Search - Gamma Ray :: Land Of The Free - Part II

Seventeen years has not slowed down the power metal machine

George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 01/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Good

German power metallers GammaRay return with their 9th studio album which finds them continuing the saga that was their 1996 album Land of the Free. For those of you not familiar, GammaRay is the brainchild of former Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen. This sequel isn't so much a continuation of its predecessor, but more of homage to its sound and feel.



"Into the Storm" takes you into the belly of the beast with double kick drums and lightening-fast guitar playing. "From the Ashes" continues to capture the energy and power that GammaRay is putting out there, while keeping the chorus melodic. "To Mother Earth" is practically a guitar and drum duel between Kai Hansen and Dan Zimmerman to see who can plat the fastest. In between that competition is a great song about saving our planet.



"Rain" comes at you like a furious storm rather than a like trickle. "Empress" has more of a commercial feel as the speed is brought to mid-tempo. It still packs a punch with its arena rock feel. Finger-twisting guitar runs and frantic chugga-chugga riffs are plentiful on "When the World." "Real World" is laden with keyboard tones, power chords, and tuneful melodies. "Insurrection" is an eleven minute power metal epic that reminds you why you like this genre in the first place.



The Bad

Nothing



The Verdict

Sequels don't usually live up to the original. Fortunately with Land of the Free II you're not getting another chapter in the story, but more of a fresh take on an old classic. If it's power, high energy, and fast-paced guitars that you're craving, look no further than this album. You'll even get vocals rich and melody as a bonus. Seventeen years has not slowed down the power metal machine that is GammaRay.



"

Nods a-plenty to classic metal

Steven J. Schultz | Nowhere of consequence | 02/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to largely agree with all the reviewers here, this is an outstanding heavy metal album. Only one person mentioned that one song has a Maiden-esque "Powerslave" era feel. Actually there are many nods to Maiden, Priest, and even Accept all over the record. They are all respectfully played and very cleverly placed, as Kai and his band have always been excellent song writers. 'Into the Storm' has a totally Adrian Smith riff tucked into a Glenn Tipton inspired section. 'From the Ashes' is based around a couple of classic '80's style Steve Harris-isms. 'Rain' has a quiet bridge section right off of "Piece of Mind". 'Leaving Hell' has an early guitar solo that sounds so much like Adrian Smith, it just might BE him. 'Empress' is an obvious homage to 'Princess of the Dawn' by Accept, as it appropriates and mutates several ideas from that track. 'When the World' owes a huge debt to 'Back in the Village' (Adrian again) for its verse riff. It also has a serious Steve Harris part leading into the main solo. 'Opportunity' is built on a latter-day style Priest riff, deliberate and stately, with a hilariously awesome bridge borrowed from 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner'. 'Real World' is what Priest's "Turbo" album should have sounded like; it also has lifted the quiet section from Priest's 'The Sentinel' nearly verbatim. 'Hear Me Calling' borrows heavily from the "British Steel" album, something more people should do. 'Insurrection' (the track that harkens back to the original album the most) starts with a mutation of 'Evening Star' by Priest; at around 3:45 or so it goes into a "Defenders of the Faith" motif; at around 5:30, more heroic Maidenisms. All the while, you never forget that you're actually listening to Gamma Ray. You don't have to be a power metal fan to love this record, any old school '70's or '80's metalhead will find plenty of points of reference."

Verdadero Power Metal

Geraldo A. Torres | Morovis, PR Puerto Rico | 01/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Una de las mejores bandas de Power Metal vuelve ala carga con este album. Para mi uno de los mejores incluyendo los albums en vivo. Tiene tremenda coordinacion en los solos de gitarras y la voz de Kai Hansen se oye mejor que nunca. Simplemente el mejor album de Power metal en mi coleccion."