Gamma Ray, what you know is what you get. Love them or hate them. Well, I`ve never been a fan. Oh man, this is some boring album. Do you know the obligate Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Helloween stuff? Then you`ll know what this new Gamma Ray album is all about. Okay, Kai Hansen was a member of the early Helloween. So, he deserves some credit. But, does this historical fact mean that after some 13 years, you still have to write the same riffs, childish (typical German) vocal lines and ditto songs? Most striking fact on this CD is the true copying of the typical Priest riffs, solo`s and melodies. It`s a real shame. Especially the titletrack (with a riff from "Hell Bent For Leather" and a melody change from Maiden), "Fire Below" and "Solid" would be perfect on an 80`s Priest record. The main riff in "Eagle" comes directly from their "Painkiller" CD.

Then the beginning of a song like "Follow Me". Come on! We`ve heard this childish shit way back in 1985-1988 when it was accepted throughout the bigger part of the scene. But in 2001? I highly doubt that. I really do not understand this release. Why copy all these Priest riffs and Priest/Maiden melodies, combined with the Helloween vocal lines? Can`t Gamma Ray come up with somewhat more original material? Oh yeah, the production done by Hansen himself is solid, but the coverwork is awfully childish and the lyrics really suck (highlights are lines like "Heaven or hell, where do we go when we are leaving? Whatever comes to set us free?"). If you`re into Gamma Ray, you`ll surely like this album. Because they lack originality, I don`t.