GAMMA RAY

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GAMMA RAY’s “Blast From The Past” Available Worldwide as Limited Edition Triple CD, Digitally + for the Very First Time on Vinyl LP

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 23, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

“The only thing I knew was that I wanted to go on making music and fulfil my vision of the songs I had”, says Kai Hansen about forming GAMMA RAY after leaving Helloween in 1988 – a vision that paid off.

For over 30 years and with a total of eleven studio albums, the Hamburg-based power metal band built around bandleader Kai Hansen has influenced and shaped the genre. The expressiveness of their music is also reflected in their energetic live shows, which was impressively captured on their long player “30 Years Live Anniversary” (2021).

With “Blast From The Past”, the German power metal icons GAMMA RAY return to their beginnings and revisit their first 10 years. The album with Kai Hansen on vocals is a cross-section of their studio albums released between 1990 and 1999.

“We said [to our fans]: ‘Choose three songs from each album’”, remembers Kai Hansen and the results formed “Blast From The Past”, originally released in 2000 and long out of print.

All songs have been remastered by producer Eike Freese for this reissue edition and it includes extensive linernotes by UK journalist Dave Everley (Kerrang!, Louder, Prog, Metal Hammer, amongst others). Based on an interview conducted with Kai Hansen, they provide an insight into the making of the album and the band’s history over the first 10 years.

Today, “Blast From The Past” with its iconic album cover by Derek Riggs (Iron Maiden) is finally available again. Along with the Limited 3CD Digipak Edition (including the rare “Skeletons & Majesties” mini-album as a bonus), the album is released digitally and for the first time ever on Vinyl LP.

In 20 powerful songs GAMMA RAY‘s Kai Hansen (lead vocals, guitar), Dirk Schlächter (bass), Henjo Richter (guitar) and Daniel Zimmermann (drums) underscore once again their status as one of the most important power metal bands of the last three decades.

Pre-order the album here: https://gammaray.lnk.to/BFTP

GAMMA RAY Celebrate “30 Years Live Anniversary”, Out September 10th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 15, 2021
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

GAMMA RAY from Hamburg, Germany, have delivered impressive statements of their own musical philosophy to the worldwide heavy metal community for more than thirty years by now.

Founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the famous German power metal band Helloween,  GAMMA RAY recorded eleven studio albums between 1989 and 2015. Besides Dirk Schlächter (bass), Henjo Richter (guitar), Michael Ehré (drums) and Frank Beck (vocals), Hansen is the band’s lead vocalist, guitarist and chief songwriter.

The expressive power of the band’s music is reflected in their energetic live shows. There’s hardly a renowned metal festival where GAMMA RAY haven’t rocked the crowds, hardly an international magazine which hasn’t featured at least one GAMMA RAY title story.

On the band’s upcoming live album called “30 YEARS LIVE ANNIVERSARY”, GAMMA RAY would like to invite all of you to join once more the party of their exclusive and only show in 2020. In this time of Covid-19, the band was not able to play shows like they wanted to, so they decided to do a Live Streaming Event and set up a big stage in the ISS Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany. This awesome event took place on Thursday, August 27th and was streamed to all fans all over the globe.

Several cameras had recorded the very best of power metal with guest keyboard player Corvin Bahn & former (and first!!) GAMMA RAY singer Ralf Scheepers as a very special guest! This amazing live stream show will be released as a double live album on both audio and video on September 10th, 2021 via earMUSIC. Due to Covid, this concert – as you can imagine – took place without an audience. This is why GAMMA RAY decided to invite the fans to send in recordings of screaming, hailing and whistling to their favourite GAMMA RAY songs, which will be added to the end of the show and gives fans the chance to participate on this release!

“30 YEARS LIVE ANNIVERSARY” is going to be out September 10 2021 as Digipak 2xCD + DVD, as 3xLP on black vinyl + Blu-ray, and digital. Furthermore, there will be a limited edition 3xLP on coloured vinyl + Blu-ray. Each of the three LPs is going to be pressed on a different vinyl colour.

