Ranking the Albums: Gamma Ray

[@piotrek9151]

Finally!! I've been wating for this episode even longer than 2 years. Great band and great episode.

[@garyjoyce2160]

Rich. C. You are hands down the master of this genre. Like Pete, I am a super late bloomer on this group. However , the 95 Land of FREE is an absolute stone cold classic/ epic. Thanks for your time : both of you in this episode 👍💯

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Thank you for the compliment. I do love my (good) power metal

[@MetalPersonJ]

@@MetalAsylumNJ What are your thoughts on Lovebites and Frozen Crown?

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

@@MetalPersonJ I have to check those two out. Thanks for the suggestions

[@MetalPersonJ]

@@MetalAsylumNJ Call Of The North was my favorite album of last year. Electric Pentagram is my favorite album of the decade.

[@danielflorio4739]

If you like Land Of The Free you must listen to Powerplant, No World Order and Somewhere Out In Space. All classics.

[@russellgentile4719]

Pete, you're looking and sounding good. Glad you recovered well from your being sick. I never got into Gamma Ray. I'll have to check them out.

[@helgaratbone1691]

When I first heard Kai I thought his voice sounded like a heavy metal elf. I grew to love his voice! I prefer his singing over the more angelic voices Kai has played with!

[@rongabrieljr.8784]

Good to see Rich back!

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Thank you. Do you check out our New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal episodes?

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Always great to see Rich on an episode. Not too familiar with this band [no surprise there] but will be giving the top two a listen during the coming week. Thanks to Rich you, too, Pete, for taking the time to ranks these albums for those of us looking for a guidepost of where to begin.

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Thank you for watching. Enjoy.

[@ericcotter4684]

Thank you so much for doing a Gamma Ray show! Any light that can be shed on this band is always a.good thing. They are spectacular.

[@lionelraoul]

"Pulling a Catino" is an expression I use at least once a week, even when people have no idea what I'm talking about. It's become as natural as breathing air. Great to see you, Rich!

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Lol, thank you

[@damianczarnecki4204]

My rank: 1 Land of the Free 2 Somewhere Out in Space 3 No World Order 4 Power Plant 5 Heading for Tommorow 6 Majestic 7 Empire of the Undead 8 Insanity & Genius 9 Sigh No More 10 Land of the Free II 11 To the Metal!

[@georgenoriegajr]

Gamma Ray's Fangface mascot was originally Helloween's mascot on their first 2 releases; its face is inside the exploding pumpkin on the Helloween EP, and Fangface is the big monster tearing down the wall on the Walls of Jericho album. 54:16 The rhythm section on Land of the Free (Jan Rubach on bass and Thomas Nack on drums) was not new for this album; they were also the rhythm section on Insanity and Genius, so they actually played on 2 albums. Rubach left Gamma Ray at the tail end of the LotF tour, with Dirk Schlächter shifting over to bass and Henjo Richter joining the band to finish up the tour. Thomas Nack wound up completing the tour and then left the band as well, to be replaced by Dan Zimmermann.

[@luiscontreras4718]

This is my second favorite power metal band! Love this ranking. You guys rule!

[@stevenleblanc9628]

About time. I like this band.

[@takodabostwick8507]

Gamma Ray is doing a new album. The date has not been out yet, but if so, I hope it's their last album since Kai Hansen is back in Helloween.

[@jimmypage2843]

Great to see Kip Catino! Congrats on playing all of Pull for the first time at ProgPower last night I wish I'd been there. Speaking of which, I saw Gamma Ray once there. I couldn't stop laughing as they played classics such as "Heavy Metal Universe" and "Heart of the Unicorn". 😂 Not my thing at all.

