Band:	Gamma Ray
Album:	Power Plant
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	March 29, 1999
A review by:	Dream Taster

01. Anywhere In The Galaxy
02. Razorblade Sigh
03. Send Me A Sign
04. Strangers In The Night
05. Gardens Of The Sinner
06. Short As Hell
07. It's A Sin [Pet Shop Boys cover]
08. Heavy Metal Universe
09. Wings Of Destiny
10. Hands Of Fate
11. Armageddon
12. A While In Dreamland [digipack bonus]
13. Rich And Famous [digipack bonus]
14. Long Live Rock'n Roll [Rainbow cover] [digipack bonus]

For the ones who would have slept since 1988 [...], Gamma Ray was born due to the departure of Kai Hansen from Helloween. The band found their own sound in 1995 with the album "Land Of The Free". The line-up became stabilized in 1997 with the album "Somewhere Out In Space", including Dirk Schlachter [bass], Daniel Zimmermann [drums], Henjo Richter [guitars] and of course Kai Hansen [guitars, vocals]. Since then, Gamma Ray never really improved their style for the happiness of their numerous fans.

In that context, 1999's "Powerplant" was the expected sequel of "Somewhere Out In Space" and the first statement about the album is that the concept of "I'm in space and I'm playing Power Metal!!!!" is still there. Well just look at some titles ['Anywhere In The Galaxy', 'Heavy Metal Universe']. No, seriously, my main point is that "Powerplant" is incredibly mature in both songwriting and performance. With hits such as the splendid 'Anywhere In The Galaxy', the powerful 'Razorblade Sigh', the epic 'Gardens Of The Sinner' and the terrific 'Armageddon', these guys surely released one of the major albums of their long career. You can add the cover 'It's A Sin' [turned into a Metal anthem... How cool!] to that already attracting song list. Plus if you get the digipack "Ultimate Collection", you will be pleased to find three very unusual bonus tracks. 'A While In Dreamland' features Kai Hansen singing over a fine piano melody while 'Long Live Rock'n Roll' is an interesting cover [originally by Black Sabbath]. 'Rich And Famous' has a powerful chorus and it could have been included in the original version of the record, as it's way better than track 6 - 'Short As Hell' - for example... [the only track that I don't like at all]

Well, "Powerplant" is definitely one of the most famous Gamma Ray's efforts to date. Jewels of Power Metal such as 'Anywhere In The Galaxy' and 'Armageddon' do not allow you to ignore this album. So, if huge choruses and guitar solos are your passion, you ought to get this album as soon as possible.