Gamma Ray was founded by Kai Hansen after leaving Helloween in the late '80s. For vocal duties, he contacted Ralf Scheepers, a big Judas Priest fan from the band Tyran pace. They started out as a progressive Helloween spinoff (remember that Hansen was the founder of that band too), gradually moving, as forerunners of course, into a much faster form of speed/power metal that everyone plays today, with a great deal of positive flow in their music and lyrics. When Rob Halford left Judas Priest, Scheepers was one of the prime contenders for the spot, but did as you know not get the job. He didn't return to Gamma Ray after this, as Kai wanted to take over the singing himself (which some people think he shouldn't have done), like he did on the first two Helloween albums. Ralf later formed his own band Primal Fear, which many people describe as a total Priest derivative. Kai Hansen has been involved in several side-projects, most notably as Piet Sielck's sidekick in the (much worse) band Iron Savior, but often just as guest ripper (guitar God as he is). My favourite '90s band, even on par with Helloween. Hell, any metal band with a karaoke album gotta be! :)
Discography
HEADING FOR TOMORROW
A fantastic debut, and quite possibly the most underrated album of all time. If you've only heard their (more popular) later-day albums, you might get surprised, because this album sounds (quite understandably) more like wise-cracking Helloween than late '90s speed metal Gamma Ray. You have the the typical symphonic intro track, high pitched, melodically sweet singing, "funny s/fx" and overall a very upbeat and optimistic standpoint (which has always been a tradmark for Gamma Ray, as it was for Helloween). I would even say this album is more Helloween than Helloween itself ever was after this point (perhaps with a more "futuristic" feel to it - another Gamma Ray trademark). I thought this album was stupid, cacophonic and flowless in the beginning. One by one, the songs slowly grew on me, and now I don't only accept and appreciate every song, but savour them to the full. Best track is easily Heaven can wait (not affiliated with the Maiden namesake, although they do sing "...till another day"). It's one of my absolute favourite Gamma Ray songs, and I just love every second of it. As a matter of fact, it's one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard, and Ralf is just flying. Scheepers is not unlike Kiske, very high-pitched and "soft-ass", but in a better way, I think. His voice is tolerable all through, and not as "over-melodic" as Kiske tends to be sometimes. He also has strength (not at all saying Kiske hasn't!), and the ability to change his singing to fit the song. His shrieks at 2:30 in Space eater is so spookily similar to Rob Halford in Dreamer deceiver, it should've earned him the frontship in Priest on the spot. Same thing with the first verses in Money. Songs themselves are all different from each other, progressive-feeling without being boring a second, and damn it - they all rock! Not one track wasted or dispensable. There's just such great vitality in songs like Lust for life, Money and Free time (dumbest song I've ever heard - great nonetheless). The silence is a typical prog-power piece, very Queenish with both piano parts, bombastic choir-effects and plenty of riff-changes. Hold your ground is another fave and the title track is superb for being so overlong (you know how I hate that :) ). Closing Look at yourself also deserves to be mentioned, a strong Uriah Heep cover as it is. Pretty much the only track that isn't a standout is the Japan bonus. If you like Keepers Helloween (who doesn't/didn't?), you MUST get this. Definitely a worthy successor to Keeper 2 (even more of a such than Pink bubbles was), although you should be aware that it will take a few listens to get in to. Did for me anyways.
Best songs: Heaven can wait; Hold your ground; Lust for life
Bonus track on Japanese version
SIGH NO MORE
Now, this was a minor dissapointment. One of Gamma's weakest album so far, Sigh no more fails to carry the standards set by one of the most impressive debut albums in metal history. That's what I was told I could expect anyway. Well, If I at first thought the critics were nuts - as the first three tracks hold up to Heading for tomorrow with a confident margin - I soon became inclined to agree. You see, this album drops in quality rather quickly after those three, and songs like (We won't) Stop the war, Father and son, Countdown, or whatever, are mediocre at best with Hansen/Scheepers standards. The saving grace lies in the said opening trio (and to a lesser extent, Start running), which ALL have been re-recorded through Kai's throat. Changes due to elected inclusion on Blast from the past, Rich & famous as a local bonus track to ditto, and As time goes by (my favourite - gotta love that short Eagle fly free-inspired lead break!) as bonus track on Land of the free. Dream healer and One with the world are two rather popular songs herefrom, but I didn't get it. No better than the other so-soers here IMO. Most songs have something good going for them, be it a nice solo, chorus or riff, but they tend to become tedious as a whole. The spirited catchiness of the first release is not very apparent here, with a few exceptions, and overall this album is more predictable and cynical (but done with tongue-in-cheek as always), even if it follows in style fairly well. Like I said, it's uneven, and I rarely play the whole record through with full attention, but the few killer tracks here makes it hit the deck every now and then - if nothing else to get blown away by the guitar solos (and ya know, nothing Kai does is really BAD, it's just weaker than the divine stuff). You should get this album as convinced Gamma Ray fan already, and most people would agree with me on this. It's more of a complement to an existing collection than an album recommended as introduction.
Best songs: As time goes by; Changes; Rich & famous
Bonus track on CD version