10/10/05

GAMMA RAY / MAJESTIC

Wow, is the first thought that comes to mind in the first 3 seconds of this stunning CD from German Power Metal band Gamma Ray fronted by ex Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen, this is Euro Metal on top form .

The panzer like riffs that let rip right from the start don’t let up until the last track and the guitar breaks from Henjo Richter and Kai is fluid, frenzied and fantastic throughout, I don’t know how they keep it up. The first track "My Temple" sets the album off to such a rip roaring start it leaves you breathless and thinking where do they go form here but worry not as there is plenty more speed riffs where they came from as "Hell Is Thy Home", "Fight" and "Strange World" prove. The track "Blood Religion" is going to be a killer live with a superb audience participation in it and "Condemned To Hell" starts off like Iron Maiden, pulls in a Queen type riff and a Judas Priestesque chorus that Rob Halford would kill for with a touch of Lizzy thrown in for good measure but still manage to sound like themselves. The quality of this CD does not let up anywhere and it’s not until "Majesty" do they even slow things down a pace.

I have always liked Gamma Ray but this puts them in a different league, in fact it puts them in the same league as the other bands I mentioned, this is TOTALLY AWESOME, you must buy it and to think we still have the Primal Fear album to look forward to.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 55 mins + 10 NECK BREAKING TRACKS