(Rated this album with 8 out of 10) Reviewed by
Orion Crystal Ice
from Jacksonville, FL, USA
Gamma Ray's 1999 album Powerplant picks up where classic speed-power metal albums like Helloween's Keeper Of The Seven Keys 1&2 and Gamma Ray's own Somewhere Out In Space left off. No surprise, since GR vocalist/guitarist/mastermind Kai Hansen was instrumental in the Keeper classics with his songwriting and guitar genius when he was with Helloween in the 80's. This time around, and since the landmark Land Of The Free album, he has also returned to lead vocals for the first time since the Helloween EP and Walls Of Jericho days, and with outstanding results, as he makes a full on return to his trademark bombastic, passionate, power metal roots with Powerplant. From the scorching opener 'Anywhere In The Galaxy' to the last epic track 'Armageddon', complete with strong spiritual theme, Powerplant is a prime example of everything German power/speed metal is and is about, displaying ultra catchy choruses, heavy riffs, lightning fast neoclassical solos, thunderous drumming, and virtuosoic song structures with the kind of magic quality we haven't seen since the Keeper days, or, well, the last Gamma Ray album. Gamma Ray blazes on this one, the new lineup is superbly tight, there are classic moments abound (solo in Strangers In The Night, vocals in Armageddon, second bridge of Anywhere In The Galaxy, et al) One note of caution, however; this is a METAL album through and through, and for sure Gamma Ray's heaviest album..unlike their previous releases, there's not a real ballad to be seen here, and depending on your taste that can be a good or bad thing. Personally I feel Gamma Ray makes EXCEPTIONALLY strong ballads (Pray, The Silence, One With The World, etc) and the addition of one would have balanced this album out a bit more and make it more accessible, but even as it's lacking one, the point of the matter is this is a scorching, colorful, passionate metal release, one of the best overall of 1999, and will satisfy anyone who even remotely likes Gamma Ray or their basic style shown throughout this album. There are also some weak spots in a few tracks (Short As Hell, Heavy Metal Universe, Wings Of Destiny) that holds them back from reaching the overall high quality of the rest of the songs, but all are listenable, and definitely enjoyable, as the songwriting, vocals, guitars, drums, bass, and production are top-notch overall. If you're a Gamma Ray fan, Helloween fan, or just a fan of passionate and/or heavy music in general, you simply can't go wrong picking this one up. Standout tracks include Armageddon, Strangers In The Night, the Pet Shop Boys cover It's A Sin, and Anywhere In The Galaxy.