Watch video “LAND OF THE FREE”:

Preorder “30 YEARS LIVE ANNIVERSARY”: https://gammaray.lnk.to/LiveAnniversary

Tracklisting (CD / DVD / Blu-ray):

  1. Induction
  2. Dethrone Tyranny
  3. New World Order
  4. Avalon
  5. Master Of Confusion
  6. Empathy
  7. Rebellion In Dreamland
  8. Land Of The Free
  9. Lust For Life
  10. One With The World
  11. The Silence
  12. Armageddon
  13. Heading For Tomorrow
  14. Send Me a Sign

Tracklisting 3xLP

Side A:

  1. Induction / Dethrone Tyranny
  2. New World Order
  3. Empathy

SIDE B:

  1. Avalon
  2. Master Of Confusion

SIDE C:

  1. Rebellion In Dreamland
  2. Land Of The Free

SIDE D:

  1. Lust For Life
  2. One With The World
  3. The Silence

SIDE E:

  1. Heading For Tomorrow

SIDE F:

  1. Armageddon
  2. Send Me A Sign/Outro

THE UNITY (Feat. Members Of GAMMA RAY) Release New Single And Video, On Tour With EDGUY

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 10, 2017
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

theunity

THE UNITY, the new band founded by drummer Michael Ehré and guitarist Henjo Richter (both Gamma Ray), have released their third digital single and video for the song “Never Forget”.

Drummer Michael Ehre about the single: “We are extremely happy to present our third single “Never Forget” shortly before our tour with Edguy starts. It will be released as Download and 7″ Vinyl-Single with an exclusive, unpublished bonustrack. We also produced a brandnew videoclip for this song. See you on tour in September, October!”

You can watch the video here:

“Never Forget” will also be released as a 7″ vinyl single, limited to 500 units worldwide, on September 15th,2017. The b-side is an unreleased track called “Nowhereland”.
Along with their two figureheads, Richter and Ehré, THE UNITY consists of Gianba Manenti (vocals), Stef E (guitar), Jogi Sweers (bass) and Sascha Onnen (keyboards), all of them musicians that many fans have been familiar with since Ehré’s former band Love.Might.Kill arrived on the scene.

The debut album of THE UNITY was released on May 05th, 2017 followed by a tour with german hard rock legends SINNER and festival appearances in Germany and the Czech Republic. In September/October the band will go on tour with EDGUY.

The-Unity_Never-Forget_Single_web

THE UNITY – on tour with EDGUY

15.09.D-Bremen – Aladin
16.09.D-Hamburg – Markthalle (sold out)
17.09.D-Bochum – Zeche
19.09.D-Frankfurt – Batschkapp
20.09.D-Saarbrücken – Garage
22.09.D-Cologne – Essigfabrik
23.09.D-Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn (sold out)
24.09.D-Munich – Backstage
26.09.D-Erlangen – E-Werk
27.09.D-Berlin – C-Club
29.09.CH-Pratteln – Z7
30.09.D-Memmingen – Kaminwerk (sold out)
02.10.CZ-Prague – Meetfactory
03.10.D-Fulda – Wartenberg-Oval (sold out)

THE UNITY (Feat. Members of GAMMA RAY) Release New Single And Lyric Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 24, 2017
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

theunity_web

THE UNITY, the new band founded by drummer Michael Ehré and guitarist Henjo Richter (both from Gamma Ray), have released their first digital single and lyric video for the song “Rise And Fall”. A real taster for all aficionados of powerful hard rock and technically accomplished melodic metal.

Watch the video here:

The single is available here!

Along with their two figureheads, Richter and Ehré, THE UNITY consists of Gianba Manenti (vocals), Stef E (guitar), Jogi Sweers (bass) and Sascha Onnen (keyboards), all of them musicians that many fans have been familiar with since Ehré’s former band Love.Might.Kill arrived on the scene.

The debut album of THE UNITY will be released on May 05th, 2017 followed by a tour with german hard rock legends SINNER and a release show in their german hometown.

More exciting news coming soon!

