Consistency and class ...
Album name: To The Metal!
Label: EarMusic / Edel Germany
Release Date: January 29, 2010
Genre: Heavy / Power Metal
Introduction:
After much as beautiful as the canonical sequel to their most popular album (Land Of The Free), returns one of the most popular and appreciated in the field of Teutonic power metal. What, I mean, rough, scratching, mold typically heavy and then seasoned with a few keystrokes. Gamma Ray are back, with the increasingly fast-paced leader Kai Hansen (in the past, lead guitarist of Helloween and true inventor of the power metal, since the time of Walls Of Jericho and Keeper of the two), which, in this album, shows his ability as a composer and performer of heavy metal. They return with an album interesting (though not particularly bright for new ideas), which, unlike expectations, managed to hit me from the first listen. The winning formula of this band has always been to never change, the result of the awareness of ever having written a fucking topped off with heavy power metal (in their discography are plenty of references to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden) and, as they say , Never change a winning formula. Therefore, here we go again with this new (it I know, has been almost a year, but it is a product of 2010!) album from the mold line "gammaraiano" where, once again, we find no innovations or redesign of any kind, just pure power metal, as Kai us has always used. So intuile say that this is something undoubtedly already heard, and who is looking for new style would do well to stay away from this product. However, the range can, while remaining in the canonical styles to capture, probably due to an attitude and a "wall" that few other bands manage to have in their field. In fact, as a great fan of power metal (and metal in its full generality), I first to recognize that the market for this sub-genre is crowded and saturated with bands. Band still technically valid, but who lack the proper spirit appealing to be able to be successful. And this certainly is not lacking in spirit to Gamma Ray.
Track By Track:
There could be no better than a beautiful incipit "Rise" , song-style Gamma Ray: clean intro, verses an unforgettable ' high speed running, always biting, eye-catching arrangements. The chorus is very melodic soak in the head never to leave more. So a good start, which recalls the recent work of the band (2 LOTF and Majestic, just to make a direct comparison). The following is taken by a song easily and effectively, rather than the classical "Deadlands". The general is based to a heavy-power very dear to the German band. The melodies in the wink to refrain solutions less refined than the previous track, and therefore more immediate, but, nevertheless, remains a piece of great impact and catchy, sped up with some more inserts and a guitar solo shot in a thousand. Slow down the pace to make room all'incedere purely hard rock-heavy metal of the next "Mother Angel" , definitely a good song, although quite canon (especially the refrain) and too standard. Good melody and the solo part, accompanied by scores of minor keyboard. After all, this is a song worth listening to, even if granted, that certainly will not make a miracle for particular innovations. The quality of the album stands up with the poignant "No Need To Cry" , a substantial slow, melodic ballad that brings to mind bands such as large lenses of Lake Of Tears. Accompanied by a piano and orchestral look delicate and perfectly embedded in the structure, including a continuation of the song is highly emotional moments (such as the chorus and the solo section), "ruined" perhaps at the level of air, just a weird noise interlude, sung by bassist Dirk Schlächter. This interlude, very happy, too detached from the rest of the atmosphere exciting and melancholy lyrics, making it therefore a bit 'out of context. However, after several plays, be able to get used to. Here is another great song, the more obscure album: "Empathy" . This is a very good mid-tempo aggressive and full of pathos, as you can imagine just by the mere introduction in clean guitar. Certainly does not shine too much originality or rhythmic structure, but this song is still able to positively affect the listener. If nothing else because it is a fairly unusual piece in the style of the band. We come to the only true weak link of the full length, the title track "To The Metal" : a song that leaves a bad taste in the mouth by the rather obvious and unnecessary to the economy of the album. Let's face it, they wanted to do a classic Tamarra, as you can imagine already the eloquent title, placing a clear piece of heavy metal mold 80. The revived the style of famous Manowar is obvious, and, of course, the dull chorus does not help us to appreciate this song from the flow, then, rather trivial. Let's move on with "All You Need To Know" , particularly bad song in his gait, which is entrusted to the intro riff fierce and aggressive. The song features the participation in the chorus, the legendary ex-Helloween Michael Kiske heading (as happened on Land Of The Free), but despite his presence, the chorus, because of its Excessive "zuccherosità" lose force to the track. "Time To Live" takes over the reins of the band, heavy-power riding on paths not especially fast. The song is followed without too much originality, but its catchy chorus and his pace makes it damn exciting, pushing the listener further plays. The following "Shine On" is introduced by a virtuoso bass, and continues through stanzas violent and evil (with Kai Hansen turned in a really angry Rob Halford), more airy choruses and choral interludes precise solo bass and guitar. A very good song and then, very direct and rapid sliding. Some keyboard sounds introduce the final "Chasing Shadows" , a fairly standard power metal track and canon but, as usual, has a shot and look fits perfectly to avoid slipping into the abyss of banality. Incessant double bass, harpsichord rhythmics and thin carpet dressed this track, which purchases even thickness from the strange and particular section of solos (there also appears a keyboard, which was launched at breakneck speed, unusual for the band). Therefore, without frills, these ten songs To The Metal Gamma Ray We deliver in 2010: the musicians prepared, experienced and in good shape, able to give us even after all these years, the significant musical episodes.
Techniques and Concluding remarks:
To The Metal is an album so good, that certainly will not fail to satisfy the palates of hungry for power "made in Germany", or better, the power "made in Kai Hansen." Be talking about him, the internationally known "Uncle Kai", the inventor of the undisputed power metal with his ex-Helloween, tireless leader and totally devoted to heavy metal flame: even in this record, his performance is singing intriguing and mischievous. While not technical, his voice always manages to convey, because its tone is immediately recognizable. Phenomenal in the high frequencies and low frequencies in the dark, is a trademark the sound of the band, and, of course, gives that little extra to the tracks (a bit 'like Hansi in Blind Guardian, in short). Dan Zimmermann, undisputed ace behind the skins and machine war on stage, filled to perfection and there is some passage to include more technical and more studied, compared to a canonical double bass turned up so much. Henjo Richter, guitarist from little face anything but leaden, there propina incomparable guitar solos, inspired and, as always, very well executed. And finally, Dirk Schlächter, confirms full bass from both a technical and rhythmic, with dignity by running his dirty work. Leaving aside the usual excellent production and sound perfectly balanced in the mixing stage, the band, over-emphasized, technically we can do and it shows in this new job. The cover is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and charges color between those for a Gamma Ray album, and is very apt for the title of the album and its music content. A masterpiece of the band? Album of the Year? No, definitely not. Remains a healthy and enjoyable album satiating European power metal from start to finish (ok, flying on the title track), with very good episodes and some other 'less convincing. An album that stands out, as already mentioned, originality, does not stand out for new ideas and will certainly give many feelings of deja vu, but winning on the charismatic and is able to make us move her head and fingers in rhythm. And may I say, the Gamma Ray Large claim just that, and nothing more.
Tracklist:
01. Rise
02. Deadlands
03. Mother Angel
04. No Need To Cry
05. Empathy
06. To The Metal
07. All You Need To Know
08. Time To Live
09. Shine Forever
10. Chasing shadows
0 comments:
Post a Comment