Gamma Ray has always been a very solid institution in Melodic Power Metal and they haven't let me down once. This time they presents us with an album which overall theme is about fighting the evil sides of society, standing up for your rights and so on. The music is what's most important but the lyrics are quite interesting and well worked through.
The album starts off with a cool intensifying intro called
Induction that leads right into the magnificent
Dethrone Tyranny. This extremely forceful creation comes from the hands of drummer Dan Zimmerman who also is a member of
Freedom Call and the parallels are present.
This speedy monster is treated with a huge chorus line, a furious guitar solo and extremely varied drumming, just to a name a few highlights. You have to get blown away just a little by this brilliant opener.
There is a certain
Judas Priest feeling to some of these songs and I'm not talking of the rip off kind, more a positive minor resemblance.
The Heart Of The Unicorn being one of them with its Painkiller-like guitar riffing, piercing vocals and fantastic split guitar solo spot. A groovy and very hard track that is rich in diversity.
The opening and basic riff in
No World Order makes me think at bit of Priest around their Stained Glass period, and that's not a bad thing. The compact and intense refrain passage is one of the best on the disc and overall this is yet another awesomely well put together piece, the slow mid-section shows that this band is capable of injecting their songs with cool twist and inventive elements.
Heaven Or Hell represents a more rocking and down to earth side of the album. An immensely powerful bass delivery works very well in this very melodic composition.
Gamma Ray has always fascinated me with their ability to make awesome melodies and being able to put those catchy elements into songs so that they remain a focus point without the whole track being reliant on it.
Damn The Machine follows a down tuned and stomping path, giving the album a new dimension.
A pretty good song nicely mixing a harder rhythm section with an elevating chours.
The tempo is turned up with
Solid and once again it shows just how integrated and tight this musical group is, this is Metal coming from a band of both precision and technical ability. Not the most exciting track on the album containing a more standard refrain; the fast paced dual solo spot is nevertheless fantastic.
Kai Hansen's vocals isn't exactly in the top of the genre and becomes a bit muddy from time to time, I still think he has a pretty cool voice and No World Order sees him perform some of his best,
Fire Below being a good example with its balanced and harmonious vocal approach.
Follow Me takes use of some sensitive and quite interesting acoustic guitar elements and overall it has a rather experimental nature, nothing exceptional but still a good song.
One of the most important aspects in these 11 songs is the guitar work that I find of very high class.
Eagle not only contains strong technical drumming but the rhythm guitar base is ultra heavy and while taking the leading role it pushes the track into its different phases. The dramatic lead mid-section is totally mind-blowing and makes me think a bit of some old classic Maiden twin guitar stuff.
The keyboard is used sparsely but fittingly, the ending cut
Lake Of Tears sees it in considerable action, laying down a mystic and compelling mood. A ballad kind of song with a quite stationary chorus but a cool groovy drive.
The production skills are top notch, the balance between the instruments and the trade off between clearness and heaviness is just marvellous.
This album doesn't present anything revolutionary and I'm completely fine with that, it's refreshing in itself to hear so much talent, energy and ear for fantastic melodies, all done in traditional fashion and that with a great amount of true passion.
Written by
Tommy Friday, December 17, 2004
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