Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within a symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contrast with the heaviness and dissonance prevalent in, for example, extreme metal. Power metal bands usually have anthemic songs with fantasy-based subject matter and strong choruses, thus creating a theatrical, dramatic and emotionally "powerful" sound.
Kai Michael Hansen is a German musician who is the founder, lead guitarist and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray. He is also one of the co-founders of another power metal band Helloween, which he was a part of from 1983 to 1989 and rejoined in 2016. He is a prominent figure in power metal and has sold millions of albums worldwide. He is regarded as "the godfather of power metal", having founded two seminal bands in the genre. In 2011, he joined the band Unisonic featuring former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske. Hansen and Kiske reunited with Helloween in 2017 for a world tour with all current members, celebrating the 30-year anniversary of release of the albums Keeper of the Seven Keys Parts I and II.
Gamma Ray is a German power metal band from Hamburg, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from power metal band Helloween, in 1989. He is the band's lead vocalist, guitarist and chief songwriter. Between 1990 and 2014, Gamma Ray recorded eleven studio albums.
Henjo Oliver Richter, is a guitarist and keyboardist in Gamma Ray, the German power metal band formed by Kai Hansen.
Skeletons in the Closet is a live album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2003. It mostly featured songs that the band had never played live before. The setlist was voted by fans on the band's official website.
Ralf Scheepers is a German singer and the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Primal Fear. He has also sung in Gamma Ray and Tyran' Pace. Scheepers has also provided guest vocals for the bands Avantasia, Xandria, Scanner, Therion, Ayreon and Shadow Gallery, and worked with Tom Galley on Phenomena's Blind Faith album. He currently provides instruction for all around singing, music, studio and recording/processing techniques at the RS Vocal Works in Baltmannsweiler, Germany. Writer Paul Stenning has described him as "the greatest example of strength in metal."
Majestic is the eighth full-length studio album from the German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 2005. The band also released an LP version through their website to complement the supporting tour, limited to 1500 copies worldwide.
Power Plant is the sixth full-length album from the German power metal band, Gamma Ray. The album was initially released in 1999, but was re-released along with most of the band's past catalogue in 2002 with bonus tracks and new covers. This album has a tight focus on the power metal genre.
Alive '95 was the first live album by Kai Hansen's Gamma Ray. It was released in May 1996, following the live concerts in Milano, Paris, Madrid, Pamplona and Erlangen, during the band's "Men on a Tour" European tour.
Somewhere Out in Space is an album by German power metal band, Gamma Ray. It was released on 25 August 1997 and is the band's fifth studio album. Continuing in the tradition of the previous four albums, it contained yet another different lineup, but would also be the first album to feature the band's longest standing lineup. The album featured Dirk Schlächter on bass for the first time since his guest appearance on Heading for Tomorrow, Henjo Richter on guitar and Dan Zimmermann on drums.
Land of the Free is the fourth studio album by German power metal band Gamma Ray, released in 1995. It is considered a concept album, telling a story of rebellion of Good against Evil. Continuing a trend that would conclude with the band's fifth studio release, the lineup for the album was different from the previous one, as Land of the Free was the first Gamma Ray album to be released since the departure of Ralf Scheepers, leaving guitarist and founder Kai Hansen to take up lead vocals. While not his first stint as a vocalist, it would be the first time he had performed lead vocals exclusively in 8 years.
Heading for Tomorrow is the first studio album released by German metal band Gamma Ray on 26 February 1990 by Noise Records. In 2002 it was re-released with a different cover as part of the Ultimate Collection box-set. This re-released version of the album has also been released separately from the box-set.
Heaven Can Wait was an EP released by German power metal band Gamma Ray in 1990, following the release of their debut album Heading for Tomorrow.
Daniel Hans Erwin Zimmermann is a retired German heavy metal drummer. He is best known as having been the drummer of German power metal bands Gamma Ray and Freedom Call. He was a founding member of Freedom Call, from which he departed in 2010. Two years later he also left Gamma Ray, announcing a retirement from the music business in 2012.
Valley of the Kings is an EP released in 1997 by the German power metal band Gamma Ray prior to the release of their album Somewhere Out in Space. This was the first release from Gamma Ray featuring Henjo Richter on guitar and Dan Zimmermann on drums.
Dirk Schlächter is the bassist of the power metal band Gamma Ray.
This is a discography of Gamma Ray, a German heavy metal band, formed in 1988 in Hamburg, Germany. They have released eleven studio albums, four live albums, two compilation albums, seven singles and eight music videos.
Hell Yeah or Hell Yeah! may refer to:
Heading for the East was recorded in 1990 by the German power metal band Gamma Ray following the release of their album Heading for Tomorrow.
"Return to Fantasy" is a song by British rock band Uriah Heep from their eighth studio album Return to Fantasy (1975). The song was written by David Byron and Ken Hensley and was the last single by the group to feature David Byron on lead vocals. The song was recorded in May 1975 in London in the Lansdowne and Morgan studios.
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