Gamma Ray: a headbanger'sjourney

Mon 4th Dec, 2006 in Features

Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey could very well be the title for the life and times of Gamma Ray founder Kai Hansen who has been pumping out heavy metal for over twenty years and who is bringing their brand of German heavy power metal to Australia for the very first time.  

For those old, and young, enough to remember, Gamma Ray isn’t the only band founded by Kai Hansen. It was in the pioneering days of heavy metal when hair and leather and shrieking guitars took centre stage and the wailing vocals of Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson and Geoff Tate sung supreme when Hansen founded perhaps the biggest metal band to ever come out of mainland Europe with Helloween. “Helloween was great. It belongs to me and is a big part of my life – I wouldn’t want to change it at all.” This despite Hansen leaving after the epic duo of Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I and II in 1987 and 1988 respectively.

So how did it feel to be leaving Helloween? “Complicated. It was one of those decisions I knew I had to make but it took me a year to actually say it. Helloween meant the world to me but I’m not going to cling to a sinking ship. I had to get out and stand on my own two feet. Helloween was massive and when you decide to leave something that big and start afresh – as I did with Gamma Ray – well, it was never going to be as big as Helloween even though the label was hoping it would. To me, I just wanted to get out there and make music. Less talk, more music.”

Closing that door behind him, the decision to form Gamma Ray in 1989 proved a fruitful one with Gamma Ray proving one of the stalwarts of the global heavy metal movement. Having released eleven albums including two live albums, Gamma Ray’s Majestic World Tour continues in Australia following the release of their ninth studio album Majestic (Sanctuary/Riot) in 2005. A year later, how does Hansen reflect on Majestic? “The album got good reviews overall, especially by the fans, but as usual there is always a few ‘buts’ to be heard. For some it was a bit out of their expectations, the album was more progressive, darker and more aggressive than previous albums. It was not so easy to swallow on the first few listens. Some journalists, on the other hand, said that it’s Gamma Ray as always with no progression. In the end, we just did what we felt like doing.”  

And what about sales? “It’s always hard to say with the sales, on some territories you gain on others you lose. You’ll never know if that’s because the album was not accepted well enough or if it’s the market in general, a lack of money or general lack of promotion. The easiest way is always to blame the record label, but we won’t do that. Every album is different and we’d rather look forward to the next album and do it the best we can.”

Speaking of the next album, 2007 will see the release of Land of the Free Part 2. The original 1995 album is still considered one of the finest metal albums of its time even though metal was going through a difficult period with grunge and alternative rocking the world. So what can Gamma Ray fans expect with Land of the Free Part 2? “It’ll be similar – but different. An album is always a momentary snapshot, so its uniqueness cannot and should not be reproduced. We will just catch up with the spirit of the album that reflects melancholy, cheerfulness, strength and a powerful positive energy. We’ve spit out a lot of our anger and frustration on ‘Majestic’ and that freed our minds to make this move now, because we feel it.”

Originally, the Australian tour was meant to coincide with the band’s release of their live DVD, the humorously titled Hell Yeah – The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn’t Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) – Live in Montreal. Correct, Gamma Ray don’t take themselves too seriously, but asked about the Donald Duck reference and Kai simply says, “Eero Kaukomies (their Finnish keyboardist who, incidentally, started life in a Gamma Ray tribute band) was walking in front of us one day and we noticed that he had a slight Donald Duck walk and that his butt looked like Donald Duck’s butt. Every night we wanted him to wear his costume and every night he refused! (laughs).

“Originally due late 2006 it’s now scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2007 based on the fact that everything took longer than expected. The DVD will be a double DVD showcasing our first North American tour with the May 6th, 2006 show at the Medley in Montreal, Canada the centrepiece for the DVD. There’s a second disc which is a kind of road movie with plenty of back stage footage but most importantly – a history of Gamma Ray, specifically the last 12 years sine we’ve had this line-up of myself, Henjo Richter (guitars), Daniel Zimmermann (drums) and Dirk Schlachter (bass).”

Gamma Ray’s connection to Australia is not without precedent. During their five week No World Order European tour in 2001, Gamma Ray were supported by Finns Sonata Arctica and local Melbourne boys Vanishing Point who will once again support the band. “We are really looking forward to meeting the guys again,” notes drummer Daniel Zimmermann. “I like their progressive, but very melodic, way of metal very much. They have some really good songs and superb melodies. My favourites are Surreal, The Real you, Two Minds, One Soul. I can’t wait to hear their new album live. We all look forward to meeting them again as they were a great band and good friends.”

The big question to Kai Hansen remains until last. It’s a simple question but one that’s probably been asked too many times already “So, is there any chance we’ll hear some early Helloween?” There’s a pause. Have I offended him? There’s a long pause. Oh, what have I done? Yet the answer is as simple as the question. “Yes.”

And Australia? “We’ve never been there before but we’re looking forward to boxing with kangaroos and brushing crocodile teeth. I hope that the fans from Down Under grant us a warm welcome and are good singers. We like it when the fans go for it. Then after, we shall celebrate with a furious metal party!”

“There’s only one problem with coming to Australia,” Kai quips cheerfully. “24 hours in an aeroplane is not our idea of fun!” Gamma Ray, welcome to Australia.

Majestic is out now through Sanctuary/Riot.

Tour dates: 
Melbourne
Gamma Ray play the Hifi Bar on Saturday 9 December
with support act Vanishing Point.
Sydney
Gamma Ray play the Gaelic Club on Sunday 10 December
with support act Lord