Gamma Ray (GER)

There's hardly any need to introduce Gamma Ray - at least to power metal fans. This German outfit, formed in 1989 by ex-Helloween bandleader, Kai Hansen, has been constantly proving that their potential is very far from becoming poor. The band releases new albums quite frequently and does a lot of worldwide touring. April will see the legendary Germans play two gigs for their Russian fans - in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Gamma Ray has started this year with the release of their 13th full-length album. The band's previous album, Land of the Free II, had seen the light of day in 2007, so the new album was an extremely anticipated work among their fans. According to Kai Hansen, while working on the album, the band tried to combine their traditional sound with the latest technical stuff and do that without losing their identity. To The Metal was released in January 2010, and it's obvious that the musicians have really succeeded in gaining their aim. Gamma Ray have proved once again their status of one of the globe's best metal bands ever.

The album features collaboration with ex-Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske who contributed backing vocals to the track All You Need To Know. Hansen and Kiske had already worked together on the album Land Of The Free, released in 1995. By the way, it was this record that started Kai Hansen's vocal career in Gamma Ray, for he had only been playing guitar before.

Especially for their fans, Gamma Ray have released four different editions of the new album. Ten tracks have appeared on the regular album release, plus there're three limited editions - a CD with the bonus video for the song To The Metal, a vinyl and a collectors'edition plus a CD (this version features two more unreleased tracks). And the main present for the band's fans is, surely, Gamma Ray's tour in support of the new album.

On April 8, the German legends will have a gig at B1 Maximum Club, Moscow, and April 10 will see them in Saint Petersburg. The audience is in for the new album's material as well as Gamma Ray's smash hits!