THE UNITY – on tour with SINNER
12.05.CH-Wetzikon – Hall Of Fame
13.05.D-Memmingen – Kaminwerk
14.05.D-Essen – Turock
16.05.D-Nürnberg – Hirsch
17.05.D-Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
18.05.D-Mannheim – 7er Live Club
19.05.D-Markneukirchen – Framus&Warwick Music Hall
20.05.D-Hamburg – Knust

 

THE UNITY – CD release show

27.05.D-Nordenham – Jahnhalle (plus special guests)
Tickets: www.reservix.de

 

HEAVY METAL Christmas Flame List; A Gift From The Chief Editor

Posted by Stargazer on December 24, 2016
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

msf-xmas-pl

It’s Christmas time and a time for celebrating, even if you’re alone! Aside from watching films and making love, we all love listening to our favourite music at full volume. Our Chief Editor has made a flammable list for you to rock with your loved ones, friends or even by yourself!

“I’ve made this for almost everyone – for those who have fallen in love this year or those who are still together after many years, those who lost their loves or friends or family members, those who are apart from each other and those who have new family members. And for those who are tired of this sad and horrible year and wish a brighter and better 2017. So here you go, rock it and don’t forget you love your neighbours, so rock it louder!
Merry Christmas!

Mohsen Stargazer Fayazi.”

1.  Royal Hunt – ‘Heart On A Platter’ (“Devil’s Dozen” 2015)
2. Wolf –  ‘Love At First Bite’ (“Ravenous” 2009)
3. Twilight Force – ‘To the Stars’ (“Heroes Of Mighty Magic” 2016)
4. Kingdom Come – ‘Loving You’ (“Kingdom Come” 1988)
5. Myrath – ‘Through Your Eyes’ (“Legacy” 2016)
6. Wolf Hoffmann – ‘Symphony No. 40’ (“Headbangers Symphony” 2016)
7. Judas Priest – ‘Between The Hammer & The Anvil’ (“Painkiller” 1990)
8. Iced Earth – ‘Watching Over Me’ (“Something Wicked This Way Comes” 1998)
9. Gamma Ray – ‘Rebellion In Dreamland’ (“Land Of The Free” 1995)
10. Accept – ‘Shadow Soldiers’ (“Stalingrad” 2012)
11. Black Sabbath – ‘Heaven And Hell’ (“Heaven And Hell” 1980) In memory of Ronnie James Dio R.I.P.
12. Queen – ‘The Show Must Go on’ (“Innuendo” 1991) In memory of Freddie Mercury R.I.P.
13. Motörhead – ‘Ace Of Spades’ (“Motörhead” 1980) In memory of Lemmy Kilmister R.I.P.

  • With the sad news today, we would like to remember Rick Parfitt from the legendary Status Quo, R.I.P.

SPV/Steamhammer Signs Worldwide Deal With UNITY, Feat. Members of GAMMA RAY

Posted by metalshockfinland on November 14, 2016
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

unity-spv

With their latest sensational signing, Hanover record imprint Steamhammer/SPV has set the course for more highlights in the coming year: UNITY, the new band founded by drummer Michael Ehré and guitarist Henjo Richter (both Gamma Ray), has signed a long-term contract and is currently busy working on their debut album. The eponymously titled recording has been scheduled for release in early 2017 and aficionados of powerful hard rock and technically accomplished melodic metal can expect to get more than their money’s worth.

Along with their two figureheads, Richter and Ehré, UNITY consists of Gianba Manenti (vocals), Stef E (guitar), Jogi Sweers (bass) and Sascha Onnen (keyboards), all of them musicians that many fans have been familiar with since Ehré’s band Love.Might.Kill arrived on the scene.

“During many gigs and countless hours in the rehearsal room, Michael and I discovered that we are on the same wavelength, on a personal as well as on a musical level. So we came up with the idea of focusing that part of our creativity that goes beyond Gamma Ray in another band,” Richter explains. “UNITY features the perfect line-up for that.”

Michael Ehré is equally enthusiastic: “We’re proud and more than happy to have found a strong partner in SPV/Steamhammer who enjoy an excellent reputation on a global level. The amazing experience and great passion with which Olly Hahn has helmed the label for many years are awesome. We’re really looking forward to our fruitful collaboration and will ensure together that UNITY gets off to a successful start.”

Olly Hahn, A&R at Steamhammer, places great hopes on his new signing: “The outstanding songwriting and great technical skill of everybody involved are unmistakable. For this reason, UNITY suits the Steamhammer team perfectly and we will continue to work flat out for our artists in 2017.”

More infos here:  www.unity-rocks.com