New Record | Gamma Ray ‘To The Metal’

Kai Hansen

In 1988 Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen left the group to form his own band Gamma Ray with long time friend Ralf Scheepers. After the addition of Uwe Wessel (bass) and Mathias Burhardt (drums) the original line up was complete.

Their debut album ‘Heading For Tomorrow‘ was released in 1990 and then the EP, ‘Heaven Can Wait‘ with new guitarist Dirk Schlächter and new drummer Uli Kusch followed, establishing the band as a force to be reckoned with in the German Heavy Metal scene. After nine studio records and four live records and numerous line-up changes Gamma Ray is getting ready to release their tenth full length studio album titled ‘To The Metal‘ which was released January 29th, 2010 (Europe) and is coming out March 16th, 2010 in the U.S.

According to the bands myspace page, the new Gamma Ray album has been recorded and produced in Hamburg, Germany, the band’s home town. Gamma Ray approached the songwriting and production of the new record with a fresh approach and an energy that you would normally find in bands releasing their first records.

Gamma Ray puts the pedal To The Metal

To The Metal

As the records title track ‘To The Metal‘ (see video below) alludes, the new release is a real Heavy Metal record showing their never ending experimental creativity. ‘To The Metal‘ has the classic Gamma Ray sound but includes also some influences of Gothic with ‘Mother Angel‘, ‘All You Need To Know‘ and Industrial with ‘Empathy.’
Driven by the title-track, which is destined to be considered as one of the best Gamma Ray songs ever (if not one of the best Kai Hansen compositions), a real tribute to the Metal genre that echoes of the best Judas Priest and Iron Maiden vintage sound.

Kai Hansen claims, “Our target is to combine the traditional and modern sound without loosing our identity.”

All classic Helloween fans will be delighted to know that Michael Kiske, the singer of the million sellers “Keeper Of The Seventh Keys I and II” will team again with Hansen and sings a song on the album together with Hansen.

Multiple release formats

To The Metal will be released in four different formats:

Vinyl LP – With a gate fold cover, the way we used to listen to the great metal albums.

CD – The full album as originally conceived. We did our best to keep the price as low as possible for this format.

Deluxe Edition CD + DVD -  If you are fan of special editions and rarities, but especially if you like DVDs…
This Bonus DVD turned into a real mini-movie. 80 minutes of recording, rehearsal, live music filmed in our studio, the 3 new video clips, interviews with all of us and a full interview with Kai. Completely filmed in HD. The film crew is working hard on the editing while we’re writing you and we’re as curious as you (we hope) to watch it!!

Collector’s Edition -  A very limited edition. 3000 units in the world. All signed by us. The full CD + 2 new studio songs on a 45″ vinyl. The vinyl will be gate fold (like an album, only smaller…) and we will probably have a different cover for this version.

“To The Metal” track listing:

1 – Rise
2 – Deadlands
3 – Mother Angel
4 – No Need To Cry
5 – Empathy
6 – To The Metal
7 – All You Need To Know
8 – Time To Live
9 – Shine Forever
10 – Breaking Away