Blast from the Past [IMPORT] [LIMITED EDITION]

Gamma Ray

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2004)
• Original Release Date: July 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Limited Edition
• Label: Edel Europe
• ASIN: B00004TYMM
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #180,166 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
International pressing of 2000 two CD compilation for the long running power metal outfit features 20 tracks including seven tracks, on disc two, that are the remastered versions of the original recordings & one bonus track 'The Silence'. Sanctuary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars awsome power metal, January 18, 2009

By	Nebrska Heart - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

if your looking for some german power metal.Look no further.The songs are strong,passionate.Kia hansen is one underratted metal god.One great singer,song writer.and guitar player

Take the time to buy this c.d.

4.0 out of 5 stars Best of, as voted by you!, May 25, 2007

By	Paul Lawrence "'EJL'" (Australia) - See all my reviews

Now this is a cool marketing move/way of doing things. After ten years of Gamma Ray we get the best of album. but with a twist. The bands fans voted for their favourite three tracks on each GR album and the ones with the most votes got either remixed or totally re-recorded by the bands new line up. This is both an excellent idea based around the concept of interactive fan-dom but also somewhat of a bugbear. More on that later...

But to start with this collection is a pretty good selection of tunes. For the record all of disc 1 and tracks 1-3 on disc 2 are new recordings. Songs 4-10 of the second disc are remastered versions. And it's hard to argue with songs like Lust for Life, Heaven Can Wait and Changes. Sure, Ralf sang 'em much better than Kai but they really do stand up regardless. Also the production is a tiny bit shiner circa 2000, but I don't recall the original production jobs being that shabby.

For dedicated fans it's perhaps best to peruse the track listing before taking the plunge. As kai says in the brief liner notes he didn't think that people should pay for tunes they alread owned. So for long time fans that's probably a bonus. My version is a digipack - which equates to annoying cardboard packaging that wears away especially on the spine. The 28 page booklet is a nifty addition and again indicative of the desire on the bands part to put in the extra quality. And that feel does transfer over into a bit of a warm glow towards the tunes that never let up their attack - melodic speed rocker after melodic speed rocker churning out of your speakers with Kai's reasonable though limited vox laid over the top.

Of course having redone the tunes the drama is that they have all end up sounding the same! Also no Ralf on vox - it avoides Kai having to compare himself to his former bandmate but darn it all Ral is twice the singer and with all the tunes sounding similar there is a reduced ability to guage the bands progress/evolution. And the newcomer gets less of a chance to decide which part of their catalogue to start exploring first. And given that best ofs are often used by newcomers for just such purposes, GR may have done more harm than good with their decision to revamp these tunes.

Anyway, I hope those points are some food for thought for prospective buyers.

4.0 out of 5 stars can Gamma Ray please everybody?, October 10, 2005

By	J. Holmes "blood+whiskey" (yokohama, japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Gamma Ray decided it was time to put out a "best of" collection; but they did it in a pretty interesting/annoying way. first of all, they let the fans choose the songs. second, they re-recorded and even re-arranged these songs because they felt like the older versions did not represent the present sound of the band.

now, this causes a signifigant problem, in the fact that since the fans chose those songs, they obviously liked the original arrangements (or else i don't think they would have chosen them for inclusion on their favorite power metal band's "best of" collection). so imagine a Gamma Ray fanboy whose favorite song is "Beyond The Black Hole." he wants to hear "Beyond The Black Hole" on this record! ...but instead he is, in a way, slapped in the face with a "I know you chose this song, but we are going to totally rework this song so that it only vaguely resembles your old favorite song...enjoy!" response from the band. you see how it could get ugly. haha.

but....

well...i don't have the original version of "Beyond The Black Hole" (or any of these songs on this 2cd set, for that matter) to compare it to, but it's cool to see this band giving new versions of the songs so that fans who already do own all the originals don't feel cheated of their hard earned cash to buy this set. see how it works?

everybody happy now? ok.

This is quality power metal heavy on the hooks and the catchy melodies. silly lyrics and even sillier cover art. but it's freaking Gamma Ray! it would be even sillier if the cover art wasn't silly. know what i mean? if you're not a fan of this band, one listen to "Lust For Life" and "Heaven Can Wait" might change your mind.