Skeletons in the Closet
Gamma Ray, 2003
Reviewed By: Parimal Satyal
It's certainly been a long time since Gamma Ray have released a live album, with their only other previous release being Alive '95 eight years back - and they're definately back with another one to remind us how great they are live! However, since I never got the chance to listen to that, this was my first time ever getting my hands on a live Gamma Ray release. So let's start with the basics. The release consists of two CDs, each with songs recorded at shows either in Barcelona or Strasbourg as part of their 2002 tour with the same name – 'Skeletons in the Closet'. Fans (like myself) voted for the setlist through email and the point of all this, Kai explains, was to resurrect the songs not normally played live – which, I think, is being fair to all.
As soon as you pop the first CD into your player (or a computer, as parts of this CD is made for) you are welcomed with a tremendous uproar of the crowd cheering. The screaming gives way to the sounds of the introductory "Welcome", with crowd counting the beats until the guitars and drums smash in around the first minute. Instant realization is this – the show has begun!
There's energy and excitement present in every song they play – beginning with 'Gardens of the Sinner' to the closing riffs of 'New World Order' in the second CD. The songs are altered a bit to make them "live-friendly", which adds colour to them in some ways. For example, in the seventh track of the second CD – in "Heaven or Hell" – the intro riff is slightly different from the studio recording. And not to mention the energy in "Heavy Metal Universe"! Kai simply takes the fans on an exhilarating journey through the metal universe as the band just stop the song around the end to have some fun with the crowd! The feeling is simply divine – all these fans shouting along the first line of the chorus 3 full times, after each an evaluation by Kai (and jokes, not to mention) – finally lifting the song from the fans singing "Heavy Metal Universe!" for the fourth time. Crazy! Thumbs up there!
Something one can certainly not fail to miss is the great mixing. The drums are audible clearly, the voice stands out, the guitars are sharp, the bass guitar is thumping (yes, thumping) with wild echoes of the fans shouting, making for a perfect backdrop. Never will the crowd interfere with the songs, yet they are vital to every single song! Heavy overdriven sounds don't fail here. The raw power is certainly present, but sharp sounds makes for listening pleasure. Also, have to mention that the guest keyboard player for this CD was Axel Mackenrott (of Masterplan) and he does a heck of a job. Just listen to "Rising Star/Shine On" if you don't believe me.
Dan's drum solo once again reminds us how talented he really is. It just sounds like he's having a blast improvising faster-than-light drum patterns, occasionally shouting out to the crowds! At a part he plays a certain pattern at extreme speeds and slowly lowers the speed to a point at which we can appreciate the complexity of his playing. Again, the crowd interactions make for a multi-dimensional CD track (and not just any old drum solo).
The cover artwork is screaming out "Skeletons" – literally! Fangface, with all his blue-green skull friends surround the dim images of the band on stage and the fans in the pit. Chains in the borders, skulls at the ends, golden words without a dent. And what more – one can take satisfaction in learning it was none other than Henjo who was responsible for the great artwork and design. The booklet has pictures as well of the band on stage and fans (just as wild!).
There is one hidden track for you to discover (it really isn't difficult), for which you will find a corresponding MPEG video, and two others. The band has included in the first CD video files of 'Gardens of the Sinner' and 'Razorblade Sigh', which is compiled with pictures, live footage and slow-motion captures – all packed in, thanks to Mackenrott's video editing. Also included is a short (37 seconds worth of) backstage footage in the company of a certain "McTee". This is going that extra bit to make the live experience more colourful.
The only negative side of here video file format and quality. The three vidoes (96.2 MB in total) are encoded in MPEG format, meaning you need a computer (or some other device with MPEG playback facility). Due to high compression, if you resize the video size to even just 2 times the normal (small) size, it's distorted and pixelated. Forget fullscreen. Personally I'd have enjoyed better better quality and resolution if a video is going to be included anyway - but since the primary aspect of the CD is the audio, the videos make up for a fun, simple, no-nags addition.
With over hundred minutes of playing time, one hidden audio track, three MPEG videos and amazing performance, presentation and colour – Gamma Ray prove once again they're as good a powermetal band live as they are on the records.
Highly recommended to anyone into powermetal, any Gamma Ray devotee or a metal fan. This is one is surely for the the classic powermetal collections!
