Metal Reviews

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Tough to get a handle on this review.

Lot of enthusiasm with callouts such as:

"...true power / speed metal masterpieces GR presents us with on To The Metal!. I cannot lie; these are some of the best songs of Gamma Ray’s career. They really have that old anthemic feeling back in them that has been gone ever since No World Order!."

You then go on to talk about things such as: exploding metal anthems, amazing choruses, perfect blends of old-school GR and modern power metal, classic riffing, sing-along choruses you can't get out of your head...


But you end with:
"To The Metal! is a good album in the end; it’s not the band’s best, but it’s close to being their worst..."

Close to being their worst? Huh?

Fuck, it was tough for me to write. Let me explain the best I can...

Only half of the songs on this album are worthy of the praise you mentioned above. It's those songs where I feel the band is truly trying to make amazing, stand-out tracks that will easily stand up with the rest of their career. The other five tracks, on the other hand, are a bit entertaining at first, but eventually get boring. There's nothing really special about them, and it only feels like Gamma Ray is trying to emulate what has been done before by the major metal giants.

Gamma Ray has almost always been a band that releases very consistent albums; on the majority of their records, most if not all of the songs are great. But here, only half are, which is why I said it's probably one of their worst. It's not for a lack of great songs - there's definitely some here - but it's a lack of a large amount of great songs. I don't think anyone in their right mind would rate an album higher than I rated To The Metal if they only felt half the tracks were worthy of what the band is fully capable of. But the five amazing songs are certainly worthy of that confusing praise, but unfortunately it contrasts with the quality level of the other half of the music, making for a confusing album and, unfortunately, a confusing review.

Very sorry for the confusion... I really tried to avoid that, but I kinda figured it would be unavoidable in the end. Hopefully this post will clear things up though.

No need to apologize, just trying to reconcile all that praise with the "one of the worst" sentiment. i get it. Sounds like I should purchase half of the album. ha.

At least give it a listen before you buy, I'd say... I didn't want it to look like I was only a fan of the band's faster stuff, which I'm definitely not, but for some reasons those were the only ones I liked.

I think it is no doubt the best Gamma Ray album since Powerplant! LOTF2 was dull and uninspired, but this album sounds very fresh and has tons of memorable tracks. As killing tracks I would have written all but "Chasing shadows" which is the only track I consider filler that whatever generic album could include. Rise, Deadlands, All you need to know, Shine Forever are instant fast paced tracks that are instantly enjoy and reckognize GR are still the kings of melodic speedmetal. Mother Angel, To The metal, No need to cry, Into the metal are tracks that needs some times to grow on you, but once they've done that they are very great gems too. Empathy! I can only say wow! Powermetal with the greatest elements of goth and industrial metal. I think Kai's voice is also way better than on LOTF2 or at least it is louder! I would give it 100/100 if it was not for the last track that I think is more or less filler

Glad you like it, MetalMaster... I can definitely see the appeal this album will have to many Gamma Ray fans, as it's gotten some really good reviews, but it's gotten some really bad ones too. I'm somewhere in the middle I guess, but there's no denying that it is a good album.

And am I the only one that really likes Land Of The Free II?

Yeah this album is a little inconsistent, but it still rules. I feel the same as Kyle on this one. Half is brilliant, the other half is bad - decent.

No, you're not. I found it to be excellent. With three tracks in particular (Into the Storm, Real World and Empress) to be three of the band's all-time best tracks.)

I also liked Land of the Free II. But although Gamma Ray is a great band, puts many great albums...LOFT2 just isnt one of their better ones.

Kai has always borrowed from his idols since day 1.

I'll certainly put in a vote for liking LOTF2.

And I agree with this review totally, 50% hit, 50% miss.

Good album and yeah the first half rocks but I don't mind the others, still undecided on the new Freedom Call, but also enjoying Rage's latest the bonus DVD is fantastic.