Man, it seems like everyone in the Power Metal scene has released albums from the second quarter of 2002 up til now. Angra, Blind Guardian, Edguy, Harem Scarem, Blaze, and about a dozen more not coming to mind immediately, and now comes Gamma Ray’s live offering of 2003. Unlike the other lives so far Skeletons in the Closet is a special gift for Gamma Ray’s longtime fans. It has the setlist from the tour of the same name that covered the “buried” songs of Gamma Ray’s career. They did a pretty good job too and included several songs from the Ralf Scheepers days as well as some obscure material from Land of the Free to No World Order.

The production here is very very well done. They did it in such a fashion that Kai is on the right side of your speakers and Henjo is on the left as well as the various backing vocals on different channels as well. Some people might think this is stupid but hey I like it, it gives a better live recreation of the concert. The guitars are mixed well too and are really heavy especially on songs like Heart of the Unicorn and Last Before the Storm. Disc one has its shining moments on it with hearing Heavy Metal Universe, complete with extended crowd singalong, No Return and Armageddon live. No Return was a real surprise and a good one at that seeing how its one of the best songs from Gamma Ray’s first three albums and hasn’t been aired in quite some time. Armageddon is as epic as it is on the studio, and in fact I would say I find this version more enjoyable, it has energy bursting at the seams all over it. They also have a tendency to play around live as evidenced by the part in Rich and Famous that made me look over and ask myself, “Did he just really say what I think he did?” I’m sure you’ll pick it up its pretty obvious. Two clunkers are present though, All of the Damned and the obligatory drum solo. I know that this tour was supposed to concentrate on the rarely aired songs but really, I don’t know that many Gamma Ray fans that just go nuts for All of the Damned. Time to Break Free, Men Martians and Machines, or even Free Time for the sheer frivolity factor would have been better choices. As for the drum solo, meh.

Disc two starts off with one of my favorite cuts off Powerplant, Razorblade Sigh and proceeds to own me up to and through Victim of Fate. I must point out that it is also very cool of Mr. Hansen to include his usual Hellowen song but since this IS the Skeletons tour he opted for a rarely aired Weenie’ tune instead of the standards Ride the Sky and I Want Out. The encores begin with The Silence and Kai can pull this off really fashionably live. He has no problems going from the powerful moments to the soft lilting high singing and the crowd eats this up. Heaven or Hell is also receives a good reception but the follow up Guardians of Mankind kinda loses some of the momentum. Like All of the Damned this isn’t a horrible song but not a great pick, especially for the encores. The band picks up the slack though with a rousing rendition of New World Order and so the concert comes to an end with much cheering and applause to be heard throughout the hall.

For longtime Gamma Ray fans, reading this review is like preaching to the choir, you already have it or you already have plans to get it anyways and you know what? Skeletons in the Closet was made for the longtime fans and this is an excellent gift. For Gamma Ray newbies I’d recommend you check out Powerplant or Heading for Tomorrow first. Essential live album? Compared to Live After Death and Blind Guardian’s Live, no, not in that aspect. A purchase that is worth your money and an entertaining listen? Yes, Skeletons in the Closet definitely is.