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Wish I was there to see Winger too

[@Arutha_Con_Doin]

I was heartbroken when i first heard that Kai is leaving Helloween. But the minute i heard Gamma Ray for the first time, i was completely sold. That first album will therefore always hold a special place in my heart. But i think the golden era for the band was from '95 - '01. That 4 album run was immaculate. But after "No World Order" i lost touch a bit. Only listened to a couple of songs here and there from their last outputs and didn't particularly like them. So my Gamma Ray journey really ends in '01. My ranking of the first seven albums would be: 1. Heading for Tomorrow 2. Somewhere out in Space 3. Land of the Free 4. Powerplant 5. No World Order 6. Insanity and Genius 7. Sigh no more

[@stadilvinyl]

It must be Somewhere out in Space. The Winged Horse is amazing

[@747jono]

One of my favourite bands of all time Kai Hansen is one of my favourite guitarists ever 💯🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@srlag11]

Will check out thier albums for sure! Pete are you going to review the new Wintersun album?

[@gabriellealdeoliveira2413]

I suggest that you two should do a ranking of the catalogue of Avantasia next! Who knows, right?

[@Mark-bi5dk]

Definitely

[@christopher3922]

I support this.

[@lening9]

1) Land of the Free 2) Somewhere Out in Space 3) Power Plant 4) No World Order! 5) Heading for Tomorrow 6) Majestic 7) Insanity and Genius 8) Land of the Free II 9) Sigh No More 10) Empire of the Undead 11) To the Metal!

[@peteworrall9203]

Awesome vid. I'm a big Gamma Ray fan. I've always thought if Kai had stayed in Helloween, Land of the Free and onwards would've been their trajectory. I have to admit, the debut didn't blow me away and I forgot about them until I saw the video for the song Gamma Ray and thought it was great and I've been a fan ever since. Land of the Free to Land of the Free II is an impressive 6 album run.

[@gordy3714]

The guys are right about Power Metal after the mid 2000s,one band who brought some great albums for 20 years between 2000-2020 were Falconer. But from the 90s until now Progressive Metal has really stood the test of time.

[@StrappingOldLad]

I agree with that. While they talked about it, I thought to myself that Rhapsody was the last great power metal-band, but Falconer deserves to be in that group as well. Lost Horizon and Metalium were awesome too, but you could sense the clichés starting to seep into the genre.

[@gordy3714]

@@StrappingOldLad Labyrinth Black Abyss I I listened to loads of that stuff years ago.

[@asolitaryreign]

Their 'Silent Miracles E.P.' is an absolute must!

[@independenceltd.]

1. Land of the Free 2. Heading for Tomorrow 3. No World Order! 4. Somewhere Out in Space 5. To the Metal! 6. Power Plant 7. Majestic 8. Land of the Free II 9. Empire of the Undead 10. Sigh No More 11. Insanity and Genius

[@roberthachtel1833]

Love your content.... would love to see ranking the albums of Lita Ford & Joan Jett

[@billybishop1997]

Hey, Pete. Is Gamma Ray Kai Hansen's other German power metal band along with Helloween?

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Yes, but why not watch the video and find out?

[@danielflorio4739]

Gamma Ray are so good. Underrated.

[@7BobbyGaylor7]

Great ranking! Top 3 for me. 1) Land of The Free 2) Somewhere Out In Space 3) Heading For Tomorrow

[@mattflesch1365]

Great episode How about freedom call ranking next

[@MetalPersonJ]

Been begging for this one for a while. Glad that it happened. 1. Powerplant 2. Somewhere Out In Space 3. Majestic 4. Land Of The Free 5. No World Order Special mention: Blast From The Past- the greatest re-recorded comp ever.

[@daveoly6947]

I am surprised for majestic you did not mention blood religion. Best song on the cd and maybe best non epic song

[@marshallmiller456]

Awesome!

[@narvik9035]

There was a festival type concert in Bonn, Germany in 2000. Several bands performed. First night was for extreme metal bands while second night was meant for regular metal bands. Bands Day One: Extreme Metal 1. Jack Frost 2. Orphanage 3. Night In Gales 4. Enslaved Bands Day Two: Heavy Metal 1. Gamma Ray 2. Hammerfall 3. Scanner 4. Thunderhead

[@thunderspike1892]

Perhaps I missed it but didn't hear what Peter thought of the Return To Fantasy cover.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

It’s good!

[@747jono]

Love every album by Gamma Ray ❤🤘💯💯💯💯

[@lazarossamaras4427]

One of our favourite power metal bands in the 90s especially. 1. Land of the free 2. Somewhere out in space 3.Heading for tomorrow 4. Powerplant 5. Insanity and genius 6. No world order 7. Majestic 8. Land of the he free 2 9. To the metal 10. Sigh no more 11. Empire of the undead Saw them a few times here in Athens.

