Artist: GAMMA RAY
Album: LAND OF THE FREE RE-RELEASE (CD)

Year: 1995
Media type: CD

GAMMA RAY 's roots lay in the surprising decision by guitarist Kai Hansen to split from HELLOWEEN during 1988 just as the German group had begun to reach the peak of their success with their 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys' concept albums, Hansen citing disillusionment with constant touring as the main reason for his departure. Prior to enjoying a high profile status with HELLOWEEN Hansen's formative Hamburg circuit bands had included ANCIENT CALL, then GENTRY alongside future HELLOWEEN personnel bass player Marcus GroЯkopf and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. This unit in 1978 featured singer / guitarist Peter Sielck, Hansen, GroЯkopf and Schwichtenberg. During 1980 the group evolved into SECOND HELL then IRON FIST before morphing into HELLOWEEN.

Post HELLOWEEN, teaming himself up with former TYRAN PACE vocalist Ralf Scheepers, Hansen quickly found almost instantaneous success again in a group that boasted bassist Uwe Wessels and drummer Matthias Burchardt in the initial line-up. GAMMA RAY's January 1990 Noise International debut album, 'Heading For Tomorrow', the title track actually being a re-work of SECOND HELL's theme song. The album tracks also featured additional drummer Tammo Vollmers, on the track 'Heaven Can Wait', and keyboards courtesy of Mischa Gerlach. The album garnered swift recognition due to the success of catchy single 'Space Eater', the video clip for which featured not Burchardt but Tammo Vollmers. GAMMA RAY stabilised by pulling in Dirk Schlachter on second guitar and filling the drum position by drafting ex-HOLY MOSES drummer Uli Kusch.

In Japan the record company was so concerned that HELLOWEEN fans might not recognise the GAMMA RAY title they obscured the band logo with a sticker simply stating 'Kai Hansen'. The album reached number 2 in the Japanese charts and sold in excess of 180'000 copies throughout Europe. An EP to coincide with September touring witnessed a re-recorded 'Heaven Can Wait', now with Kusch on the drums. Also included would be a brand new song, 'Who Do You Think You Are?' alongside three outtakes taken from the 'Heading For Tomorrow' sessions, 'Mister Outlaw', 'Sail On' and 'The Lonesome Stranger'. A further Japanese EP marked the start of a quirky tradition for GAMMA RAY in the Far East with a karaoke version of 'Heading For Tomorrow'. Demand for the group in Japan prompted a tour supported by fellow Deutsch-metallers RISK, also generating a 1991 concert video. The following year Hansen would find time to produce the 'This Is The News' demo session for MEGACE.

1991's 'Sigh No More', which was produced by VICTORY's Tommy Newton and continued the success, selling over 150'000 copies worldwide. Lyrically though, 'Sigh No More' alienated some fans with its strong anti-Gulf war sentiments. In mid 1992, upon the close of a second round of Japanese dates, both Kusch and Wessel quit. The drummer, following a 1993 stint with Punk band DIE SKEPTIKER, would eventually wind up in HELLOWEEN.

By early 1993 the band had recruited new members bassist Jan Rubach and drummer Thomas Nack joining the fold. GAMMA RAY's third album, 'Insanity And Genius', appeared the same year and, interestingly, the 1993 single 'Future Madhouse' features on the B side a seven minute version of the BIRTH CONTROL track aptly titled 'Gamma Ray'. The group drew together the bands RAGE, CONCEPTION and HELICON for a package tour dubbed “Melodic metal strikes back!” The band then engaged in a series of supports in Europe to MANOWAR. That same year Scheepers guested on the F.B.I. mini-album 'Hell On Wheels'.

Stunningly, Ralf Scheepers departed the group in 1994 after the rest of the band discovered he had applied for the job as vocalist for JUDAS PRIEST. Although GAMMA RAY was a success, the singer was still holding down a day job at an electronics company in Stuttgart and wished to accelerate his musical career. This left Hansen to handle lead vocal duties in addition to supplying guitar and Kai made his frontman debut on 1995's 'Land Of The Free' album, which also featured guest vocal parts from Hansen's ex-HELLOWEEN colleague MICHAEL KISKE as well as BLIND GUARDIAN's Hansi Kьrsch. Scheepers turned up fronting PRIMAL FEAR, a band including SINNER mainman Mat Sinner and with more than a few similarities to Birmingham's finest. Meantime, Thomas Nack was operating a side project band oddly billed as TWORK in allegiance with former KINGDOM COME guitarist Heiko Radke.

GAMMA RAY played Germany in June 1995 on a touring festival billed the 'Summer Metal Meetings' including ICED EARTH, GRAVE DIGGER, GLENMORE, RUNNING WILD and RAGE, with the aptly titled 'Alive '95' record appearing the following year and featuring a cover version of NWoBHM act HOLOCAUST's 'Heavy Metal Mania'. The group would later record further cover songs, both JUDAS PRIEST numbers ('Victim Of Changes' and a Ralf Scheepers fronted version of 'Exciter') to two JUDAS PRIEST tribute albums.

TRACKLIST:

1. Rebellion In Dreamland
2. Man On A Mission
3. Fairytale
4. All Of The Damned
5. Rising Of The Damned
6. Gods Of Deliverance
7. Farewell
8. Salvations Calling
9. Land Of The Free
10. The Saviour
11. Abyss Of The Void
12. Time To Break Free
13. Afterlife

14. H. M. Mania - Bonus
15. As Time Goes By - Bonus
16. The Silence ‘95 Version - Bonus

LINE-UP:

Kai Hansen (guitar, vocals)
Dirk Schlachter (guitar)
Uwe Wessels (bass)
Uli Kusch (drums)