Tracklist (103:19) -
CD 1 (48:37)
1. Welcome
2. Gardens of the Sinner
3. Rich and Famous
4. All of the Damned
5. No Return
6. Armageddon
7. Heavy Metal Universe
8. One With the World
9. Dan's Solo
+ 3 MPEG Videos
CD 2 (54:42)
1. Razorblade Sigh
2. Heart of the Unicorn
3. Last Before the Storm
4. Victim of Fate
5. Rising Star / Shine On
6. The Silence
7. Heaven or Hell
8. Guardians of Mankind
9. New World Order
+ Hidden Audio Track
Gamma Ray, 2003
Reviewed By: Parimal Satyal
It's certainly been a long time since Gamma Ray have released a live album, with their only other previous release being Alive '95 eight years back - and they're definately back with another one to remind us how great they are live! However, since I never got the chance to listen to that, this was my first time ever getting my hands on a live Gamma Ray release. So let's start with the basics. The release consists of two CDs, each with songs recorded at shows either in Barcelona or Strasbourg as part of their 2002 tour with the same name – 'Skeletons in the Closet'. Fans (like myself) voted for the setlist through email and the point of all this, Kai explains, was to resurrect the songs not normally played live – which, I think, is being fair to all.
As soon as you pop the first CD into your player (or a computer, as parts of this CD is made for) you are welcomed with a tremendous uproar of the crowd cheering. The screaming gives way to the sounds of the introductory "Welcome", with crowd counting the beats until the guitars and drums smash in around the first minute. Instant realization is this – the show has begun!
There's energy and excitement present in every song they play – beginning with 'Gardens of the Sinner' to the closing riffs of 'New World Order' in the second CD. The songs are altered a bit to make them "live-friendly", which adds colour to them in some ways. For example, in the seventh track of the second CD – in "Heaven or Hell" – the intro riff is slightly different from the studio recording. And not to mention the energy in "Heavy Metal Universe"! Kai simply takes the fans on an exhilarating journey through the metal universe as the band just stop the song around the end to have some fun with the crowd! The feeling is simply divine – all these fans shouting along the first line of the chorus 3 full times, after each an evaluation by Kai (and jokes, not to mention) – finally lifting the song from the fans singing "Heavy Metal Universe!" for the fourth time. Crazy! Thumbs up there!
Something one can certainly not fail to miss is the great mixing. The drums are audible clearly, the voice stands out, the guitars are sharp, the bass guitar is thumping (yes, thumping) with wild echoes of the fans shouting, making for a perfect backdrop. Never will the crowd interfere with the songs, yet they are vital to every single song! Heavy overdriven sounds don't fail here. The raw power is certainly present, but sharp sounds makes for listening pleasure. Also, have to mention that the guest keyboard player for this CD was Axel Mackenrott (of Masterplan) and he does a heck of a job. Just listen to "Rising Star/Shine On" if you don't believe me.
Dan's drum solo once again reminds us how talented he really is. It just sounds like he's having a blast improvising faster-than-light drum patterns, occasionally shouting out to the crowds! At a part he plays a certain pattern at extreme speeds and slowly lowers the speed to a point at which we can appreciate the complexity of his playing. Again, the crowd interactions make for a multi-dimensional CD track (and not just any old drum solo).
The cover artwork is screaming out "Skeletons" – literally! Fangface, with all his blue-green skull friends surround the dim images of the band on stage and the fans in the pit. Chains in the borders, skulls at the ends, golden words without a dent. And what more – one can take satisfaction in learning it was none other than Henjo who was responsible for the great artwork and design. The booklet has pictures as well of the band on stage and fans (just as wild!).
There is one hidden track for you to discover (it really isn't difficult), for which you will find a corresponding MPEG video, and two others. The band has included in the first CD video files of 'Gardens of the Sinner' and 'Razorblade Sigh', which is compiled with pictures, live footage and slow-motion captures – all packed in, thanks to Mackenrott's video editing. Also included is a short (37 seconds worth of) backstage footage in the company of a certain "McTee". This is going that extra bit to make the live experience more colourful.
The only negative side of here video file format and quality. The three vidoes (96.2 MB in total) are encoded in MPEG format, meaning you need a computer (or some other device with MPEG playback facility). Due to high compression, if you resize the video size to even just 2 times the normal (small) size, it's distorted and pixelated. Forget fullscreen. Personally I'd have enjoyed better better quality and resolution if a video is going to be included anyway - but since the primary aspect of the CD is the audio, the videos make up for a fun, simple, no-nags addition.
With over hundred minutes of playing time, one hidden audio track, three MPEG videos and amazing performance, presentation and colour – Gamma Ray prove once again they're as good a powermetal band live as they are on the records.
Highly recommended to anyone into powermetal, any Gamma Ray devotee or a metal fan. This is one is surely for the the classic powermetal collections!
Tracklist (103:19) -
CD 1 (48:37)
1. Welcome
2. Gardens of the Sinner
3. Rich and Famous
4. All of the Damned
5. No Return
6. Armageddon
7. Heavy Metal Universe
8. One With the World
9. Dan's Solo
+ 3 MPEG Videos
CD 2 (54:42)
1. Razorblade Sigh
2. Heart of the Unicorn
3. Last Before the Storm
4. Victim of Fate
5. Rising Star / Shine On
6. The Silence
7. Heaven or Hell
8. Guardians of Mankind
9. New World Order
+ Hidden Audio Track
Did you get to see their Atlanta show? ProgPower 3? 