[@kennbrown4638]

1. Heading for Tomorrow 2. Power Plant 3. Insanity & Genius 4. Land of the Free 5. No World Order 6. Somewhere Out in Space 7. To the Metal 8. Sigh No More 9. Majestic 10. Land of the Free II 11. Empire of the Dead

[@marciopainhas5828]

Hi Pete Pardo! I've been enjoying your shows for over 4 years. Allow me to suggest some episodes: Rick Wakeman, Jane, Tangerine Dream, Omega, Trace, Passport and Kraftwerk. Greetings from Brazil!!!

[@peterspalda1077]

I love those episodes, when my favourite album is Pete's least favourite (also Judas Priest and Journey from the top of my head)... love this band, shame that we probably won't get much from them after the Helloween reunion (which is awesome of course, but you know...)... anywho, here goes: 11. To the Metal 10. Land of the Free II 9. Powerplant 8. Sigh No More 7. Majestic 6. Empire of the Undead 5. Heading for Tomorrow 4. No World Order 3. Land of the Free 2. Somewhere Out in Space 1. Insanity and Genius

[@danielflorio4739]

Pete that tour with Hammerfall was with Edguy and came to BBKINGS. Gamma Ray had some random openers also at BBKINGS.

[@magnuswettermark8293]

The name Gamma Ray come from a song by old 70's german band Birthcontrol.

[@DamageCase91]

I have a few of the 03 South Korean reissues-has bonus tracks (eps & b sides) and slip cases with different art; yet they retained the original stuff for the rest. 1. Powerplant 2. Somewhere Out in Space 3. Land of the Free 4. No World Order 5. Heading for Tomorrow 6. Land of the Free II 7. Majestic 8. Insanity & Genius 9. Sigh No More 10. Empire of the Undead 11. To The Metal!

[@747jono]

Saw at Wacken 2012 amazing 💯🤘🤘

[@narvik9035]

I consider Genious & Insanity the first album by the band Gamma Ray. The first two were basically Kai Hansen solo albums. When I bought the tape, I saw the name Kai Hansen on the cover artwork along with the name Gamma Ray. Kai Hansen, Dirk Schlächter and Ralf Scheepers were the only full members of the project. Most of Hansen's songs on Heading For Tomorrow were written for Helloween. I think Gamma Ray would be much greater if they hired a full-time vocalist.

[@nightdrive89]

I used to listen to a ton of Gamma Ray in the 00s, but not so much in recent years. However, I predict a listening marathon coming up soon. My from memory alone ranking would be: 1. Land Of The Free 2. No World Order 3. Power Plant 4. Somewhere Out In Space 5. Heading For Tomorrow 6. Insanity & Genius 7. Majestic 8. To The Metal! 9. Sigh No More 10. Land Of The Free II 11. Empire Of The Undead

[@kf877]

Gamma Ray is hard to get into, coming into them later because their CD's are so expensive.

[@MetalPersonJ]

Yeah, They stopped the re-releases after Alive 95 and I wonder why.

[@deadliestassassin3092]

Nocturnal Rites would be a good ranking.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Yes

[@johnsullivan8376]

I was never a big Power-Metal fan, but Gamma Ray are such a great band with lots of progressive tendencies. The songs are top-notch; I like Kai's voice too!

[@FunboyMacphallush]

When a diehard fan converses with a casual fan.

[@747jono]

Wacken 2012 ❤🤘💯💯💯

[@danielflorio4739]

My top 5 1. Powerplant 2. No World Order 3. Somewhere Out In Space 4. Land Of The Free 5. Majestic LOTF is a classic but prefer the 3 after a tad bit more.

[@iancouch9688]

I think the song avalon is amazing..sold band..😊

[@mladent1464]

1. No world order 2. Majestic 3. Powerplant 4. Land of the free I'm not sure about how I'd rank the rest. Just wanted to give some love for the 00s Gamma Ray. Strong catalogue overall, though.

