ne of the pioneers of Power metal, Gamma Ray, led for over 2 decades by guitar mastermind Kai Hansen (also known from fellow countrymen and co-pioneers Helloween), releasing genre-defining classics such as "Heading For Tomorrow" (1990) and "Land Of The Free" (1995), are being reviewed this time.
German power metallers GAMMA RAY will release their eleventh studio album, "Empire Of The Undead", on CD, CD/DVD digipack, LP and digitally via earMusic on March 28.
The "Empire Of The Undead" title track was already been made available on the single/EP "Master Of Confusion", an appetizer the band released in 2013, just before touring the world with HELLOWEEN.
GAMMA RAY recorded the new album in various sessions in 2013, with Eike Freese at the mixing desk alongside bass player and co-writer Dirk Schlaechter.
It was just after landing in South America that the unbelievable news reached GAMMA RAY mainman Kai Hansen and his bandmates: Hammer Studio, their home, rehearsal place, studio and meeting point for many metal bands in Germany, including their instruments, amps and tapes, had been destroyed by a terrifying fire.
GAMMA RAY will embark on the "Empire Of The Undead" tour in March, with special guests RHAPSODY OF FIRE.
The complete track listing for each "Empire Of The Undead" format can be found at GammaRay.org.
The CD and DVD contained in the CD/DVD digipack will feature the following:
CD:
01. Avalon
02. Hellbent
03. Pale Rider
04. Born To Fly
05. Master Of Confusion
06. Empire Of The Undead
07. Time For Deliverance
08. Demonseed
09. Seven
10. I Will Return
11. Built A World (European bonus track)
12. Avalon (live from the final studio sessions)
13. The Spirit (live from the final studio sessions 1)
14. Empire Of The Undead (live from the final studio sessions 1)
DVD:
Four live songs from the final studio sessions
01. The Spirit (live from the final studio sessions 2)
02. Empire Of The Undead (live from the final studio sessions 2)
03. Demonseed (live from the final studio sessions 2)
04. Empathy (live from the final studio sessions)
* Tour Of Hamburg with GAMMA RAY
* Generic Interview with Kai Hansen and GAMMA RAY
* "To The Metal" promo video
Three Videos from "Skeletons & Majesties Live" DVD
01. Gamma Ray
02. Wings Of Destiny
03. Send Me A Sign (acoustic)
A new "Empire Of The Undead" trailer can be seen below.
"Master Of Confusion" was released on March 15, 2013 via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group.
The release is not free from tasty rarities: a brand new studio cover versions of British glam rock band SWEET ("Lost Angels" — "the reason I have joined a band many years ago," stated GAMMA RAY frontman Kai Hansen) and a hidden treasure of NWOBHM ("Death Or Glory" by HOLOCAUST).
"Master Of Confusion" is rounded off with six live versions ("The Spirit", "Wings Of Destiny", "Farewell", "Gamma Ray", "Time To Break Free" and "Insurrection", recorded in Bochum) that were already included on the Blu-ray "Skeletons & Majesties Live" but were not featured on the CD release (which included the show recorded in Pratteln).
