on drums. This track features a fine vocal performance from Kai, and of course, the killer guitar solo, and a grand chorus, "Carry on, carry on and make our dreams come true, and for a little while we stay together. Carry on, carry on, may all our lovin' stay. And for a little while we stay together forever, together, forever."

05. Beyond The Black Hole (6:00) This is one of the standout tracks from the fantastic album "Somewhere Out in Space (1997)" This is the original remastered version, and it sounds fantastic. Oh, yes, that wonderful chorus, "Fly - Beyond the gates of space and time. Another universe is mine. And I can't wait until tomorrow. Ride - There's a call from deep within. No I won't return again. `Cause I will dive into the black hole." A killer guitar and vocal performance from Kai Hansen marks this as one of the best GR tunes. Fun in Outer Space? Yes!

06. Somewhere Out In Space (5:26) The remastered title track from the 1997 masterpiece. Superb guitar crunch, a galloping pace, neo-classic solo, and standout performances are the highlight of one of the best GR songs. Kai shows more of his vocal range, "All that I see is the years ... somewhere out in space, and it's time for deliverance. Now that I know I've got to get away, time for deliverance now." The original was great and the remaster sounds even more wonderful.

07. Valley Of The Kings (3:50) A classic speedy metal tune, punctuated by keyboard sounds, great drumming, with a grand sing-along chorus, "In the valley of the kings, when the storm breaks loose again. Then the gods will spread their wings, in the valley of the kings" A short and sweet guitar solo, twin guitar buzz, and dynamite riffage are the highlights. The remaster sounds

08. Anywhere In The Galaxy (6:35) Another remaster, from the last studio album, "Powerplant." This sounds fine, and features that trademark GR guitar buzz, solid backing from the rhythm section, and Kai's super guitar solo and vocals, "Anywhere in the galaxy, we will fight for our destiny, anywhere in the galaxy, we will always run free, anywhere in the galaxy, anywhere in the galaxy." A great song from a solid GR album.

09. Send Me A Sign (4:05) Rain and wind mark the beginning of this remaster. Then it leads into thumping bass, buzzing riffs and crunch. Another wonderful chorus from above, "Send me a sign, for too long you kept me waiting, send me a sign, from the eternal skies, send me a sign, send me a sign." The solid bas and drums back a first-rate guitar solo and dueling twin guitars.

10. Armageddon (8:50) We end with another opus from Gamma Ray, and perhaps the best track on CD 2. Galloping rhythms, soaring vocals and choir, metal guitar crunch and chug, a brain searing solo, is the signature of Gamma Ray's identifiable sound and is in full force here. The valiant chorus proclaims, "Guardians of the monsters of the earth, take our lives away, and you forever will be crushed, keepers of the darkness in this world, we will not surrender to the evil of your birth." This remastered track is a nice way to end this excellent collection of Gamma Ray tunes.