[@damonstewart70]

Kai one of the best singers and rhythm guitarist in metal

[@Rockit66]

Just a few seconds into the video I felt like I hade to say it. Gammaray continued where Helloween left off. Kai was the ultimate force in Helloween. Helloween never became the same after he left. If you just read who writes most of the songs, and look closer at walls of jericho you will see that it is kinda his band in a way. So saying that you thought Gammaray was a Helloween knockoff was very misleading. Anyway, great you got it sorted out. hehe Dont get me wrong, Helloween has always done great stuff, and I even like pink BGA and chameleon, but that just sounds more like Kiske's project again, and that is what I think about it when I listen to them. Fits in with his first solo album sound. I did enjoy the firs Deris album too Master of the Rings, but it never felt like Helloween, so I just took it as a new band. Gammaray on the other hand had a strong hold of Helloween sound on their first album, despite some strange experimental songs which they did more of on the second album, but Insanity and genius album got them back on track, and then finally Land of the free, and helloween was back into it's peak. I mean, the cover even uses the walls of jericho mascot, and have kept him alive ever since. Now I think gammaray has gotten a bit more cheesy over the years, and not as rough as I would have wanted it, but the variation and songwriting has the remained the same and not entered the mainstream world of EU powermetal where it is double bass drums from start to finish.

[@nelsonsantos3970]

kiske and kai works good

[@Land_Far_Away]

It always baffled me, weird how this band couldn't make a good use of such a great singer like Ralf Scheepers... Albums with him are nothing special IMO.

[@independenceltd.]

maybe, after the debut, ralf started thinking about forming his own band and his passion became diverted.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

The first album with him is pretty good but the second album did nothing for me.

[@ИванИванов-у8л9г]

Have not watched the video, maybe yet 🙃 I have not listened to GR for a while except for a live album of the classic, for me, period as I bought an original Japanese, I think, CD. So, having said that 🙂: 1. Land Of The Free, just got one more copy on a CD, you know how it happens 🙄🙂 2. Insanity And Genius. 3. Sigh No More, maybe equal to or changed with 4. The debut album, need to re-listen to it actually, may be surprised, both ways. 5. Just as I heard it very long time ago and possibly have it recorded from an original CD on a cassette, the album after Land Of The Free. 6. Lost the interest after number 5 on my list 🙂 Take care, cheers 🙂

[@ИванИванов-у8л9г]

Started the video 🙂 The original artwork for "Sigh No More" is not good but got used to it and it has some feeling of the time and, surprisingly, some heart put into it. While the re-issue artwork is a typical, uninspired, generic stuff that completely discourages from listening to current (like in more than 20 years) "power metal" beginning with album covers, sorry 😀

[@griefforest1870]

I'm not sure, but I think they were among the first 5,6 metal bands I ever listened to. Only got the last 3 albums, at the time Empire came out I was a full fledged metal head and I lost interest in them rather quickly. I guess I'll give Land of the Free I a spin, I know two or three songs from live blu rays.

[@kevinmadden3396]

First three are head and shoulders above the rest, mostly due to Scheepers vs Hansen and the wanna-be Priest worship that went on for a while there after Ralf left. I don't mind Empire of the Undead, I suppose. The Scheepers disc of Alive 95 is amazingly good.

[@damonstewart70]

All you need to know and mother earth are their best tunes

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I dont know. I feel like Gamma Ray has been releasing the same album since No World Order. It's all well crafted and produced but all kind of samey. The first five albums however are just classics. Btw. I loved Pink Bubbles and Chameleon.

[@larilahtela]

Confusing the Empire of the Undead LP and the Master of Confusion EP must have been on purpose. Confusion, confusion, confusion....

[@jiilaa_with_randomness]

From best to least good... Power Plant Sigh No More No World Order! Majestic Land of the Free Land of the Free II Heading for Tomorrow Somewhere Out in Space To the Metal! Empire of the Undead Insanity and Genius The albums change their places with one or two steps every now and then, perhaps...

[@noneya237]

Has stratovarius been done yet? If not it be kool see next with Helloween😊

[@sotdude7]

Yes, Helloween and Stravarius have already been done.