Yes. Yes! YES!!
Gamma Ray have released 2014’s most satisfying European power metal album, hands down. And judging from the painfully drab cover artwork, not even the band was expecting it.
Seriously, no color? No detail? No fun of any sort? The majestic ascension of opener “Avalon” alone is deserving of a fully armored Airwolf bursting forth from a flattening explosion of fire. The idea of kicking right from the gate with a 9+ minute saga might not seem like the best choice on paper, especially for power metal, but Empire of the Undead slams it home with magnificent results. An infectious chorus; a perfect balance between a sweeping mid-pace and speedy ripping; and a rewarding payoff in the form of the emotionally charged vocal accompaniment of Kai Hansen, who very quickly shows that he still has plenty o’ gallons left in the tank.
And to follow that cut with the superbly charged “Hellbent” – a number that gets my vote for 2014’s most stirring arena anthem – that’s a shrewd and sly maneuver, Gamma Rayers. Shrewd and sly. Ye fans of olde wouldn’t blink an eye if that sumbitch snuck back in time and wriggled its way onto 1985’s Walls of Jericho.
In truth, the album’s first fifteen minutes alone might be enough…
“CAPTAIN! CAPTAAAAAAAINNNN!”
Ye.. Yes, Prince Vultan? You have something you’d like to add?
“Just the fact that I believe THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM I’VE HEARD ALL YEAR! “HELLBENT-HELLBENT-HELLBENT FOR METAL!” IT’S MORE JUDAS PRIEST THAN CURRENT JUDAS PRIEST!! YA-HAHAHAAA!”
Sure. Okay. Anyway, I agree that it’s an ideal choice for anyone who enjoys the full spectrum of the Euro style of power metal. It’s got the speedier numbers, a couple of bouncier cuts, and some great hard rockers. But, you know how this sort of thing goes: A significant number of our readers just don’t get into power metal.
“What, you mean the bearded, PBR swilling ragamuffins who remain obsessed with “atmospheric sludge??” Seven Hells! THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN JUST GUITAR TONE, YOU SIMPLE BOILS!!”
“Yeah, um… I don’t mean to be a dick, and I love Flash Gordon, but I just can’t listen to something as snappy as “Born to Fly.” The guy actually sings “touching rainbows in the sky” on that tune. I’ll just be over here listening to the new Thou album.”
“THOU?? THOU SHALT SWING FROM MY TUMESCENT BAG, URCHIN!!”
Okay, okay. Ease the pedal back a bit, P.V. I can understand why folks might cringe as a result of the album’s bouncier fare. “Born to Fly” and “Master of Confusion,” not to mention the album’s ballad, “Time for Deliverance” — if you’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing power metal’s cornier slant alongside a big crowd of like-minded nutters in a live setting, then I wouldn’t expect one to fully grasp how it can actually be quite enjoyable, particularly considering metal’s prevailing emphasis on all things dark.
“Yes, well perhaps these gloomsters should consider stoking the fires of their heart with something other than puckered monkey cocks, YES?!?”
… Well, again, that’s a bit extreme, but I would like to point out that one of the things Gamma Ray does right when compared to their counterparts in, say, Helloween and Stratovarius, is the fact that they completely avoid the slide whistles and unwelcomed giggling when things are lighter, so the blanketing mood never really strays from good old fashioned hard hitting guitars, drums, bass, and wailing. Plus, you’ve got the harder numbers like “Pale Rider” (Sidenote: Holy crap, Hansen’s voice sounds so splendidly gravelly here. Can we convince these guys to cover “Please Don’t Judas Me” in the not-too-distant future?) and “Demonseed,” alongside outright shredders like “Seven” and the title track that do more than enough to balance out the more playful side of the album.
“Yes. YES!! “Seven” is precisely the sort of charged melody that’s perfectly suited for swooping into the maelstrom with your laser canon blaring like… Like those felines that fire lasers from their eyes!! KLYTUS’ GHOST, THEY ARE POWERFUL! I’M ON BATH SAAAAALTS!!!”
“Gentlemen, gentlemen. If you’ll allow me the honor of supplementing: The lead guitar work throughout this recording totally pops my royal collar. And by “pops my royal collar,” I mean it tightens my pantaloons. And one couldn’t ask for a more fittingly combustible closer than “I Will Return,” don’t you agree?”
“You know, I’m listening to this new Thou album, and despite the fact that the band is made up of the same sort of pathetic earthlings I’d hoped to destroy thirty-plus years ago, I’m going to have to side with the hipster.”
“Oooh, you dirty sonofabitch.”
“TO BATTLE!!”
