GAMMA RAY — Power Plant (review)

GAMMA RAY — Power Plant album cover Album · 1999 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Mjöllnir
Two years after Somewhere Out in Space, Gamma Ray stays its course retaining the crude sci-fi lyrics of the previous album, but turns the intensity factor up a notch. These two things, and Kai's masterly songwriting gave Gamma Ray a solid identity in the creatively declining power metal scene. I think I'd consider it their best album, even above Land of the Free. It just has a little more bite and despite a touch of filler, keeps my interest for its hour long run time.

Opening subtly with clean guitar, Anywhere in the Galaxy explodes to life after 30 seconds into a typical opening track for Hansen but the band's fast and furious approach keeps it fresh. I'm still impressed at how varied the song styles are on this album. Razorblade Sigh is slower, robust and more reflective in its lyrics, Send Me a Sign is anthemic and catchy, and concert favourite Gardens of the Sinner reminds the most of an old (but new) Helloween classic. Power metal so often bores with the same things time and again. Short as Hell lets the side down a bit with a laborious pace despite its short length, while Heavy Metal Universe is old school fromage that I just can't deal with too well anymore. But in the middle is an interesting cover. The Pet Shop Boys' hit It's a Sin gets a metal makeover which actually works. I wouldn't say they quite "make it their own", but the galloping rhythm fits with it well.

Towards the end the epic tendencies come out in full force with Wings of Destiny and Hand of Fate being heavy on the bombast and scope paving the way for the incredible finisher. Armageddon more than stands up to Halloween and Rebellion in Dreamland in Kai's collection of lengthy numbers. It has the aggression and dramatic shifts of the former, and the maturity and melody of the latter. While power metal isn't the most serious music and there's plenty of silliness on offer from Kai and company this ranks up with the genre's most concerted efforts to make something of lasting value.
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