The German talent in Metal is indisputable, especially considering the iconic bands they’ve produced like Accept, Scorpions, U.D.O., and of course Rammstein, the latter being praised for their success in the genre despite not singing in English. We can’t overlook one of the most important bands in Germany, Helloween, who pioneered Power Metal—a subgenre that brought technicality to Metal, brightening its darkness with epic bridges and major tones, all within a constant atmosphere of speed.
Helloween was founded in 1985 by the talented Kai Hansen on guitar and vocals, who later focused just on playing guitar. However, after the album “Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 2” (1988), he left the band to form Gamma Ray, a group that might not have had the same popularity as Helloween but certainly had a lot of quality to offer.
In 1995, Gamma Ray released their fourth album, “Land Of The Free,” where Kai Hansen sang for the first time in the band; 12 years later, they released “Land of the Free II,” which, from our perspective, is the band’s best album. To promote the album, they joined Helloween on tour.
What can we listen to?
Very arguably, a genre that could be called “Post Power Metal.” The wonderful production does complete justice to this great album, which runs for 1 hour and 5 minutes, giving it a touch reminiscent of modern Heavy Metal with powerful drums, annihilating guitar distortions, and vocals placed prominently in the mix, accompanied by their respective delay arrangements.
The spirit of Rock is heard right from the start with “Into The Storm,” showcasing Kai Hansen’s absolute charisma—a personality that’s practically impossible to dislike, reflected through the music, much like what happens when listening to Foo Fighters. Subsequently, we hear “From The Ashes,” with an introduction reminiscent of Iron Maiden’s modern-era style from the 2000s, before developing into a Power Metal theme.
Despite Hansen taking the spotlight on the album, the band sounds cohesive, as by this time, the lineup, complemented by Henjo Ritcher (guitar and keyboards), Dirk Slachter (bass), and Dan Zimmerann (drums), had been playing together for several years.
One of Gamma Ray's heaviest albums
“Land Of The Free II” is a German explosion; whether you like Power Metal or not, it’s an album that will please you due to its intensity. “To Mother Earth” stands out as the heaviest song in their entire discography, pushing the subgenre to its most intense intention. In contrast, “Opportunity” is a down-tempo track that, despite its slowness, also reflects heaviness, leaning more towards German Hard Rock and Heavy Metal—a structured song that serves as a breather.
Speaking of Hard Rock, “Land Of The Free II” is infused with various elements of it, even drawing influences from 80s Rock as seen in the opening verses of “Real World” or “Hear Me Calling.” What’s interesting is how they incorporate these characteristic traits without abandoning their Power Metal essence, primarily due to Kai Hansen’s unmistakable vocal melodies, which always tend to be epic.
The drum intro in “Hear Me Calling” is a must-listen, with six seconds reminiscent of Judas Priest‘s “Painkiller,” featuring guitar solos influenced by KK Downing. It’s evident that the band has opened up to experimenting with more Metal subgenres without neglecting their core principles.
"Land Of The Free II" and the excellence of Gamma Ray.
The album concludes with “Insurrection,” an 11-minute track that only elevates the glory of “Land Of The Free II,” closing with great solos, tempo changes, epic vocals, guitar harmonies, and unforgettable riffs. If we could compare this album to something similar, it would be Iron Maiden‘s “Brave New World” with Power Metal touches.
“Land Of The Free II” is an excellent album that enhances Gamma Ray’s career, which, despite never being known for stealing the spotlight, represents a series of albums of tremendous quality. What are your thoughts on this album?
